The Third Conference of Pragatisheel Mahila Sangathan (PMS) was held on 22nd April 2001 at the Gandhi Peace Foundation Hall. It was inaugurated by Dr. Ranjana Saxena (Member, Academic Council of Delhi University). Speaking on the topic of “Current Challenges Before Women’s Education in India”, Ms. Saxena focused on two recent documents, one by the NCERT and the other by the UGC, to describe how privatization and saffronization are affecting education. Against this backdrop she placed the problems faced by girl children and young women.

The Conference was attended by women from a number of areas. They included workers, housewives, lawyers, nurses, scientists and women from other professions. Their small children accompanied many participants.

The Conference began with Nishant presenting progressive songs. After this Pummy (President of PMS) began the formal proceedings. One minute’s silence was observed in the memory of martyrs. Com. Poonam presented the General Secretary’s Report. It analysed the issues taken up by the Executive Committee as well as by various areas, and recorded the lessons of these for education of all members. The main struggles mentioned were the IFTU-PMS joint struggle against sexual harassment at LRS, PMS struggle for creche facilities in courts, and movements in Mahavir Enclave and Hyderpur against ration shopkeepers. PMS’s participation along with other organizations in anti-WTO campaign was also mentioned. On 8th March 2001, PMS organized a Dharna to expose the slogans of ‘empowerment of women’ of the Govt.

The Report evoked a lively debate, with almost twenty speakers expressing their opinions on the Report and sometimes even on general issues concerning women. The Report was later passed (with some additions in the form of struggles which had not been mentioned). Pummy introduced the proposed panel of the new Executive Committee leaving some vacancies for the areas to be filled after the area conferences. This was passed unanimously. Pummy was re-elected as President, Munni Devi and Savitri as Vice-Presidents and Poonam as General Secretary. Meena, Shobha and Mahima Bisht were elected as Executive members.

The Conference closed after passing the following resolutions: (1) Demanding that Delhi Govt. withdraw increase in prices of milk and adequate and cheap milk supply be ensured in jhuggies and resettlement colonies to ensure adequate access to growing children, pregnant and lactating women. (2) The accused in the several cases of sexual harassment at work-place, which have surfaced in the city over the past few years, should be arrested and brought to trial. In particular action should be taken in the FIR lodged against Dr. Arora (Director, LRS TB Hospital) for sexual harassment and he should be arrested. (3) The Supreme Court guidelines on sexual harassment must be modified so that criminal proceedings are not stalled under the guise of “committee reports”, which is what is actually happening. The guidelines must be modified to result in prosecution of the accused, not persecution of the victim. (4) Creche facility must be provided by the Delhi Govt. in the Delhi courts for use of lawyers, judges and other working women of the Courts.