WOMEN'S MANIFESTO

With elections fast approaching, various groups have begun to organize themselves politically. Student groups, youth associations, caste organizations, farmers and artisans have begun to sit down and deliberate on their demands. These groups have begun to work on their manifestos as they want to bargain with the political parties better.

Given that OS-Hyderabad is working towards a more inclusive democracy, OS had its monthly round table on democracy and the city on 21^st February. Friends of OS Hyderabad have been thinking of drafting a women’s manifesto for a while. OS has worked closely with them and has helped them drafting the same. We have collectively managed to put together a women’s manifesto. This manifesto is primarily aimed at the ensuing state and central elections. This manifesto chiefly addresses the problems of women in Andhra Pradesh and has been sent to various political parties.

Drafting a manifesto is not a small task. It requires political acumen and an ability to comprehend the realpolitik. It requires bringing various conflicting groups, and discerning voices together. It demands us to comprehend the fact that a manifesto, at its best can effectively serve political ends, and that it can be rubbished when read outside the contemporary context. It demands that the writer comprehend the fact that perfect manifesto. or all inclusive one do not exist. Hence, we don’t claim that this manifesto is complete.

Since, OS strives for a more inclusive democracy, and believes that democracy is much larger than electoral politics; this manifesto needs to be developed further. Hence, we solicit your suggestions.

WOMEN’S MANIFESTO

We the women of Andhra Pradesh affirm our rights and demand a voice, face and name for all women who are denied equal opportunities and equitable outcomes as a result of their gender.

We are:

Mindful of the fact that women have been historically excluded from development processes and barred from the public domain as they are

considered fit only for domestic roles in the private sphere,

Regretful that women and girls pay a heavy price for sexual assault, rape and other forms of genderbased violence,

Recognizing that women are faced with a myriad of problems including, but not limited to, rising food prices, economic crises, job loss and displacement due to infrastructure projects,

Convinced that these inequalities or exclusions are deeply institutionalized and unquestioned, hence requiring immediate, strategic responses

Acknowledging the contribution of women in bringing up children, supporting and building their communities, and conserving and protecting the environment,

Reaffirming our desire to achieve greater democratization of society and decentralized governance as a means to negotiate the sharing of power in

decision-making across all sectors and institutions,

Recognizing that India—as a signatory of the Convention to Eliminate all Forms

of Discrimination Against Women, the International Covenant on Economic,

Social and Cultural Rights, the Millennium Development Goals, and other

international treaties—is legally obligated to remove the social, economic and

political barriers that prevent women from fully and freely exercising their rights, and

Declaring our commitment to fight for the equal representation of and role for

women in all decision-making bodies that have an impact on our future.

We place the following demands to all political parties who are contesting the

coming elections and urge them to incorporate these demands in their in their

election manifestos to be pursued and fulfilled in the next five years.

Charter of Demands

1. Secure and sustainable livelihoods for all women in rural areas

through the provision of job cards to all women and 150

guaranteed working days per woman.

2. Clear policy on providing basic amenities (ration cards, water,

electricity, access to primary healthcare and primary education)

at receiving sites to all displaced people and migrants.

3. Thirty-three percent reservation for women in all elected bodies

from the panchayat level to the legislative assembly and ministerial

positions. Ongoing capacity building to women aspirants to and

incumbents in panchayats.

4. Implement the new education bill to the fullest extent and make

education compulsory up to the age of eighteen. 100%

government-subsidized compulsory education for all girls

through intermediate level in a school of the girl’s choice. All the

girls, irrespective of caste and economic status, should be

covered under this policy.

5. Ensure implementation of the domestic violence act by providing

dedicated police control rooms to address cases of violence

against women; provide protection and financial support to

women victims; reduce delays in investigation and prosecution.

6. Provide universal health care services to all; bring all health

services, including reproductive health and child vaccination,

under Arogya Sri; upgrade PHCs to include inpatient and

emergency care in rural areas and provide better incentives to

doctors to work in rural areas.

Women Hold Up Half the Sky

Women constitute slightly more than 50% of the world's population. Hence, It is only logical to assume that women get their rightful share (50% of everything good), at least in a modern democracy. However, the ground reality is very different. What good has the modern, secular, nation state done to its women citizens? Is the attitude of this modern institution towards women, better than its feudal counterparts? Is the discourse generated by the nation state adequate?

To deliberate over these questions OS- Hyderabad and its friends organized a daylong seminar on the issue "Woman and Democracy". The underlying theme for the daylong seminar was borrowed from Mao "Women Hold Up Half the Sky" While OS Hyderabad organized the seminar, Miss Vemulapati Mrudula- Program Head, SCOPE, DRF acted as its convener. Ms. Rekha Pappu, an independent researcher moderated the day's proceedings.

On 17th February 2009, over seventy academicians, corporate employees, NGO employees, political activists, media personnel and students assembled at DR. Reddys' Foundation, Banjara Hills. They were there to debate over the role of women in democracy. With elections fast approaching, women who have been historically dished out a raw deal in the politics of the modern nation state, assembled to take stock of the situation.

The daylong seminar through up interesting debates. The daylong seminar threw up interesting debates on the idea of representation, democracy. There was no 'male bashing', as almost twenty women presented their views at the seminar on issues pertaining to livelihoods, displacement, violence, law, political parties, women's bill, internal reservation etc.


The presenters have agreed to provide OS with full length papers. Keep watching this space to read them.