Women Leaders Vow to Fight for Tribal Women's Property Rights, Condemn Patriarchal Judgments at NFIW Meet in Shimla

Shimla, March 30: Women leaders from across India, gathered in Shimla for the three-day Executive Meeting of the National Federation of Indian Women (NFIW), have pledged to intensify their fight for equal property rights for tribal women in Himachal Pradesh and push for women's reservation in Parliament and Assemblies.

The meeting, held from March 28 to 30, also strongly condemned recent "patriarchal" court rulings, including a controversial judgment on a minor girl's case.

Addressing the gathering, Dr. Syeda Hameed, President of NFIW and former member of the Planning Commission and National Commission for Women, called upon women to lead a movement against rising communal hatred and violence in India.

“Women have to be at the forefront of building a strong movement against increasing communal hatred and violence in India and foster our age-old syncretic culture of unity and harmony,” she asserted.

NFIW, one of India’s oldest and largest mass women’s organizations with units in 28 states, has a long history of championing women's rights since its founding in 1954 by pioneers such as Aruna Asaf Ali, Vimla Dang, Renu Chakravartty, and Aruna Roy.

The Shimla meeting brought together delegates from various states and social and trade union activists from Himachal Pradesh  and other placex to deliberate on critical issues.

Sharp Criticism of 'Patriarchal' Judgments

During the discussions, Nisha Siddhu, General Secretary of NFIW, expressed deep concern over rising violence against women and what she termed "misogynistic" court judgments.

Referring to a recent ruling by the Allahabad High Court, which stated that “grabbing the breast and breaking the pant string is not an attempt to rape,” she remarked, “If the judiciary, that women most rely on for justice, becomes the means of perpetrating the same violence against women, then what will become of gender justice?”

Vice-President and former General Secretary of NFIW, Annie Raja, also spoke out against the erosion of democratic rights, particularly the suppression of freedom of expression and attacks on religious minorities, Dalits, and tribals.

She alleged saying that, “There should be no doubt in anyone’s mind that we are living today in a  State where and women and children are the worst victims of  fascist onslaught,”

Concerns Over Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023

Aruna Roy, President Emeritus of NFIW, joined the meeting via video conference and raised concerns over the new Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, 2023.

She warned that the Act’s amendments are designed to weaken the Citizen’s Right to Information, which is a crucial tool for holding governments accountable.

“The RTI Act is the backbone of a healthy democracy, and any attempt to dilute it will be met with strong resistance,” she stated.

 Resolutions Passed

The meeting concluded with the adoption of several significant resolutions:

A renewed commitment to fighting violence against women.

A sustained campaign against communalism and religious polarization.

Immediate implementation of women's reservation in Parliament and state Assemblies without conditions.

Opposition to the political witch-hunt of activists, academics, and artists who critique the regime for creating inequality and hatred.

A dedicated movement for ensuring equal property rights for tribal women in Himachal Pradesh.

NFIW leaders reaffirmed their commitment to amplifying women's voices and resisting policies and judgments that undermine gender justice.

With mounting challenges to women's rights and democratic freedoms, the organization vowed to strengthen its grassroots mobilization and advocacy efforts across the country.