OPEN APPEAL TO WOMEN OF INDIA: UNITING FOR A BETTER TOMORROW

NAARI NYAY SANKALP 2024: WOMEN ACROSS INDIA STRIVING FOR DECISIVE CHANGE

Dear Women of India,

We, the undersigned, are women representing the rich tapestry of our nation, hailing from diverse backgrounds, professions, and regions. Today, we have come together to issue an urgent call to action, a call that resonates with the collective voice of women across the country.

This appeal is open to women of all ages, from all walks of life, who are committed to shaping an inclusive and more equitable future for generations to come.

As we stand at a critical juncture in our nation's history, it has become abundantly clear that the very fabric of our society, particularly the safety and security of our women, is under threat. The growing rise in the crime against women in India is the direct result of failed policies and inaction by the BJP-led government at the Centre.

India has one of the highest rates of violence against women and the level of atrocities women suffered in Manipur during the widespread ethnic violence outraged the whole country but the Prime Minister kept mum.

The current administration has failed to prioritise the safety and well being of women. As per the National Crimes Record Bureau (NCRB) records, the crimes reported against women rose from 2.44 lakh crimes in 2012 to around 4.28 lakh in 2021, implying a 42.96% increase in total crimes reported in years since the BJP came to power.

The troubling incident of sexual harassment allegedly involving BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who already has serious pending cases against him involving murder, robbery and TADA has shown the world how fragile and erroneous is the status of our women. The disrespect shown to women protestors, including female wrestlers, who bravely demanded action against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, accused of sexual harassment by six women wrestlers and the manhandling of women protestors in Shaheen Bagh, reflected the insensitive attitude of the BJP towards women's rights and justice.

Their response to any form of dissent and demands is only dismay and indignation which shows complete intolerance to even peaceful protest. There is a scathing assault made by this government on the people’s rights and constitutional democracy.

The central government’s disdain for women has become even more apparent, notably highlighted by its shocking decision to pardon and release prematurely 11 men who were  convicted for the gangrape of Bilkis Bano and the killing 14 members of her family, including her three year old daughter. The utter lack of empathy and inhumane attitude is underscored by the grand welcome these convicts received, with one Bharatiya Janata Party leader even referring to them as “good sanskaari Brahmins.” This highlights the urgent need for accountability and justice in our society.

Collectively as women, It is distressing to witness the blatant inaction and apathy from the government in addressing these issues, reflecting government failure to uphold women's rights and their fundamental safety.

While the Prime Minister champions initiatives like 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao' with great fanfare, the party's own ideological wing chief makes misogynistic and regressive remarks, suggesting that women should confine themselves to household chores. The hypocrisy of the BJP is glaringly evident; on one hand, they promote trends such as 'Selfie with Daughter,' yet on the other, senior leaders like the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh propagate abhorrent beliefs that women are incapable of independence and should not be given any freedom. The insensitive comments made by BJP leaders in the Unnao and Hathras rape cases are deplorable and unbecoming of leaders representing the national ruling party. These inconsistencies underscore the challenges facing genuine women's empowerment efforts within the party.

The Accredited Social Health Activist or ASHA workers, who serve as the backbone of rural health infrastructure and worked tirelessly in immunisation and vaccination efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic, are now being forced into obscurity. Despite their invaluable contribution and having been recognised and praised by the WHO for their handling of the COVID crisis, they are still not officially recognised as "workers" and are denied basic labour rights. Since the onset of the pandemic in 2020, ASHA workers across several states have been staging protests, seeking fulfilment of promises made to them.  Their main demands include a monthly honorarium of around ₹20,000 - 30,000 in contrast to the small amount they receive at present, declaration as regular government employees under the health department, provision of pension and retirement benefits, and settlement of all pending dues since the outbreak of the pandemic. Despite their persistent demands, the government has failed to take any action, displaying a disregard for the remarkable efforts of these corona warriors.

Talking about women's employment rate and participation in the workforce in India, a recent release from the Periodic Labour Force Survey conducted in July 2021-2022, as per CEDA, sheds light on the stark reality of the striking disparity in India's female labour force participation rate. This rate is even lower than that of Bangladesh and Nepal and significantly trails behind many East Asian countries. The data shows that only 29.4% of women aged 15-59 were part of the labour force in 2021-2022. A trend was observed in the substantial shift of women in the organised sector to the unorganised sector working in low paying menial jobs to sustain their livelihood owing to the rising unemployment rates.

Despite promises of empowerment and support, the ground reality is marred by disparities and challenges, especially for women from marginalised communities.There have been reports of schools shutting down in tribal areas of Uttar Pradesh. Girls coming from poor families, who have defied the societal norms to complete their graduation, are forced to take up menial jobs due to lack of good jobs.

The Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY), touted as a scheme designed to uplift rural women, has fallen short of its promises. Out of the 96 million cylinders distributed by the Union government, the figures reveal a concerning truth: 9.6% of beneficiaries took no refills, 11.3% took only one refill, and a staggering 56.5% took no more than four refills. The rising price of gas, combined with significant delays in subsidy reimbursement, has rendered PMUY ineffective in addressing the needs of its intended beneficiaries, further contributing to the disillusionment with the BJP's promises.

Additionally, despite assurances of better childcare support to enable women to join the workforce, the ground reality tells a different story. The number of functional creches under the National Creche Scheme has declined dramatically, from almost 25,000 in 2013 to a mere 3,900 in 2023. This decline directly impacts women's ability to participate in the workforce, casting doubt on the BJP's commitment to supporting women's empowerment.

These discrepancies between promises and actions underscore the urgent need for accountability and tangible solutions to address the challenges faced by women across our nation. As women of India, it is imperative that we demand transparency, effective policies, and meaningful implementation from our leaders.

The financial mismanagement and poor performance of the “Beti Bachao Beti Padao” shows that the BJP is all talks and no Action. The Comptroller and Auditor General’s (CAG) report in 2017 presented evidence of “diversion of funds” for the scheme in Haryana. Laptop bags and mugs printed with the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao slogan were purchased under the scheme for which there were no provisions.

With the Lok Sabha elections looming just weeks away, the BJP government is resorting to the abuse of state powers to cripple the political opposition, aiming for an "Opposition Mukt Election."

As women, we refuse to stand idly by in the face of such blatant abuse of power. From 16th April 2024, we are mobilising to take this appeal to thousands of women across India, urging them to join us in dislodging the BJP from power in the upcoming elections.

We, as women, recognise the historic responsibility bestowed upon us by our nation's freedom fighters. We refuse to let their struggles go in vain, be it those of the martyrs of the freedom movement, human rights movement or the feminist movement. We stand in solidarity with all those incarcerated for speaking truth to power.

We vehemently reject the BJP's anti-people, anti-women and anti-constitutional policies.

The politics of hate and divisiveness being thrust upon the women of our nation is unacceptable.

We reaffirm our commitment to a Sovereign, Secular, Socialist, Democratic Republic. We pledge to uphold justice, liberty, and equality for all our citizens, safeguarding our right to protest and freedom from persecution and unjust repression.

As the women of India, we pledge to hold BJP as accountable and defeat them in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Sign this Appeal and spread it widely among other women, students, and youth as well as women's organisations, in your workplaces, educational institutions, villages, and cities.

BJP Hatao! Desh Bachao!

Samvidhaan Bachao! Loktantra Bachao!

BJP Hatao ! Desh Bachao !

Samvidhaan Bachao ! Loktantra Bachao !