My Journey As 42nd President Of All India Women`s Conference

By Smt. Sheela Kakde, 42nd President of AIWC

Withimmense gratitude to the Almighty I took over as 42nd President of All India Women`s Conference, on 30th January 2020 at Om Shanti Retreat Centre, Manesar along with the elected team of Secretary General Smt. Kuljit Kaur from Delhi, Hon. Treasurer, Smt. Rehana Begum from Pondicherry, Vice Presidents 1.Smt. Ashitha Sharan, Banglore, 2. Dr. Bhavna Joshipura, Rajkot, 3. Smt. Neeru Jain, Haridwar, 4. Smt. Santosh Aggarwal, Jaipur, 5. Smt. Suman Yadav, Delhi, and Jt. Secretary Smt. Supriya Bhalerao, Hydrabad. Devotion and Patience (Shraddha and Saburi) led me to this journey from 20th December 2019 , when the ballots declared my victory with a thumping majority of 33 votes which probably happened for the first time in the Presidential Election.

The charge of the office was handed over to the newly elected Management on 3rd February 2020 at the Head Office by the immediate ex-President, Smt. Rakesh Dhawan, and her team Smt. Kalyani Raj as Secretary General and Dr. Manju Kak as Treasurer. Small handing over ceremony was witnessed by the well-wishers, Patron Smt. Bina Jain, Vice President Smt. Neeru Jain, Smt. Rekha Sali and Smt. Harsha Ladhani from Mumbai and the staff. With the attitude of “WORK IS WORSHIP” I started drawing up the plan of activities which were to be carried out in the next three years of my allotted tenure as the President of the organization, which is marching towards its century.

In my Presidential Address I had declared three new innovative working teams namely, “Swachhata Abhiyan”, “Women`s Safety” and “Save Planet, Save Earth” which I felt would be our contribution to a New India as visualized by our Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modiji. Along with these projects I took over the project for better living of the Matajis of Tarash Mandir Old Age Home, which is being taken care of by AIWC for past thirty five years in Vrindavan.

We were just settling in with our initial Orientation training for our newly appointed Zonal Organisers and elected Vice Presidents, when the stories of the Corona virus started coming in. We had to cancel our physical participation in the most prestigious United Nations CSW 64 meeting in New York. With the virus spreading like wildfire, the entire nation went into a sudden lockdown from 24th March 2020. It hit me like a bolt from the blue. I finally realised that this was a new and never heard of challenge that I have to face. But not one to bow down, I started thinking of ways and means to face the situation. By then it was clear that the virus was here to stay. The pandemic had created significant unprecedented challenges for all leaders across the globe. We soon geared up and adjusted the pattern of our work in Head Office and the community as was required in different states and localities. I decided to take on this new challenge with determination and plunged headlong into the situation bearing in mind the safety of all residents at the campus and all members across the country by boosting their courage and faith in the Almighty by WhatsApp messages and email.

The shelter home for distressed women with twenty residents and the warden continued to work with no new entries. They were cheered up with frequent visit by me, daily yogic practice, gardening, drawing, painting, stitching masks etc. to keep them busy. At times we arranged music and dance also to make life interesting. Cleaning the premises kept them occupied. AIWC premises were kept neat and clean daily by the staff members staying in the staff quarters. Office, Library, Exhibition Halls, Hostel, Shelter Home, Community College were all sanitized regularly. The staff members and the girls staying in the hostel and short stay home were checked with pulse monitors to keep a record of oxygen saturation and their temperature also was checked. Homeopathic medicines were provided for immunization by the Secretary. General.

All through the first and second phase the office was running regularly as per Govt. instructions, except for the lockdown imposed by the authorities. There were hardly any buses or regular metro services, still the staff managed to come to the office. The mess for the working women who were staying in the hostel was running regularly. The mess manager would take time to go to the market to get the necessary items so that the kitchen could function smoothly. This was on home ground in Delhi where I could supervise what is being done.

The bigger challenge was to boost the morale of the members of our approximately 500 branches across the country. Many of the senior members were going into depression as they were all alone. So I decided to conduct regular webinars. But there was the problem that many members did not have a smart phone or laptop and those who had did not know how to log in. Hence began the mammoth task of calling them personally and explaining to them step by step the procedure of logging in to the webinar. It was a great achievement accomplished and I am proud to say that our members have become tech savvy.

A few pictures will elaborate on the activities carried out across the country by AIWC Warriors during this highly challenging period. Thousands of masks were stitched and distributed regularly by the members. Chemical free sanitizers were prepared, tons of different food items were prepared at home by branches and were distributed to migrants and poor needy people. Any other required items were also distributed free. Free medicines were given, RTPCR tests done, medical help provided. The services of the AIWC members were recognized and many were appreciated. A big salute to all the Covid Warriors of AIWC. Women suffered a hard blow at home and in the work place. Our members helped them overcome atrocities. Their work was also appreciated. Our Community College students found it really tough with the lack of smart phones or laptops of their own, but our teachers took great care of these students for long hours. The amount of work done by our members was tremendous and noteworthy. We have published all of that, in our special issue of our quarterly magazine, Roshni. Vice President Dr. Bhavna Joshipura and her team in Rajkot did excellent work during this testing time by providing food, RTPCR tests, vaccination, free accommodation for medical team and treatment at the PHC run by the branch.

