The Pragatisheel Mahila Samaj Convention held in Delhi on 29 October 1988 focused primarily on:
Women’s empowerment through social justice, education, and economic self-reliance.
Key Focus Areas
Women’s legal rights and protection against social injustice
Economic independence through cooperative models and skill development
Education and awareness for rural and urban women
Opposition to dowry, exploitation, and gender discrimination
Promotion of moral and social values in leadership
Participated by Social activists, Women educators, Members of progressive socio-spiritual organizations, Grassroots women leaders. The convention aimed to encourage women to take active roles in social transformation and community development.
Prontist Sarva Samaj Mahila Samiti
(A Confederation of 44 Samajas)
Proutist Sarva Samaj Mahila Samiti has emerged with a dynamic new vision in thought and practice. The Samiti envisages the imple-mentation of a new social philosophy PROUT (Progressive Utilization Theory) which is based on spiritual values of life, PROUT stands for an establishment of a universal human society which guarantee the basic essentialīties of life, rational distribution and an ever-increasing standard of living to all people.
Women comprise more than half the world’s population and are oppressed in all countries of the world today. Thousands of years of exploitation have obstructed women’s capacity, reduced their self-confidence and engendered in them various inferiority complexes. In all countries women have been deprived of their economic rights thereby making them economically dependent on men for social security. And also the patriarchal structures, legal injustices, present cultural oppression and lack of political representation have prevented women from developing their innate human potentials. All these together degenerated the collective outlook and this must be radically changed to eradicate oppression. Piece-meal efforts will not yield any positive result in this struggle.
Society should be built on coordinated cooperation. If any part of society lags behind Social progress is retarded. Out of goodwill and trust women delegated their responsibilities to men but men have taken advantage of this trust and inflicted endless miseries on women. But the liberation of women cannot be achieved through trade union-like agitation. A change of consciousness and constructive programme both are required to establish an ideal benevolent society based on the principles of social equality and cooperation.
Proutist Sarva Samaj Mahila Samiti has initiated a pact less fight against exploitation to liberate women from all socio-economico-political subjugation. The Samiti has coordinated rallies in all districts of India to make women conscious of their present exploitation also to educate them about local issues in the light of PROUT. The Samiti has laid down the following programmes to fulfil its objectives:
- To fight against all socio-economico-political and religious exploitation, thereby to establish a comprehensive new social order based on PROUT.
- To elevate the social status of women based on their inherent physical, mental and spiritual potential,
- To vigorously oppose all kinds of propaganda by vested interests which degenerate and dehumanize women especially in advertisement media
- To vigorously oppose all kinds of pornography.
- To prohibit all sensational extroversial songs, perverted dances and periodicals which encourage pseudo-culture. based on materialistic culture.
- To discourage the humiliating system of ‘kanyadan’ which is being performed in traditional ceremonies. dogmatic religious
- To oppose the dowry system and extravagant marriage celebration which leave people in debt.
- To oppose prostitution and support an alternative employment and other economic rehabilitation for women.
- To educate women in self-defense, physical stress and proper health care including yoga postures and kaoshikii dance.
- To demand free education up to higher standard.
- To support the formation of women’s meditation centers for the spiritual and cultural elevation of women.
- Blackmailing of women in any walk of their lives should be socially condemned and legally prohibited.
- To fight for equal employment opportunities, economic independence and social security for every woman.
- To demand free and proper medical care, maternity and childcare facilities for all women.
- Pregnancy and childcare, social security should be legally provided.
on the principles of social equality and cooperation.
Proutist Sarva Samaj Mahila Samiti has initiated a pact less fight against exploitation to liberate women from all socio-economico-political subjugation. The Samiti has coordinated rallies in all districts of India to make women conscious of their present exploitation also to educate them about local issues in the light of PROUT. The Samiti has laid down the following programmes to fulfil its objectives:
- To fight against all socio-economico-political and religious exploitation, thereby establishing a comprehensive new social order based on PROUT.
- To elevate the social status of women based on their inherent physical, mental and spiritual potential,
- To vigorously oppose all kinds of propaganda by vested interests which degenerate and dehumanize women especially in advertisement media.
PROUT AN ALTERNATIVE SYSTEM (Where People Matter)
- Guarantee of minimum necessities of life to all people.
- Regional control of resources.
- Decentralization of economic power.
- Cooperative industrial structure.
- Collective moralist leadership.
- Education based on human values of life.
- Unbarred cultural expression.
- Rational distribution of wealth,
- Increased standard of living according to time, space and person.
- Maximum utilization of resources.
- Self-sufficient economic zone with local planning and participation
Gist of Resolution
- The Proutist Sarva Samaj Mahila Samiti will review the prevalent condition of large-scale insecurity and frustration of ASSAM and PUNJAB sisters. The Samits will draw a comprehensive programme to save sisters from any socio-economic-political disaster.
- The Samiti will draw a definite programme. against the growing materialistic culture which is becoming detrimental to women’s progress and dignity.
- The Samiti will try to create equal opportunities of work for every woman.
- The Samiti will project “the need of collective moralist leadership” on humanistic and spiritual values of life.
OUR SLOGANS
- Moralist of the world-unite
- We want an exploitation-free society
- Social equality is the birthright of every woman.
- We demand coordinated cooperation and not sub-ordinated co-operation.
MANAGEMENT BODY
Chairperson- Dr. Vidya Jain, Bhopal
Secretary -Sulekha Devi, Calicut
Organisers:
1) Area East – Srilekha Banerjii, Hoogly
2) Area Vect – Giita Gholoria, mumbai
3) Area North – Prakash Kaur, Amritar
4) Area South – Mainjula Dayanand, Bangalore
Members:
1) Sarala Bisbal, Raigarh
2) Mridula Das, Kolkata
3) Arati Dubey, Raipur
4) Mrs Andel, Bangalore
5) Savitra Mahapatra, Orissa
6) Liila Saptarsy, Nagpur
7) Priyabala Devi, Purnia
8) Sudha Devi, Patna
In-Charges:
Overall incharge – Dr. Vidya Jain, Bhopal
Medical Discipline & Security
In-charge – Smita Roul, Mumbai
Routine In-charge – Sulekha Devi, Kolkata
Announcer – Sujit Singh, Delhi
Accomodation
In-charge – Satyavati Devi, Delhi
Food-In-Charge -Tapasi Devi, Patna
Cultural Programme in charge – Varnali Roy, Calicut
Public Relations in charge – Urmila Banerjee, Rewa
Procession – Uma Devi, Delhi
Sanitation – Srilekha Banerjee, Hoogly
Delegate Meeting Programme
Chairperson – Dr. Vidya Jain
Welcoming Address – Sulekha Ghosh
Opening Ceremony – Dr. Vidya Jain
Speakers:
1) Sarala Vishal
2) Savita Mahapatra
3) Mridula Das
4) Sarojini Devi
Opening Conference Programme
Chair – person – Sulekha Devi
Speakers – Dr. Vidya Jain
Delhi Co-ordinating Board members
1) Dr. Vidya Jain
2) Sujit Singh
3) Uma Devi
4) Satyavati Devi
Courtesy : Anukirti didi, Mumbai
