On Thursday thousands of women marched together in 150 locations in 143 districts across India demanding equal rights and respect. The Women March for Change campaign saw women walk for democracy, justice, peace and harmony and also against communal violence and hate.
While a march that culminated in a cultural performance at Jantar Mantar was held in New Delhi, women from over 20 different organisations including ।NFIW, WRG, RUWA, AIDWA, AIPWA, BGVS, PUCL, NMWWS and AIDMM, marched in 42 degree heat in Jaipur. Marches were also organised in Amritsar, Kolkata and Pune.
Two marches were held in Mumbai, one in Kurla and one in Bandra. Women raised issues of malnutrition, land rights, forest rights, environment, employment, economy and even the plight of women prisoners. Interestingly, two women human rights activist who are currently in prison, Professor Shoma Sen and trade unionist Sudha Bharadwaj marched inside their prison cells to participate in the march!
CJP Secretary Teesta Setalvad addressed the gathering in Bandra in Mumbai and said that women needed to stand up to the present regime and ask tough questions about a whole host of issues. “We need to speak out against the politics of hate, especially how it has been legitimised over the last five years under the present regime. We must also condemn how they are trying to muzzle dissent, especially that by the student community across India; in Delhi, JNU, Allahabad, Hyderabad, FTII,” she said. She also encouraged women to stand up for the rights of Adivasis, farmers and workers.
The marches saw participation from not just women, but also their male allies who walked to express solidarity.
“Oppression and discrimination take place in all communities, social classes and groups. Women have suffered abuse and violence in the name of culture and tradition. This is why it is important to march together demanding change,” said human rights activist Irfan Engineer who joined the Bandra protest.
