National Federation of Indian Women celebrates Young Women's Day on its 60th anniversary

Members of National Federation of Indian Women (NFIW), including Aruna Roy and Annie Raja, today celebrated 'Young Women's Day' to mark the 60th anniversary of the CPI's women's wing.

Crediting efforts by NFIW for the implementation of the MNREGA scheme, social activist Roy said: "We had taken twenty thousand signatures and stood at the Parliament and that is how the MNREGA came into existence."

She called upon young women to take responsibility and think for the betterment of the country. "Youth is the future of the country and this is why are calling upon the young women to break the age-long traditions of patriarchy and establish a new identity," she said.

Accusing the media of not giving proper coverage to the demonstrations being staged by people in rural areas, Roy said, "In the recent times, there have been a lot of mobilisation in the rural areas but the media does not cover them because it is corporatised."

The members also accused the political parties of not addressing women related issues.

"Every 22 minute, a rape happens in our country. The political parties are not doing enough to stop these," said Kamla, one of the members present at the gathering. Among the other leaders present at the gathering were Kamla, D Raja, MP from CPI, and Gargi Chakraborty.