International Women’s Day was celebrated at Sideshwar Talao, Thane under the banner of LRS, PMS and Vignyaharta Mahila Mandal. It was attended by women, youth and children.

The program started with progressive songs sung by women and youth on emancipation of women and other oppressed sections of society.

Activists of Lok Raj Sangathan presented the history of the International Women’s Day, the role of women in struggles with the other oppressed section of the society in raising and winning demands like eight hours work, universal suffrage, equal wages etc. world over. The women in India have been in the forefront of struggles against every form of social injustice, for the right to work, education, health services, equal wages etc.

The women in this area are mostly domestic workers living in conditions of poor sanitation, water supply and electricity. The men folk have lost jobs due to factory closures. Women here have to work eight to ten hours for meagre salaries. They are demanding that domestic workers must be organised to fight for their rights and the dignity they deserve. PMS activists emphasized the need to build an active residents’ committee to lead this struggle.

There was a dance performance by children based on the folk theme of Maharashtra (Koli dance). The program ended with traditional fugadi played by women and young girls and finally with slogans hailing IWD.