CONCEPT

WPC is a major coalition of women’s groups, academic institutions, women leaders and concerned individuals. The ultimate goal of WPC is to dialogue with the Members of Parliament (MP’s) and policy makers at national level, and raising issues at state level and at regional and international forums to influence policy level decisions.
WPC was born out of a realization that despite substantial grassroots efforts and advocacy, women’s groups in India were lacking the co-ordination to affect national legislative outcomes. A national body was needed to professionally lobby Parliament and the Government on women’s issues. In the last three decades, Women’s Movement in India has taken up various issues concerning women, starting from Domestic Violence to women’s representation in the Parliament. Business interest groups, such as FICCI, CII, and ASSOCHAM, have been successfully representing the interest of their respective industries in India for years. Today, the government, before declaring any policy or a regulation targeting these industries, seeks the views of these groups. Similarly, the agricultural interest groups advocate for farmers and work to protect their interests, trade unions and public employee interest groups represent working class interests. These groups have made immense contributions in raising issues and influencing the policy makers, the legislators, and law enforcement for the benefit of the communities they represent. They not only identify issues that concern them but also help in drafting bills and policies that work in favor of their interests.
However, when we look at the situation of women’s NGOs, similar groups and activities are missing. A need was felt for an organization that could speak for women on their issues and successfully impact legislation, which could impact women positively. WPC is trying to fill that gap.

GENESIS

A group of likeminded NGOs and development professionals came together on June 5, 2004 to hold an intensive dialogue to explore the possibilities of forming a National Level Umbrella Organization to voice women’s concerns that affect women. During this meeting 40 participants endorsed the creation of WPC and a working group pursuant to the plan adopted in this meeting, six regional consultative meetings were conducted in Jharkhand, Goa, Rajasthan, Meghalaya, Karnataka and Chandigarh to obtain the input on the concept. Approximately 450 people attended these workshops from almost all the states in India. At each meeting the WPC concept was unanimously endorsed, suggestions were made for the structure and functioning of WPC. The workshops also identified priority issues concerning women and classified them into national, regional and local ones. All the regional workshops got extensive media coverage in national and local dailies. Based on the common recommendations that came up at the regional meetings, it was decided to form a National Body with its office in New Delhi. It was also resolved that the regional centers would work towards strengthening the WPC through networking.

WPC was registered as an independent body on February 22, 2005 under the Societies Registration Act XXI of 1860 vide registration number 51796 of 2005, WomenPowerConnect and formally launched at its Founding Convention on February 25-26, 2005 in New Delhi.

     

Based on the recommendations from regional meetings, the Founding Convention took up three priority issues and held panel discussions and strategy sessions for legislative action. These issues were: -
• Thirty-three percent reservation for women in Parliament and State Legislature.
• Domestic Violence Bill.
• Gender-Responsive Budgeting.

The founding Convention was inaugurated by Smt.Sheila Dixit, Chief Minister, Delhi along with Ms.Kirsti Kolthoff, President, European Women’s Lobby by unfurling the WPC banner. Present on the occasion were Ms.Chandni Joshi, Regional Program Director, UNIFEM, South Asia, Dr.Kiran Bedi, IPS, Dr.Girija Vyas, Chairperson, National Commission for Women and Dr.Ranjana Kumari, President, WPC.

To intensify the movement on regional issues, it was decided to set up the state bodies of WPC and conduct regional lobby training programmes in all the 5 regions.

During the second convention held on 5th –6th May 2006, WPC adopted two more priority issues:-

• Protection of Women against Sexual Harassment at Workplace.
• Declining Child Sex Ratio.

VISION

To create structures that are inclusive, just and democratic, restructuring gender relations from the home to the state, in order to achieve equality and promote lives of dignity, autonomy and peace.

MISSION

To provide timely, just and regular input on public policy, budgets and legislative matters; including their proper implementation for positive impact on the lives of women and children and to promote equality between men and women.

GOALS

• To attain gender equality and work for social, political and economic empowerment of women.

OBJECTIVES

• To create an alliance of women’s organizations, NGOs and individuals working with a special focus on women and the girl child.
• To influence legislation with a view to enhancing constitutional rights of women and the girl child.
• To initiate a dialogue at the regional, state national and international levels to voice concerns and needs of the people it represented.
• To promote and support legislation or amendment of existing laws to empower women.
• To observe, monitor, and analyze policies, legislation and budgets with the aim of gender mainstreaming.

STRUCTURE OF THE ORGANIZATION


WPC is a membership-based organization with more than 500 members across the nation.


THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY of WPC consists of the following:-

• All the members of the Governing Body.
• All organizational members at the grass-roots level, state level and at National level.
• All individual members at the Grass roots level and Individual level
.
The WPC currently has more than 500 individual and organizational members. The General Asesembly is required to meet once in every year for transacting the following:-

i) To receive and approve the report of the work done during the year.
ii) To suggest future programmes and establish programme priorities.
iii) To elect the Governing Body of the Society, once every two years.
iv) To consider, approve and adopt audited statement.
v) To adopt or amend the Rules and regulations of the society whenever necessary.

GOVERNING BODY

The Governing Body constitutes four office bearers and five regional representatives. It was constituted and had met for the first time on 24 February 2005. The Governing Body meets quarterly and is the body in whose hands the affairs of the society are vested between General Assembly meetings. The Governing Body is responsible for making all policy-related decisions, planning annual activities and budgets. It also ensures the effective management of the organization.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

The GB has appointed an Executive Committee to assist it in coordination work. EC meets once in every month.

Members of EC

Ms Ranjana Kumari, President

Dr N. Hamsa, Secretary

Ms Gouri Chaudhury, Member

Ms Sunila Singh, Treasurer

Executive Committee has co-opted three members namely: Ms Benita Sharma, Ms.Tara Sharma and Ms.Sara Pilot.

               
SECRETARIAT

Dr.N.Hamsa, Executive Director

Ms.Kanta Singh, Senior Programme Officer

Ms.Savita Sethi, Programme Officer

Ms.Benu Verma, Researcher

Ms.Kavya Bopanna, Research and Policy Officer

Ms.Varsha, Accounts Officer

Mr.Pawan Kumar, Administrative Assistant

Mr.Sunil Kumar, Office Assistant

The Secretariat also gets regular interns from Harward Law School and Indian Universities. Currently we have one intern; Ms.Diana Banks.


                

                                     WPC TEAM
STATE CHAPTER

In order to intensify the movement, it was decided at the Second National Convention to set up five state chapters in the five different regions of the country.

The State Chapters of WPC have been conceptualized in such a way that they maintain their autonomy in prioritizing and lobbying for state/ regional issues and carry out their work accordingly.At the same time, the state chapters would also lobby for WPC priority issues and work for effective implementation of policies and programmes. State chapters have an active role to play in building the membership of the organization.WPC and its State Chapters have to work in tandem so that issues taken up by both at the Centre and State levels will be strengthened through mutual support.

5 WPC Chapters have been launched in states of Jharkhand, Karnataka, Assam Rajasthan and Punjab.

Each of the state chapter has a convener who is the head of an institution in that region; the WPC secretariat supports the State Chapter in organizing events .