People's Democracy

GIRL students must come forward to intensify the political struggle against the ruling elite who are selling India to foreign imperialist powers. This was the advice a veteran freedom fighter and leader of democratic women’s movement in Maharashtra and the country, Ahalya Ranganekar, tendered to girl students all over India while inaugurating the All India Girl Students Workshop. The workshop was recently organised by the Students Federation of India (SFI) at Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust near Mumbai.

The veteran freedom fighter was of the opinion that, taking inspiration from the independence movement, girl students must play an active role in the political process. What is needed is a qualitative change in the political culture in order to kick out the ruling elite who lead a luxurious and corrupt life while ignoring the burning problems of the people and the nation’s interests. Girl students and women playing a leading role in politics will strengthen the progressive, democratic political forces, she said.

Recalling her student life, Ahalya Ranganekar said the Students Federation, formed in 1936, had made great contributions to our country’s independence movement. Just as in the days of the independence movement, the ongoing struggle against imperialist globalisation and communal forces is going to intensify all over the country in the coming days. She told the student community that it was high time for them to play a leading role in this process.

SFI president P Krishnaprasad hoisted the flag. A presidium comprising P Krishnaprasad, Neena Sharma, P S Shrija, Soma Chakraborty and Sarika Chaturvedi conducted the proceedings. Samik Lahiri, MP and general secretary of the SFI, placed the approach paper. Suhas Patil and Umesh Deshmukh addressed the workshop.

Two commissions discussed the approach paper. Noted journalist P Sainath, Professor Sonia Gupta and Kallol Rai guided the first commission on girl students and the society. Chairperson Neena Sharma and secretary Albeena Shakeel gave leadership to this commission’s work.

The second commission on building the girl students’ movement was addressed by Professor Kishore Thekkedath, Mariam Dhawale and K K Ragesh. Chairperson Soma Chakraborty and secretary G Mamata led this commission’s wok.

The workshop condoled the death of thousands of people in Gujarat due to the earthquake.

The workshop demanded the formation of statutory bodies in all educational institutions against sexual harassment. It strongly criticised the authorities of educational institutions for not implementing the Supreme Court guidelines in this regard. The SFI will collect signatures in all campuses on March 8 --- the International Women’s Day --- in support of the demand and will submit memoranda to the university vice chancellors and state governments.

The workshop urged reform of education curricula at all levels to include gender studies. It decided to form girl students’ platforms in all educational campuses to promote among students the ideas of gender equality. These platforms will build opinion in campuses against the culture of male dominance and patriarchal values. They will respond against ragging and the denigrating representation of women in different media like the electronic, print, cinema, advertisement etc.

The workshop urged the union and state governments to halt the ongoing commercialisation and communalisation of education, construct hostels for girl students and launch special programmes to promote girls’ education.

The workshop decided to organise an all-India girl students convention in October 2001. A 28-member all-India girl students subcommittee has been formed for this purpose, with G Mamata (Andhra Pradesh) as convenor and Soma Chakraborty (West Bengal), P S Shrija (Kerala) and Albeena Shakeel (Delhi) as joint convenors.

On the second day, the SFI’s former all-India vice president and the CPI(M)’s Central Committee member Dr Ashoke Dhawale addressed the delegates. Albeena Shakeel and G Mamata placed the commission reports. The SFI’s Maharashtra state president Umakanth Rathod proposed the vote of thanks. The workshop came to an end with the concluding address by SFI president P Krishnaprasad. (INN)