The Crossbill Team
In a significant stride towards empowering women in agriculture, the All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS), Maharashtra, held its first-ever Women Farmers’ State Convention last week at the Comrade Godavari Parulekar Hall in Nashik.
This groundbreaking event, held in a traditionally male-dominated field, featured an all-women stage led by a five-member presidium and saw enthusiastic participation from women farmers across the state.
Dr. Ajit Nawale, AIKS state general secretary, outlined the objectives of the convention, emphasizing the need for greater representation and decision-making roles for women in the agricultural sector.
The convention was inaugurated by Mariam Dhawale, general secretary of the All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA).
Seema Kulkarni of the Mahila Kisan Adhikar Manch (Makaam) delivered a keynote address, while AIKS State Council member Dr. Kavita Ware presented a comprehensive 17-point Charter of Demands aimed at addressing the pressing issues faced by women in agriculture.
A total of 515 delegates attended the convention, comprising 443 women and 72 men from 15 districts.
Women delegates at the convention. Image: Dr. Ashok Dhawale
The largest contingents came from Thane-Palghar (155 women), Ahmednagar (109 women), and Nashik (93 women). Delegates representing allied organizations, including the AIDWA, Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), All India Agricultural Workers’ Union (AIAWU), Students’ Federation of India (SFI), and Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI), also contributed to the deliberations, with 21 women delegates offering valuable suggestions to refine the charter.
Prominent leaders present at the event included Dr. D. L. Karad, vice president of CITU; Vinod Nikole, CPI(M)’s re-elected MLA from Dahanu; CITU leaders Shubha Shamim and Anandi Avaghade; AIDWA state president Naseema Shaikh; DYFI state secretary Datta Chavan; and SFI state president Somnath Nirmal.
The convention concluded with a rousing address by AIKS president Dr. Ashok Dhawale, who emphasized the importance of organizing women farmers at the grassroots level.
Dr. Ashok Dhawale delivered the concluding speech at the convention. Image: Dr.Ashoke Dhawale.
Key resolutions included publishing a booklet to disseminate the Charter of Demands across rural Maharashtra, organizing district-level conventions for women farmers, and initiating struggles to address the issues highlighted in the charter.
This convention also coincides with ongoing farmer protests in northern states like Punjab, where farmers demand fair implementation of the Minimum Support Price (MSP) policy.
Women constitute a significant portion of India’s agricultural workforce but often face systemic challenges, including limited land ownership and societal discrimination. Maharashtra, as one of India’s leading agricultural states, boasts the highest number of women farmers, making this initiative a critical step toward their empowerment and recognition in decision-making roles within the sector.
This groundbreaking event, held in a traditionally male-dominated field, featured an all-women stage led by a five-member presidium and saw enthusiastic participation from women farmers across the state.
Dr. Ajit Nawale, AIKS state general secretary, outlined the objectives of the convention, emphasizing the need for greater representation and decision-making roles for women in the agricultural sector.
The convention was inaugurated by Mariam Dhawale, general secretary of the All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA).
Seema Kulkarni of the Mahila Kisan Adhikar Manch (Makaam) delivered a keynote address, while AIKS State Council member Dr. Kavita Ware presented a comprehensive 17-point Charter of Demands aimed at addressing the pressing issues faced by women in agriculture.
A total of 515 delegates attended the convention, comprising 443 women and 72 men from 15 districts.
Women delegates at the convention. Image: Dr. Ashok DhawaleThe largest contingents came from Thane-Palghar (155 women), Ahmednagar (109 women), and Nashik (93 women). Delegates representing allied organizations, including the AIDWA, Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), All India Agricultural Workers’ Union (AIAWU), Students’ Federation of India (SFI), and Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI), also contributed to the deliberations, with 21 women delegates offering valuable suggestions to refine the charter.
Prominent leaders present at the event included Dr. D. L. Karad, vice president of CITU; Vinod Nikole, CPI(M)’s re-elected MLA from Dahanu; CITU leaders Shubha Shamim and Anandi Avaghade; AIDWA state president Naseema Shaikh; DYFI state secretary Datta Chavan; and SFI state president Somnath Nirmal.
The convention concluded with a rousing address by AIKS president Dr. Ashok Dhawale, who emphasized the importance of organizing women farmers at the grassroots level.
Dr. Ashok Dhawale delivered the concluding speech at the convention. Image: Dr.Ashoke Dhawale.Key resolutions included publishing a booklet to disseminate the Charter of Demands across rural Maharashtra, organizing district-level conventions for women farmers, and initiating struggles to address the issues highlighted in the charter.
This convention also coincides with ongoing farmer protests in northern states like Punjab, where farmers demand fair implementation of the Minimum Support Price (MSP) policy.
Women constitute a significant portion of India’s agricultural workforce but often face systemic challenges, including limited land ownership and societal discrimination. Maharashtra, as one of India’s leading agricultural states, boasts the highest number of women farmers, making this initiative a critical step toward their empowerment and recognition in decision-making roles within the sector.
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