ALL INDIA WOMEN’S CONFERENCE ALL INDIA WOMEN’S CONFERENCE 1 9 2 7 – 2 0 0 5
Founded in 1927 Founded in 1927 by Margaret Cousins by Margaret Cousins
FOUNDER MEMBERS : Maharani Chimnabai Gaekwad Rani Sahiba of Sangli Mrs. Sarojini Naidu Mrs. Kamla Devi Chattopadhyaya Lady Dorab Tata … and many more
First meeting, Ferguson College, Pune, Jan. 3, 1927 Eminent women of the time associated with the cause …
AIWC’s Main Concerns Main Concerns AIWC’s (Pre Independence) (Pre Independence) • Women’s Education • Abolishing ‘Purdah’ & Child Marriage • Legislative Reforms • Save the Children Programme • Family Planning & Health Care • Harijan Welfare • Rural Reconstruction
Aims and Objectives Aims and Objectives • To work for a society based on principles of social justice, integrity, equal rights and opportunities. • To secure for every human being, the essentials of life , not determined by accident of birth or sex but by planned social distribution
INSTITUTIONS SET UP BY AIWC • Family Planning Centre (estd. in 1937, now the Family Planning Association of India) • Save the Children Committee (estd. in 1943, now the Indian Council for Child Welfare) • Cancer Research Institute (estd. in 1952, now the Cancer Institute, W.I.A., Chennai) • The Amrit Kaur Bal Vihar for Mentally Retarded Children (estd. in 1964)
EDUCATION PROGRAMME EDUCATION PROGRAMME � The All India Women’s Education Fund Association The All India Women’s Education Fund Association � (AIWEFA) was set up (AIWEFA) was set up � Lady Irwin College of Home Science was established Lady Irwin College of Home Science was established � in November 1932 in November 1932 The College offered a three- -year course for training teachers year course for training teachers The College offered a three and a one- -year diploma course in Home Science year diploma course in Home Science and a one
LEGISLATIVE REFORMS INITIATED BY AIWC • Sharda Act (1929) • Hindu Women’s Right to Property Act (1937) • Factory Act (1947) • Hindu Marriage and Divorce Act (1954) • Special Marriage Act (1954) • Hindu Minority and Guardianship Act (1956)
• Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act (1956) • The Suppression of Immoral Traffic in Women Act (1958) • Maternity Benefits Act (1961) • Dowry Prohibition Act (1961) • Equal Remuneration Act (1958, 1976)
PIONEERING PROGRAMMES OF AIWC • Civil defense for women • Catering management • Directory of eminent women • School for mentally retarded
Membership and Branches Membership and Branches
AIWC AT THE INTERNATIONAL LEVEL • Consultative status with the United Nations (ECOSOC). • Member of the UNICEF Executive Committee • Member of CONGO - Vice President till 2001 • Member of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) of the United Nations Environment Programme
AIWC • Is a National Focal Point of International Networking for Sustainable Energy • Is a member of the World Renewable Energy Network (WREN) • Is affiliated to the International Alliance of Women (IAW) and Pan Pacific South East Asian Women’s Association (PPSEAWA) • Is a member of the Global Water Partnership- South Asia Region (GWP-SAR)
Working Women’s Hostels Working Women’s Hostels 22 working women’s 22 working women’s hostels have been built hostels have been built all over India all over India
Working Women’s Hostel at Sarojini House 6, Bhagwandas Road, New Delhi-110 001.
HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE AIWC branches provide health & family welfare: • immunization • distribution of medicines • ante-natal health care • counseling of women • health van for slum areas • Deepali health Centre
LITERACY AND NON- FORMAL EDUCATION AIWC has initiated: • non-formal education programmes in primary education for school drop out girls • condensed courses for adult women and girls • literacy, education & craft programmes in rural and slum areas conducted by AIWC central Office
AIWC TRAINING AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC PROGRAMMES A large number of our branches have set up vocational training centres for women/girls in: • Handicraft • Computer training • Hair and Beauty Culture • Textile-cum-production centre • Screen and Block Printing • Weaving and candle making
SHORT STAY HOMES Shelter homes for women in distress Twelve Short Stay Homes all over India and Crisis Intervention Centre at Bapnu Ghar provide: • Boarding and Lodging • Counseling (legal and psychological) • Education • Training • Health Check ups • Rehabilitation and Follow-Up
Senior Citizen Homes & Support Services for Aged Women 12 homes provide physical, mental, social & psychological support to underprivileged senior women citizens nationwide Many of our branches run old age homes providing free services, as well as ‘Pay and Stay Homes’.