Any challenging situation brings in new ideas. A society survives best when interacting, sharing and learning happen at the same time. We introduced WEBEX virtual platform to conduct meetings and programs regularly since September 2020 and conducted all Half yearly, Annual and Zonal Meetings, and awareness programs which were very necessary at that period of time. Later our members also started conducting webinars on various topics of interest for members across the country. The rich legacy of All India Women`s Conference created by the dedicated and selfless services by our past presidents since 1927 till 2010 by 38 past presidents out of 42 till date was presented with branch members, relatives and close associates of all of them. Life sketches, work done by the past presidents for the nation and the Organisation was very well received by the members across the country. We could pay our respects to each one of our stalwarts in a very dignified manner. Now all the recordings are on YouTube and in the archival section of our MCM Library. This series of Past Presidents proved very useful as our members were enlightened on the tremendous work done by these esteemed women. Most of us were hardly even aware of their names, leave alone the rich legacy left by them. The MCM Library team of Ranjana and Sujata, provided a lot of archival material and MIC Dr. Yuthika Mishraji proved a very apt anchor. Jt. Sec. Smt. Supriya Bhalerao prepared very attractive invitations and technical support was provided by Program Officers Ritu and Pratibha. Everybody played a role in the success of the series.

Commendable efforts were made to create awareness through various webinars on different topics by Vice Presidents Ashita Saran, Bhavna Joshipura, Zonal Organisers Usha Nair-South Zone B, Kalpana Roy-Eastern Zone A, Madhu SaranCentral Zone B, Nishi Jain- Central Zone A, Vidya Roy-Eastern Zone B, BKD Varaprasadini- South Zone A, Sumi Chopra-North Zone , MICs Manju Kak- Communal Harmony and Peace, Kalyani Raj - Save Planet, Save Earth, ( now President Elect), Indrani Sengupta - Art & Culture, Ritu Singhal - Textile and Shilpkala, Asst. Sec. Sheveta Rai Talwar. I heartily appreciate their efforts and congratulate each one of them. I expect others to follow them in the future as we march towards the century. I am witness to the sincere efforts made by MIC Constitution Rekha Sali along with Secretary General Kuljit Kaur in finalizing the amendment of our Constitution which began in 2017. Dr. Sadhna Kulashrestha`s help in streamlining Tarash Mandir Old Age and Short Stay Home activities with Dr. Anita Gupta definitely deserve a big Thank You. Similarly sincere efforts of Hostel MIC Vijayalakshmi Krishnamoorthi deserve applause. The issues of our quarterly magazine ROSHNI, edited by MIC Roshni, Chitra Sarkar very well depict our activities at HO and at the branch level. Thank you Chitraji for doing commendable job in the pandemic.

Due to the lock down during the pandemic, frequent travels nationally and internationally were curtailed and staying continuously for longer period at 6, Bhagwan Dass Road campus, drew my attention to various jobs which needed to be taken up.

Three years’ journey as the 42nd President was differently placed in my platter and with the blessings of the Almighty, it is now culminating with a very satisfactory feeling of accomplishments in the most adverse circumstances. In tough situations I did not sit back or complain, but faced the challenges as and when they came and converted them into opportunities for the betterment of the organisation.

Mine was certainly not a normal tenure like all the Presidents before me and probably even for those who will follow me. It was a tenure never dreamt of before and though the regular work suffered a setback due to the lock down and financial crisis, GOD did not let me down. He saw to it that every minute of mine spent on these premises was worth my staying away from home as He opened new and better avenues for me once the crisis was over.

I extend my heartfelt Gratitude for the whole hearted cooperation of the Sec. Gen. Kuljit Kaur and the Treasurer Rehana Begum. Patience and understanding along with the zeal to work for AIWC has helped us to successfully complete our tenure. My sincere thanks to our Patrons Smt. Bina Jain, Smt. Veena Kohli and Smt. Rakesh Dhawan for their timely guidance and advice with love and appreciation all throughout my tenure.

My sincere thanks are due to all the Vice Presidents, Jt. Sec., Asst. Secs., Zonal Organisers, MICs, SCMs and all my dear member sisters who stood by us all through out and supported us. The staff members along with Executive Secretary Poonam

Gupta and Finance Manager Biji Sabastian’s, cooperation and efficiency must be appreciated. Thank you, one and all. The contractors who played major role at AIWC in the past two years also deserve my special Thanks. Remember we are not “a team” just because we work togetherWe are a "team" because we respect, trust and care for each other.

Last but not least MR. RANJIT KAKDE, my husband, I really am at a loss for words as none of this would have been possible without his whole hearted support. In the worst phase of the pandemic when I was down, it was he who pulled me up and never once insisted that I should come home as he was all alone.

My journey in service began by donating the first bottle of blood at the age of 18yrs with my father`s encouragement and was nurtured by my ever supportive mother and encouraging mother in law and father in law. My service continues. I am ever so grateful to Him for that.

Complete surrender to the Almighty, He has helped me to sail through the rough sea successfully.

May AIWC flourish in the times to come.

SARVE SUKHINAH SANTU I

SARVE SANTU NIRAMAYAH II

SARVE BHADRANI PASHYANTU II

MA KASCHIT DUKHA BHAG BHAVET II

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