A state-level convention on ‘Women Agricultural Labourers – Challenges and Resistance‘, was jointly organized by AIPWA and Samata Vedike on 5 Dec at Mysore. Nearly 500 women from the rural belts of Davangere, Koppal, Chitradurga, Mysore and Bangalore participated. Members of Samata enacted a skit on the issues of women agricultural labourers to inaugurate the convention. Chief Guest, Com Kavita Krishnan, all-India Secretary, AIPWA, inaugurated the convention and said that the BJP government in the state stands exposed. The CM himself is shamelessly claiming that his own ministers are more corrupt than him and that he is not the only corrupt state representative in the country. He justified his corruption by citing precedents. The BJP government is killing women with its policy of violence. Christian women and Muslim women are being attacked. Hindu women are targeted and attacked for “wrong behaviour” and for demanding their rights. The state is unleashing severe repression on women protestors. Comrade Kavita gave a call for women to break their silence and wage a determined battle against violence and this unjust system, which has money for liquor to flow but no money for drinking water. Meera Nayak, Convenor, Samata, presiding the inaugural session, stressed on the need for women to resist all kinds of exploitation and oppression.

This was followed by testimonies of struggles of women – against the closure of rice mills of Gangavati, against irregularities in NREGA at Harapanahalli and Nanjangud, struggles for availing of the PDS facility in Sathigehundi and HD Kote, against social boycott and sexual harassment of dalit women in Budihalli and on conditions of women workers in export garment units in Bangalore. Basamma Daggi, Sainabi and Sharada from Gangavati, Sanramamma and Gopika from Sathigehundi, Kariyamma, Shakinamma and Renukamma from Harapanahalli, Marakka and Lakshmakka from Budihalli, Rajeshwari from Nanjangud (Spoorthy) and Shaila from Bangalore presented their struggle experiences. While presiding over the session, Prof R Indira from Mysore University said that the corrupt governments in the state and centre do not have an iota of shame. Women need to reject all efforts of the corrupt BJP government to woo women with free sarees and be in the forefront of struggles against corruption and for a life of dignity.

In the second session, the testimonies on SHG issues, struggles against arrack sales, struggles for basic amenities including roads, bus facilities, toilets and Ashraya houses, distribution of Bhagyalakshmi bonds for female babies and issues of domestic workers were shared. Hampakka, State Vice-President of AIPWA and Honnamma from Hoskote spoke on the SHG issues. Jawajjar Honnamma from Budiyala, Devakka from Matthihalli, Honnamma from Kayakadahalli, Nagamma and Sharada from Nichapura of Harapanahalli, Sonamma and Shakina Begum from Gangavati, Maniyamma, Putnanjamma, Jayamma, Nagamma, Sanramamma and Kotramma from Sogalli, Sathigehundi and Nandinathapura of H D Kote spoke on anti- arrack struggles and struggles for basic amenities while Saroja (Domestic Workers Rights Union) from Bangalore shared the conditions of domestic workers. Anusuyamma, Convenor, Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (KRRS), presided this session. She said that the BJP government has completely betrayed the people. Women should gear up to fight the corruption and irregularities at all levels; they should consciously break out of the illusion that some one will fulfill their needs and should learn to grab their rights.

In the concluding speech Rati Rao, National Vice President, AIPWA, said that this convention could bring together the experiences of various struggling women and stressed the need to struggle for rights. Though the struggle against corruption has been a protracted struggle, our women’s response and resolve has been very encouraging and we need to forge a unity among our struggling sisters in different places and strengthen their voice of resistance.
A ten point resolution demanding a CBI enquiry on corruption, and demanding equal wages, crèche facilities, PF and BPL cards and so on was passed by the convention.

Kumuda from Samata also addressed the gathering. Susheela, Roopa Rao, and Anupama from Samata and Ranjani and Gandhimathi of AIPWA, co-ordinated the sessions. Geetha from Samata gave vote of thanks. Com Bharadwaj, Comrades Parsappa and Shivamurthy of HRFDL also spoke on the occasion.