THE ninth conference of the All India Plantation Workers’ Federation (AIPWF) which concluded in Agartalaon November 24,2013 left an indelible impression on all the delegates who participated in it from all the major plantation states in the country.More than 200 delegates from Kerala, Karnataka, Tamilnadu, West Bengal, Assam and Tripura attended the conference.The delegates from Kerala came in their full strength despite the long distance. Workers from all the major segments of the plantation sector – tea, coffee and rubber were represented in the delegations.

DISABILITY has remained largely an issue quite outside the scope of the so-called mainstream. The disabled were left out of the political, cultural and economic spheres and continue to be denied access in almost every sphere of life. The disabled continue to be looked upon as embodiments of sin or as omens of ill-luck. The situation began to alter somewhat along with the advancement of science and technology. Attempts were made to bring them in the areas of education, recreation etc. The first school for the visually impaired was set up in India in the 1880s.

ALL over the country, AIDWA units are engaged in a campaign from November 7-15, to disseminate the message of its forthcoming national conference. The tenth all India conference of the AIDWA is occurring at a particularly significant moment of time, when the challenges before the women’s movement in our country are increasing by the day. In the struggle against gender oppression, and the fight for justice, and equality, AIDWA has been playing a leading role over the past three years, and has been uniting multiple voices of protest against the escalating instances of violence against women.