The working women of Mumbai celebrated International Women’s Day on March 8, 2009 in a befitting manner in the Worli BDD Chawls.

At the initiative of the Lok Raj Sangathan and activists in the community, Resident Doctors from the KEM Hospital conducted a medical camp for the community. In the evening, Purogami Manhila Sangathan and the Lok Raj Sangathan organised a significant public meeting in which activists as well as masses of working women and men enthusiastically participated.

The function began with young girls singing songs about the struggle for emancipation of women and the emancipation of the whole of society. The spokeswoman of Purogami Mahila Sangathan then addressed the women and men. She pointed out that this year women throughout the world are celebrating the centenary year of the declaration of International Working Women’ Day. A century ago, revolutionary women had pointed out that the emancipation of women demands the overthrow of the capitalist system and the building of a new socialist society free from all forms of exploitation of persons by persons. We have a rich history of revolutionary struggle for emancipation. She explained the capitalist system is in great crisis and declared that we must resolutely oppose the efforts of the capitalists to shift its burden on the backs of the people, as well as their attempts to divide and disorient us. In the coming Lok Sabha Elections we should not be fooled by the sweet-sounding promises of the political parties of the rich.

The representative of the Communist Ghadar Party of India described how in the Soviet Union, the state of the workers and peasants had taken concrete steps to emancipate women and ensure that they could participate as equals in social life along with the men.  He said the challenge before the Indian working class, including Indian women, was to struggle to usher in a new society free from all forms of exploitation and oppression.

Dr Sanjeevani of the Lok Raj Sangathan, pointed out the flaws in the existing political system and described the efforts of her organisation to organise the people for their empowerment.

Working women from the BDD chawls boldly came on the stage one by one and talked about the lack of clean drinking water and its inequitable distribution in Mumbai, the threat of demolition of Worli B.D.D chawls and the big builders trying to fool the residents with grandiose schemes, as well as the condition of the domestic workers in Mumbai. They expressed their determination to fight unitedly and steadfastly for their rights.

Meeting selects peoples candidate for the Lok Sabha elections

The highlight of the International Women's Day meeting in Mumbai was the public selection of a working class leader as peoples candidate for the up coming Lok Sabha Elections.

Comrade Suryakant Shinge, a long standing militant leader of the Ladakku Garment Mazdoor Sangh was unanimously selected as peoples candidate by all the participants.

The working women from the area presented a bouquet to Com. Suryakant, and he was invited to address the gathering. He declared that he would uphold the program of the people and he would resign if the people of the constituency felt his work was unsatisfactory. He attacked the present political system which was in favour of the rich and called on the people to organize to challenge this power by building peoples samitis everywhere. He really touched the hearts of the people there – some women spontaneously came on the stage and pledged their support to him.

Com. Chandorkar from the BSNL Employees’ Union and representing Jan Jagruti Abhiyaan and Com. Prakash Jawalkar from the CPWD Workers Union pointed out that the need of the hour was for the working class to unite and oppose all attacks on them. The spokesperson of the Nepali Jan Adhikar Suraksha Samiti, said that the Indian state was attacking the poor migrant Nepali workers by branding them as thieves. He asked for support from the Indian people in defense of their Nepali brothers. He also pledged the support of the Nepali community for the people's candidate Com. Suryakant.

Discussions went on late into the evening amongst the people as to how to take their struggle forward.