by SHABNAM HASHMI
More than 30 organisations met in Delhi on July1, 6, 14 & 21 to discuss the strategy to pressurize the UPA to place and pass the Women Reservation Bill in the Parliament. It is becoming clear with everyday that the UPA is dragging its feet on the WRB. Unless we are able to exert a lot of pressure it will again go in cold storage. It was due to the 14 years of struggle by various women’s movements from across India that the Bill was passed in the Rajya Sabha on March 9th. We must not allow it to lapse.
The meeting held on July 14 decided that a demonstration will be organised at the Parliament Street on July 29, 2010 from 11am to 2pm. People will gather at 10.30am at Jantar Mantar, march to Parliament Street where from 12 noon to 2pm a public meeting will be organised.
There would a three hour long program comprising of speeches and cultural programme in support of the Women Reservation Bill. A memorandum will be submitted to the President, PM and UPA chairperson.
Confirmed speakers include: Aruna Roy, Annie Raja, Brinda Karat, D Raja, Javed Akhtar, Kanimozhi, Sharmila Tagore, Sudha Sundaraman, Jyotsna Chatterjee and many women social activists.
I am writing to you with the request to:
1. Endorse the campaign by sending the name of your organisation/ or individually if you do not belong to any civil society organisation.
2. Participate in the programme and mobilise others from Delhi.
3. If you are from outside Delhi sponsor at least two people from your organisation to participate in the rally. For adjoining states please come in large numbers and not only two each.
4. Delhi arrangements for the programme are being made by the local core group. Expenditure incurred on travel and stay by outstation participants has to be borne by their respective organisations.
5. We are designing umbrellas which will have names of endorsees from different cities. These will be carried at the demonstration by participants. So please send us names of participant from your organization/ college/ university/ department and also send us names to be printed on the umbrella from your city who have endorsed the Bill . We will reserve the umbrellas for participants whose names are confirmed by July 27th.
The programme is being organised under the banner of Alliance for 33%. The following organizations have already endorsed the programme:
ADIVASI MAHILA JAGRUTI SANGATHAN, ADIVASI VIKAS MANCH, AIDMAM, AIDWA, AIPWA, AJMER ADULT EDUCATION ASSOCIATION, AKSHARA, ALWAR MEWAT SHIKSHA VIKAS SANSTHAN, ANANDI, AANGANWADI KARYAKARTA SEWIKA UNION UTTARAKHAND,ACADEMY OF SOCIOLOGICAL STUDIES,ACTION AID, JAIPUR,ADIVASI MAHILA JAGRUTI SANGATHAN,ADIVASI VIKAS MANCH,AIDMAM,AIDWA,AIPWA,AJMER ADULT EDUCATION ASSOCIATION,AKSHARA,ALWAR MEWAT SHIKSHA VIKAS SANSTHAN,AMAN SAMUDAY,ANANDI,ANHAD,ANHAD MEDIA,ASTHA,BAL VA MAHILA CHETNA SAMITI,BARLI DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE FOR WOMEN,BGVS,BHARTIYA VIDYA PEETH INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT AND RESEARCH,BURMESE WOMEN DELHI,CENTRE FOR ADVOCACY & RESEARCH,CENTRE FOR SOCIAL REASEARCH,CENTRE FOR WOMEN’S STUDIES,CFAR,DALIT MAHILA MANCH,DARSHAN SAMITI,DELHI FORUM,DEVGADH MAHILA SANGATHAN,DISHA SAMAJIK SANSTHA DEHRADUN,DISHARI MAHILA SAMITI,EKAL NAARI SHAKTI SANGATHAN,GANA UNNAYAN PARISHAD,GANDHI SMRITI,GHAD MAHILA SAMITI UTTARAKHAND,GRAMYA RESOURCE CENTRE FOR WOMEN,HRLN,ICW,IGSSS,INDORE GHARELU KAAMKAJI SANGATHAN,INSAF,INSTITUTE FOR SECULAR DEMOCRACY,IPTA,JAGORI,JANVIKAS,JOINT WOMEN’S PROGRAMME,KAUSHALYA DABRAL SANGHARSH VAHINI,LAMP,MAHILA ADHIKAR ABHIYAN,MAHILA JAN ADHIKAR SAMITI,MAHILA KALYAN SAMITI DEHRADUN,MAHILA PANCH SARPANCH SANGATHAN(RAJASTHAN),MAHILA SWARAJ ABHIYAN,MAHILA SWARAJ MANCH,MAJDOOR KISAN SHAKTI SANGTHAN, MALIYA MAHILA SHAKTI SANGTHAN,MANEKA JAGRUTI SAMITI,NATIONAL FORUM FOR SINGLE WOMEN’S RIGHTS,NATIONAL MUSLIM WOMEN WELFARE SOCIETY,NAYEE PAHAL,NFIW,NISHTHA,NISWAN,PANAM MAHILA SANGATHAN,PARWAAJ,PEACE,POSITIVE WOMEN’S NETWORK RAJASTHAN,PRAGATISHEEL LEKHAK SANGH,PRAYAS,PUCL,PWESCR,RAJASTHAN MAHILA KAMGAAR UNION,RAJASTHAN UNIVERSITY WOMEN’S ASSOCIATION,RAJSAMAND MAHILA MANCH,RIGHT TO FOOD,ROOPANKAN,ROZI ROTI ADHIKAR SAMOOH,SADED,SAHRWARU,SAMAJ SEWA PARKOSHTH STATE BANK ADHIKARI SAMANVAY SAMITI,SAMTA GYAN VIGYAN SAMITI,SANDARBH,SANGAT,SANLAAP,SAUHARD,SAYA SANGATHAN,SNEH SAMUDAY,STREE ADHIKAR SANGATHAN,THE HUNGER PROJECT,UNIVERSITY WOMEN’S ASSOCIATION,URJAGHAR,UTARAKHAND MAHILA MANCH,UTTARAKHAND MAHILA FEDERATION,UTTARAKHAND RAJYA NIRMAN AANDOLANKARI SANYUKT MANCH,UTTHAN,VIVIDHA-WOMEN’S DOCUMENTATION AND RESOURCE CENTRE,WAR WIDOWS ASSOCIATION,WOMEN ‘S REHABILITATION GROUP,WOMEN AND CHILDREN WELFARE COMMITTEE\,WOMEN FEATURE SERVICES,WOMEN POWER CONNECT,WORKING GROUP FOR WOMEN & LAND OWENERSHIP,YWCA.
Please urgently send your endorsement. If you have already done so and your name is missing let us know too.
Shabnam Hashmi
Alliance for 33% Secretariat
ANHAD
YWCA, 10 Sansad Marg, New Delhi-110001
23, Canning Lane Tel: 23361561 / 23361662
New Delhi-110001
Tel- 23070740/ 22