MICRO-CREDIT PROGRAMME • For poverty alleviation and empowerment of women • Self Help Groups formed by Branches • Feb. 2001: Asia Pacific Region Micro-credit Summit Meeting of Councils at New Delhi (in collaboration with ADB & Micro-credit Summit , Washington)--56 countries participated
PROGRAMMES FOR CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS The department has been working on : • Project on street children • Crèches for children • Scholarship program for brilliant children from lower income group, sponsored by Foundation For Excellence.
RURAL ENERGY Appointed approved nodal agency by the Govt. of India, Min. of Non-Conventional Energy Sources since 1989 to implement : • National project on Improved Chulha • Bio-gas Development • Propagation of solar cookers, water heaters, PV lanterns, & introduction of other NRSE devices
Margaret Cousins Memorial Library AIWC Central Office, New Delhi • research & reference centre on women’s studies, with books & reports on women-related issues • publishes books, magazines and periodicals (including Roshni, a quarterly in-house magazine)
RESEARCH AND DOCUMENTATION UNIT Set up in the MCM Library, Central Office, New Delhi to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee of AIWC : • To conduct research on issues related to women • To create a database of information with special reference to women
RECENT PUBLICATIONS RECENT PUBLICATIONS AND RESEARCH AND RESEARCH • Women’s Struggle: ‘History of AIWC’ Women’s Struggle: ‘History of AIWC’ • • A Research study on ‘Declining Sex Ratio’ A Research study on ‘Declining Sex Ratio’ • • SHGs SHGs and Attitude of Bank Managers: Partners in DFID and Attitude of Bank Managers: Partners in DFID • research project with RBI, CARE India & CII research project with RBI, CARE India & CII • Women’s Human Rights in Conflict Situations: Report of 10 all Women’s Human Rights in Conflict Situations: Report of 10 all • India workshops “Impact of Landmines” India workshops “Impact of Landmines” • Micro Credit Summit Report Micro Credit Summit Report • • Women in AIDS: Training manual and report Women in AIDS: Training manual and report • • Report of the Workshop on Integrated Project Mechanics and Report of the Workshop on Integrated Project Mechanics and • Project Planning Project Planning
Women in AIDS Women in AIDS • Women in AIDS Project was started in 1993, Women in AIDS Project was started in 1993, • supported by NORAD supported by NORAD • Training of Trainers Programme for creating Training of Trainers Programme for creating • awareness among women for Protection & awareness among women for Protection & Prevention of HIV/AIDS Prevention of HIV/AIDS
CANCER INSTITUTE CANCER INSTITUTE � Madras Branch of AIWC, the Women’s Indian Madras Branch of AIWC, the Women’s Indian � Association (WIA) started the Cancer Research Association (WIA) started the Cancer Research Institute in 1954 Institute in 1954 � Provided with the best available equipment Provided with the best available equipment � � Also provides treatment Also provides treatment �
PROGRAMMES FOR YOUTH AIWC established a new department for channeling youth energy This department will concentrate on: • Seminars • Vocational Training Programme • Gender Sensitisation in Schools
RURAL SANITATION, WATER AND WASTE MANAGEMENT The department is working through the branches in the areas of: • Sanitation • Waste management/kitchen waste • Water Conservation/Water Harvesting • Promotion of Vermiculture • Generating biogas
FUTURE PROGRAMMES OF AIWC FUTURE PROGRAMMES OF AIWC � Economic Empowerment for Women Economic Empowerment for Women � � Total literacy Total literacy � � Family Planning and Health Care Family Planning and Health Care � � Rural Development Rural Development � � Adoption of Villages with an Integrated Adoption of Villages with an Integrated � Approach Approach
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