On the occasion of International Human Rights Day on Monday, the All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA) staged a protest over various issues like hike in prices of LPG cylinders, and the safety of women in both organised and unorganised sectors.
The protest outside Dadar station, saw participants from Bhandup, Govandi, Powai, Andheri, Jogeshwari, Bandra, Dharavi, Worli and also members of Centre of India Trade Union (CITU) and Anganwadi Karamchari Sanghathan.
“We are here to raise our voices as we have the right to do so. This new agenda against people who raise their voice, terming them as urban naxals and intimidating them won’t work all the time. If you promote Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao (Save Girl Child, Educate a Girl Child) than is it just our responsibility with no role for the government to play?’’ asked Sudha Sundar Raman, vice-president AIDWA.
One of the major issues highlighted was the Direct Benefit Transfer scheme, the mechanism of transferring subsidies launched by government of India. According to the protestors, it has actually increased their burden rather than making things easy for them. “We don’t want cash in our bank accounts for which we have to visit the bank several times and the travelling expense becomes too much. We want 35 kg grain as we were getting earlier. The Aadhaar card programme has ruined our life. If our name does not show in the system matching our thumb print, we are rejected for foodgrain,” Malti Mani, a Bhandup resident said.
The hike in LPG prices, which has become a political issue lately was also brought up by the protesting women. “The subsidies are a sham, we don’t receive any. Raising the prices of LPG from around ₹500 to ₹1000 is not a joke. It affects our livelihood. This protest against the BJP government is because it promised us a lot and didn’t fulfil any. We will protest everyday till we are heard,’’ Parvathy Shettygar, a Govandi resident said.
“We want to know who is the lady featured in the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana advertisement? She looks happy. The whole programme is a joke. The women here are protesting that they are unable to afford LPG cylinders,’’ Sonya Gill, state secretary, AIDWA said.
The idea was to define human rights and how closely it is associated to a democratic system. “We have domestic workers, hawkers, the whole lot of unorganised sector. For a safe environment we are asking whether the committees which need to be there, are they even working. What we are asking is basic to any human existence,’’ Ms. Gill said.
The Anganwadi Kamgar Sanghthan also questioned the increased income announced by Prime Miinister Narendra Modi, which was to be implemented by this November. “Every promise turns out to be false. Where is our increased salary? Every law is just on paper, we need to ensure that it is implemented as well,’’ said Sneha Sawant, president Anganwadi Karamchari Sangathan.
