AIBOC CIRCULAR NO. 22 DATED 08303.2011

AIBOC issued its circular No. 22 dated 08.03.2011 on International Women’s Day. We are reproducing the same here for our readers.

CIRCULAR NO.22                                                   DATE: 08.03.2011

TO ALL AFFILIATES /MEMBERS:

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY - EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN - INDEPENDENT INDIA SETS LARGER GOALS FOR WOMEN

The world over, 8th March 2011 is celebrated as the Centenary Year of International Women’s Day and the Confederation is committed to recognize the rights of our women colleagues and provide them their due rights in the trade union field. While, our members may recollect that, the 9th Triennial General Council held at Bhubaneshwar took note of the great contribution of our women colleagues to the banking industry as well as the trade union movement under the banner of the Confederation, resolved and made appropriate provision in the by-laws of the Confederation to provide them necessary representation through the establishment of National Women’s Wing, as one of the important organizational structures of the Confederation.  The Council also witnessed active participation of our women delegates in the deliberations on all major issues and demonstrated their leadership qualities and ability to carry forward their tasks under the National Women’s Wing, to ensure greater participation in the trade union activities in the days to come.

It was in the year 1911, in the month of March, that a big conglomeration of women assembled to discuss the problems of the women workers in Germany, which was emerging as a powerful nation, where the women force was part and parcel of the progress of the country. Ultimately, Germany became one of the military super powers in course of time.  The big gathering was the first attempt to focus the attention of the world towards the emancipation of women and recognition of their rights to equality and self-dignity in the modern era.  Thereafter, there were several attempts to highlight the problems of women and to improve their social status and to bring them on par with men folk. It was in the year 1975 that the United Nations Organisation decided to observe, 8th March every year as International Women’s Day, and to provide necessary inspiration for women folk to focus the attention of the people all over the world about their social status and equal opportunity in public life.

The Indian Society is entirely different than what we see in the western world. The Women liberation movement has ensured the representative character of the women folk in US and other western countries much earlier and the social status was also achieved to a large extent. The Indian Independence provided a great opportunity to look into the issues of the social status in India as far as the Women are concerned. The Indian democracy also ensured a greater responsibility and greater role to womenfolk in the country. Democracy has no doubt recognized the equal right to women force in our country and it is a unique achievement that the Indian woman has secured the right of 50% of the seats in village Panchayats and now 33% seats in the Parliament. The Constitution of India has provided with equal rights and privileges to women. Certain special provisions are made to take care of the women folks, in the constitution and other enactments. These are demonstrative efforts on part of the Government and the political parties for having recognized the right of women population and to accord their legitimate place in the legislature.

 

The country is still agrarian in character. The massive population living below the poverty line in the interior parts of the country still suffers social stigma of being subservient to men folk. The economic independence is the dream for millions and millions of women who are still living below the poverty line attempting to eke out their daily bread and butter, not getting equal pay on par with their counter parts throughout the country. The elite society is able to get what they want. The lower strata of society is still known for its exploitation of women. We need to address these issues in a greater measure. It will be the responsibility of the trade unions, who are supposed to be the conscious keepers of the civilized society. We cannot keep half of our population in a state of depravation. The Confederation represents such a creamy layer of the society and our women colleagues are far ahead of these voiceless people all over the country.

The Women’s Wing of our Confederation both at National level as well as State level have been celebrating the International Women’s Day to spread the awareness amongst the women colleagues about their legitimate rights and also campaigning for the empowerment of the womenfolk in all walks of life.  We have already instructed our State Units to take up a number of activities on this important occasion and campaign towards creating an alround awareness amongst the women population in the society, through proper education and awareness.

We have also conveyed to the leadership of Women’s Wing to observe the International Women’s Day in a meaningful manner and take up various activities and report the same to the Head Quarters for information.  We hope that the State Units as well as our affiliates will whole-heartedly support all the initiatives undertaken by the Women’s Wing, both at the affiliate level as well as the Confederation level.

We take this opportunity to convey our good wishes to all our women representatives and members of the Confederation for a meaningful International Women’s Day and wish them all the best in all their activities and efforts in further consolidation of women colleagues and empowerment of women population in our country as a part of their trade union activities. We also appeal to all our affiliates/State Units to give an expression to the spirit of the resolutions of the General Council and the amendments which we have put through to provide a stronger and better representative character to our women colleagues in the Confederation.

With warm greetings to all the women colleagues on this happy occasion and wish all success to the International Women’s Day celebrations.

With greetings,

Sd/-

(G.D. NADAF)

GENERAL SECRETARY