Women's Dignity, Safety to Dominate Confab

HYDERABAD: The All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA) said it would hold its 14th national conference here from January 25 to 28, focusing on women’s dignity, safety and economic concerns.

Key attendees include Keerthi Singh, senior advocate and former Law Commission member; K.K. Shailaja, former health minister of Kerala; Sathi Devi, chairperson of the Kerala Women’s Commission; and academics Prof. Malini Bhattacharya, Prof. Ishita Mukherjee and Prof. Archana Prasad.

Addressing the media, AIDWA general secretary Mariam Dhawale said Telangana was chosen as the venue since many promises made to women in the state had remained unfulfilled. She noted that honour killings, communal tensions and violence continued to leave women insecure.

Referring to a recent survey on microfinance loans, Dhawale said women were increasingly burdened by debt. “Women are being encouraged by microfinance agencies to take loans for small needs and purchases. Due to lack of awareness, especially in rural areas, many accept these loans. When they fail to repay, they take fresh loans or are driven to extreme distress,” she said.

The survey, conducted among women across 22 states, she said, found that 45 per cent of respondents reported interest rates above 25 per cent; 10 per cent paid between 50 and 100 per cent; and about 20 per cent said they were charged between 100 and 200 per cent. In Telangana, nearly 300 women were identified as severely affected, with interventions by district collectors providing some relief.

AIDWA president P.K. Sreemathy said women’s dignity and constitutional rights were not being equally upheld. She stressed the need to reduce state revenues that are dependent on liquor sales, and suggested adopting welfare models from other states, such as government‑supported loans for women‑led livelihoods. Mobilising women to protect democratic and secular values would remain a key focus, she added.

State committee member Mallu Lakshmi said the four‑day conference would bring together representatives from across the country to discuss social, economic and political issues affecting women and to outline future programmes.