On 22nd September 2025, a second meeting was held in Saharanpur, organized by Parcham, a women’s human rights organization that works for women’s empowerment by focusing on their health and education. The meeting took place at the residence of Qudsia Anjum, founder of Parcham.
The event titled “Women and the Constitution” brought together around 30–35 women, exceeding expectations and marking a renewed spirit of participation and discussion. Qudsia Anjum shared that usually 10–15 people attend, but the larger turnout reflected the enthusiasm surrounding Irfan Engineer’s visit as chief guest.
Engineer addressed key gender-related challenges and the constitutional provisions for women’s rights. He spoke about how the Constitution guarantees equality for women, yet social and cultural inequalities persist. Through continual struggle and awareness, women have gradually started realizing and asserting their equal status. He referred to positive developments—laws enabling representation in panchayats, professional advancements among women pilots, taxi drivers, and social workers—and noted that Parliament’s one-third reservation for women marks a step forward in political inclusion.
He also observed that progress remains uneven—urban centres like Mumbai and Delhi witness stronger women’s movements, while rural and caste-bound contexts still face resistance. Nevertheless, the Constitution provides the enabling environment for women everywhere to claim their rights.
During discussions, participants shared personal experiences of injustice, including one woman teacher who had been dismissed from her job and continues to face unemployment. Engineer drew attention to her courage as symbolic of broader collective progress, encouraging women to see individual struggles as part of the larger movement for equality.
Women representing different faiths and local organizations participated, strengthening inter-community dialogue and solidarity. By the end of the meeting, the group decided to form a WhatsApp network, plan regular quarterly meetings, and coordinate through joint action committees of women’s and civil society organizations.
The meeting concluded on a hopeful note, reaffirming Parcham’s long-standing connection to the CSSS Peace Centre and its shared commitment to empowering women, advancing constitutional awareness, and building unity through dialogue and mutual support.
