Press Release
31.12.2022
Kalamandalam Deemed University Chancellor and renowned dancer Mallika Sarabhai will inaugurate the delegate session of the 13th National Conference of the All India Democratic Women's Association (AIDWA) starting on January 6. The conference will be held in Thiruvananthapuram from January 6 to 9. Teesta Setalwad, who was a victim of state terrorism for taking a brave stance, is participating in the seminar as part of the conference. Che Guevara's daughter Alaida Guevara and granddaughter Estefania Machin Guevara will be part of the gathering. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will inaugurate the concluding public meeting on January 9. The conference culminates with a demonstration and public gathering attended by one lakh women.
The national conference of AIDWA is being held in Thiruvananthapuram city 36 long years after the second national conference, said AIDWA National Vice President P.K. Sreemathi in a press conference. A total of 850 delegates representing 96,31,116 members from 25 states and union territories are participating in the conference.
The 13th National Conference of the organization is being held at a time when the life of women across the country is becoming difficult, said P.K. Sreemathi. The government that is ruling the country has adopted negative attitudes towards women and the women community. Attacks on women and children are increasing uncontrollably in the country. Women in India are becoming the biggest victims of communalism and uncontrolled price hikes. Therefore, the slogan of this conference, 'Struggle in unity for equality', is very relevant, said P.K. Sreemathi.
Remembering the path the organization has travelled, in this period of 41 years since the organization was formed, AIDWA has led many women's struggles. The organization has raised an all-out slogan against dowry as well as price hike since its early days. The organization was able to play a major role in framing many pro-women laws like 498 A, Dowry Prohibition Act, Domestic Violence Prohibition Act, Employment Guarantee Act etc. Even today we are continuing the struggles to implement the women's reservation bill which is a quarter century old, added P.K. Sreemathi.
The unit meetings of AIDWA had started in October 2021, said AIDWA State Secretary C.S. Sujatha. It has successively completed village, area, district and state conferences and has now reached the national conference. The conference will discuss many issues such as attempts to destroy the constitution, attitudes that endanger secularism and democracy, saffronization of the education sector, increasing consumption of drugs, destruction of scientific temper and spread of superstition.
An organizing committee was formed with National Vice President of the organization P. K. Sreemathi as Chairperson, State Secretary C. S. Sujatha as General Convener and Central Committee Member T. N. Seema as Convener. Since December 15, seminars with the participation of experts on various subjects and various artistic programs are being held in various parts of the district. A theme song, a promo song and a short film have been produced as part of the promotion of the conference. A historical exhibition called 'Drishya Bhumika' organized as part of the conference is being held at the Ayyangali Hall named Captain Lakshmi Nagar. Extensive publicity activities are going on all over the city. Organizational committee offices have started functioning up to the unit level. Murals and boards have been put up in all parts of the city. The funds required for the conference were collected by the women activists themselves by going to the houses using coupons.
The venue for the delegation meeting in Tagore Hall has been named as M.C. Josephine Nagar and the general meeting venue as Mallu Swarajyam Nagar. Many national and international guests will participate as part of the conference, C.S. Sujatha added.
AIDWA State President Susan Kodi, central committee members T.N. Seema, M.G. Meenambika, N. Sukanya and others participated in the press conference.
