All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA)
13th National Conference
6-9 January 2023, Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala)
PRESS RELEASE
The 13th National Conference of the All India Democratic Women’s Association concluded, raising the slogans of “Reach out to all women of all sections”; “Defeat Manuwad”; and “Fight against the corporate - communal nexus”.
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan inaugurated the public meeting held at Mallu Swarajyam Nagar (Putharikkandam Maidan) attended by thousands of AIDWA workers. In his inaugural address, Pinarayi Vijayan observed that the 'victim shaming' culture of blaming women even when there is violence against them exists in the country, and efforts are being made by the ruling RSS-led BJP to further strengthen such a patriarchal society. The BJP is trying to divide the people against the slogan of the conference Struggle in unity for equality'. The central government is subverting women's safety and gender equality. What happened in the Bilkis Banu case is an illustration of this. A section of people are being terrorized by making citizenship viable on the basis of religion. Hitler's strategy of exterminating religious minorities and communists, whom the RSS says are internal enemies, is also being attempted to be implemented in India. The Kerala LDF government has taken the stand that this politics of division will not be allowed to prosper in Kerala, said Pinarayi Vijayan.
The Kerala Chief Minister mentioned each of the issues discussed in the conference in his speech. He briefly described the Kerala model which was an important theme of the conference. Kerala is adopting alternative models to contain inflation and unemployment. Welfare schemes are seen as a right of the people, and not as charity by the government. The government is committed to protecting women's rights. He added that Kerala is the state that implements gender budgeting and Nava Keralam (New Kerala) will also incorporate it.
Brinda Karat, who greeted the public meeting at Putharikandam Maidan, said that in a country where BJP leaders slut-shame even women who are victims of violence, it is a wonderful sight for a Chief Minister to understand deeply what 'victim shaming' is and announce the government's stand against it. The Democratic Women's Association is committed to advancing the struggle of women. Women will never be willing to submit to BJP's Manuwadi agendas and practices. Brinda Karat joined AIDWA leaders in the pledge to fight for values like equality, democracy and women's liberation.
The newly elected President of AIDWA, P.K. Sreemathi observed the in order to achieve equality, democracy and secularism must exist. She said that when the struggle against communal forces rises, women should join arms with the struggle and be in the forefront. The Kerala Model of pro-women government can be emulated everywhere in the country, said General Secretary Maryam Dhawale. She added that the slogans raised by the conference are to convey the message of struggle to all sections of women, to strengthen the struggle against the Manuwadi agenda, and to resist the communal-corporate nexus.
Sd/-
P.K. Sreemathi (President) Mariam Dhawale (General Secretary)
