Invite, March 6, 2010
Thousands of Women to March in Central Delhi on the Centenary of March Eighth (International Womens' Day)
March 8, 2010 starting at 11 am
March from Mandi House to Jantar Mantar for a Public Meeting
To carry forward the long struggle for Dignity , Equality and Freedom from oppression, thousands of women, girls and men will take to the street in Central Delhi. Following the march, a public meeting will be held where participating organizations will celebrate the Centenary of March Eighth with readings, speeches, songs and skits. Key demands will be presented on the issues of price rise, inequality, healthcare, and violence against women. The systematic abdication of responsibility by the government, along with the State's increasing repression and intolerance will also be highlighted in the daylong programme.
March 8 is celebrated as International Womens' Day to mark the brave struggles of women workers against inhuman treatment at the workplace. The womens' movement in India, marked with a long and glorious list of individuals and groups struggling against all odds, serves as an inspiration to the current generation. Today, women have gained several victories in their bid for equality, and are continuing at various levels, to right a historical wrong. Women have taken the lead in the resistance to the giveaway of their natural resources to corporations, in the opposition to caste-communal violence, in issues of displacement, and in bringing to light the adverse impact of globalization and Structural Adjustment Policies.
In a society riven with the oppressive inequalities of class, caste, religion, on top of patriarchy and an increasingly repressive State, women find themselves receiving the brunt of the burdens as well as the harassment engendered in these fault lines. On March 8, 2010, various womens' organizations will come together under the Centenary Committee to Celebrate Womens' Day to give voice to their protests and carry their struggles forward. The women’s movement in India recognizes that genuine emancipation of women is possible only in a society where other inequalities and injustices also cease to exist, and hence has always strived to link with the struggles of other sections oppressed by patriarchy, class, caste, and religion.
The participating organizations are: Action India, All India Progressive Womens' Association, All India Students' Association, Ankur, CADAM, Centre for Struggling Women, Committee Against Violence on Women, Democratic Students' Union, Delhi Forum, Disha Chhatra Sangathan, Forum for Democratic Struggle, Intercultural Resources, Jagori, Krantikari Lok Adhikari Sanghatan, Krantikari Yuv Sanghatan, NTUI, Nari Mukti Sangh, NACDOR,New Socialist Initiative, Pragatisheeel Mahila Manch, Progressive Students' Union, Purogami Mahila Sangathan, Saheli, Saanjha Adhaar, Sama, Stree Adhikar Sangathan, Stree Mukti League, The Other Media and Anita Bharti, Dr. Ajita, Indira Chakravarthy, Jayashri, Nandini Rao and others.
The demands are: Addressing of Price Rise * Equal Wages for Equal Work * People-centred and Pro-Women policies * Food Security * Livelihoods with fair wages and good living conditions * Land Reform with womens' access to and control over productive resources * Freedom from sexual assault and harassment, domestic and public violence * Effective Implementation of laws on domestic violence and prevention of atrocities on SC/ST * Elimination of caste-based professions such as scavenging * Strengthening of institutions to address special needs of women, SC, ST, OBC and religious minorities * Repeal of repressive laws such as AFSPA, UAPA and SEZ Act * Demilitarization of the country with justice given to victims of all excesses of security forces * Rehabilitation of all internally displaced people
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