The Progressive Organisation for Women (POW) is organising its seventh mahasabha here from June 10 to 12 in which several national and State-level leaders and activists will take part, according to V. Sandhya, national convenor of the organisation here on Thursday.
Speaking at the poster release function here, she said a public meet would be held at the Gymkhana grounds on June 10 followed by a convention at the Montessori Mahila Kalasala on June 11 and 12 in which issues concerning women would be discussed.
“Physical attacks on women are increasing day by day. Both the Central and State governments have failed to protect women and on many occasions the Nirbhaya Act and the Domestic Violence Act have not been properly used. The need of the hour is ensuring stringent punishment to the culprits,” she said. The main aim of the mahasabha was to create awareness among women about their rights and responsibilities.
“Women are still treated as secondary citizens by the society and 33% reservation is yet to see the light in Parliament,” she said.
Topics for discussion
Ms. Sandhya said social rights activists like Teesta Satalvad, Bhela Bhatia and Radhika Vemula would talk on issues concerning women. Topics like religion, caste and women, trials and tribulations of Adivasi women and capitalism and women’s freedom would be discussed. “The outfit will convene a meeting in which three years of its functioning will be analysed.”
Ms. Sandhya said earlier the mahasabhas were held at Rajahmundry, Yellandu, Eluru, Warangal, Vizag and Hyderabad.