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Organized by

D.No. xxxxx, Near Eedgah, Ashok Nagar,

ANANTAPUR - 515 001

Andhra Pradesh

Mail: crdssociety@rediffmail.com

Phone: +91

Supported by

Secunderabad

And

Anantapur 515 001

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Prominent

participants1. Mrs. Topudurthi

Kavitha,

Z.P. Chairperson,

Anantapur

2. Ms. Shakuntalamma,

District Vice-

President, AITUC,

3. Ms. Ameena,

A.P. Mahilasamkhya

Convener and State Vice-

President

4. Mrs. Bhanuja,President, REDS, Kadiri,

5. Mrs. Sirisha, Advocate,

C.K. Palli

Campaign

Reservation

Express A Campaign in support of Women ReservationCampaign Reservation Express in support of WomenReservation Bill, to be passed in its present form in the

Lok Sabha and State Assemblies is launched on May 20,

2010 in Jhansi city which has its historical significance

for Women Struggles. Three Karvans were flagged off

from Jhansi which travelled about 15,000 kilometers and

covered about 56 cities and towns all over India.

Initiated by ANHAD, the Campaign Reservation Express

has been endorsed by a large number of women

networks, voluntary organizations and civil society

groups across India.

As a part of this programme Public Meetings, Press

Conferences and cultural progress across India were

hosted by local organizations. Local activists, women

leaders, artists, intellectuals and other civil society

members have widely participated in these meetings.

This 25 days campaign was the largest campaign ever in

support of the women political participation conceiving

the idea to implement Reservation for Women in the

present form. It acquired a special significance as it is

being organized in the background of a certain

conservative religious section opposing womensparticipant in politics.

More than 50% of the karwan members were Muslim

women struggling to get equal citizenship rights and

fighting against discrimination. Internally displaced

women, Dalit women, ordinary grass root workers to

young film makers and senior activists also travelled

along with these teams which represented women from

the states of Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharastra,

Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Delhi, Karnataka, Assam and

other states and represented problems faced by them in

The visiting

Karwan Members1) Ms. Sania Hashmi

2) Ms. Manisha Trivedi3) Ms. Priyanka Jaiswal

4) Ms. Lakshmi Parmar

5) Ms. Zubeda Shekh

6) Ms. Sultana Shekh

7) Ms. Safiya ano

8) Ms. Abida Bano

9) Ms. Tauheeda Bano

10) Ms. Bimla Devi

11) Ms. Deepti Bharti

12) Ms. Misro Devi

13) Ms. Bhanwari Devi

14) Ms. Mohini Jatav

15) Mr. Sanjay Sharma

16) Mr. Pradeep Kumar

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their daily life and demanded the passage of bill in its present form.

More than one lakh leaflets were distributed during the campaign. About 20,000 specially

designed postcards were signed which were for submission to the Prime Minister of India. The

entire activities and movements of the Karwans were updated in the website

www.reservationexrpess.org during the campaign.

It was not only the largest campaign for demanding the passage of Women Reservation Bill, but

it also was a celebration of thousands of groups coming together and in many places local

cultural troupes have also performed in support of the bill and demanding the passing of the

bill in its present form.

The Karwan travelling in Route 2, covering the southern parts of the country has passed through

Anantapur town on its way from Bangalore. The team comprised of 14 prominent members

fighting for women reservation.

The meeting, at Anantapur was organized by Crescent Rural Development Society, Anantapur

and was supported by Centre for World Solidarity, Secunderabad and Accion Fraterna,

Anantapur. The meeting was organized in the Lecture Hall cum Library Block of local

Government Arts College. It was attended by about 450 women participants coming from

different parts of the district.

Mr. Saddam Basha, President of CRDS, Anantapur

welcomed the team of social worriers to

Anantapur. The programme was chaired by Mrs.

Topudurthi Kavitha, Z.P. Chairperson, Anantapur.

Other prominent participants in the meeting

besides the vising group included

Ms. Shakuntalamma, District Vice-President,

AITUC, Ms. Ameena, A.P. Mahilasamkhya Convener

and State Vice-President, Mrs. Bhanuja, President,

REDS, Kadiri, Mrs. Sirisha, Advocate, C.K. Palli,

Mr. S.M. Basha, District Human Rights Forum,

Anantapur. Other like-minded social organization

and NGOs participated include APPS Network,

Anantapur, Aman Parirakshna Vedika, Anantapur,

REDS, Kadiri, Andhra Pradesh Mahila Samakhya

(CPI), AITUC (CPI), CPM, Saraswathi Mahila

Mandali, Penukonda, Adarsh Students Welfare

Association, Anantapur,Jhansi Mahila Mandali,

Anantapur, and IDEAS, Kothacheruvu

The aim behind the entire programme was

explained by Ms. Manisha in her introductory

speech. The struggle of women in India and their

status and roles and responsibility in the society in

the household matters and their righteous demandwas explained by her.

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Soon after the formal chairing of all the

dignitaries on the dais, Ms. Kavitha, ZP

Chairperson has felicitated the visiting

Karwan members with Silk Shawl and flower

bouquets as a mark to appreciate their

efforts towards fighting for the rights of

women.

In her welcome address Ms. Shakuntala, said that

women are ahead in several fields. However,

their prominence is not accepted by the male

population. The same is reflected in the tactics

played by a few Political parties who are

opposing the passing of Women Reservation Bill

in its present form. She called on the women tofight to get their Right.

Ms. Kavitha, ZP Chairperson, addressing the

gathering said that Late Mr. Rajiv Gandhi has

proposed 33% of reservation in politics in the

local bodies. She felt that this particular act of

reservation in the local bodies has helped her to

become the First Lady of the District today.

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She opined that similar reservation is a righteous demand of the women in the MLA and MP

elections too. Though the bill is prepared and presented for approval in the Parliament, it

could not be presented for approval for several reasons, one of them being the presence of

male dominance parliament. However, with the strong determination of the present

government, the bill is constitutionally approved in the Lok Sabha and is to be presented in the

Rajya Sabha for passing. At this juncture she called on the women population to get literate byutilizing various government schemes like Mahila Saksharatha Mission etc., which will help

them to know their rights and fight for them. She said that she will be always dreaming that

every woman should be in a position, atleast, to sign her name and to read and write small

words etc.

Later Ms. Priyanka Jaiswal presented an

emotional and heart-touching poem on women

and her duties as a daughter, wife, mother, and

a member of the society. The sufferings she

receives from her own family, from the society

and at the work place etc. Her poetry also

depicted the sacrifice she makes inspite of thehardships she is facing and the disgrace she is

bearing. This poem of feelings has attracted

the attention of each participant.

Other members who spoke on this

occasion include Ms. Ameena, Convenor

of AP Mahilasamakhya, Ms. Bhanuja,

President, REDS, Kadiri, and Ms.

Shirisha, Advocate, Chenne Kothapalli.

The members of the visiting Karwan,

also presented the situation of women

in their respective States. They all

focused their attention on Women

Reservation bill and emphasized the

need to pass it in the present form.

The need for giving due prominence to

women has been pronounced by each

of them. Ms. Chaya, the experienced

senior citizen translated the speech

from Hindi to Telugu.

The members of the Karwan have also presented folk

songs of their respective states during the meeting.

Their presence at the dais has been the centre of

attraction as they were able to successfully express

themselves inspite of the language barrier.

The meeting concluded with the collection of signed

post cards by the participants in support of passing

the Women Reservation Bill in its present form.

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