All India Women's Conference (AIWC)

AIWC was founded in 1927 "to function as an organization dedicated to the upliftment and betterment of women and children". The organization is continuing its mission.

The initial objective of its founders Margaret Cousins, Sarojini Naidu, Anne Besant and others sits for Women Education, AIWC has since diversified into various social and economic issues concerning women.

AIWC today has over 1,56,000 members in more than 500 branches of AIWC across the country. It is recognized as a premier organization working for women's development and empowerment.

MISSION
AIWC was registered in 1930 under Societies Registration Act, XXI of 1860 (No. 558 of 1930).

The main objectives of the organization are:

• To work for a society based on the principle of social justice, personal integrity and equal rights and opportunities for all.

• To secure recognition of the inherent right of every human being to work and to achieve the essentials of life, which should not be determined by accident of birth or sex but by planned social distribution.

• To support the claim of every citizen to the right to enjoy basic civil liberties.

• To stand against all separatist tendencies and to promote greater national integration and unity.

• To work actively for the general progress and welfare of women and children and to help women utilize to the fullest, the Fundamental Right conferred on them by the Constitution of India.

• To work for permanent international amity and world peace.

Eminent women who guided and led the organization include:

• Margaret Cousins

• Sarojini Naidu

• Annie Besant

• Raj Kumari amrit Kaur

• Vijaylakshmi Pandit

• Muthulakshmy Reddy

• Kamaladevi chattopadhyaya

• Lakshmi N. Menon

• Masuma Begum

• Lakshmi Raghuramaiah

In the 80th year of service to the nations, AIWC has

• Over 530 branches grouped into nine zones and

• more than One Lakh Fifty-six Thousand members

At the International level, AIWC has

• Consultative status with the United Nations (ECOSOC)

• Membership of UNICEF Executive committee for 10 years

• Membership of CONGO. Elected as Vice-President of CONGO for two terms.

• A national Focal Point for International Networking for Sustainable Energy (INforSE)

• Membership of the World Renewable Energy Network (WREN)

• Membership of ENERGIA International Network on Gender and Energy

• Global Village Energy Partnership

• Membership of World Water Partnership

• Affiliated member of the International Alliance for Women (IAW)

• Affiliated to the Pan Pacific South-East Asian Women’s Association (PPSEAWA)

• Affiliated to NIMROO Education Centre, Japan

Important issues addressed by AIWC over the years are:

• Education

• Economic empowerment through poverty alleviation programmes among women through micro-credit programmes

• Health care: STIs & HIV/AIDS

• Legal reforms

• Violence against women

• Women's human rights

• Environment conservation and preservation

• Gender discrimination

• Women in distress

• non-conventional sources of energy and renewable energy and technology

The All India Women's Conference addresses the above issues through various activities and programmes:

• Literacy and Education

• Health and Family Welfare

• Socio Economic Programs

• Legislation

• Economic Empowerment and Microcredit

• Computer Training Programmes

• Textile Printing

• Non-conventional & Renewable Energy

• Consumer Awareness

• Research Programmes

• Rural Sanitation, Water and Waste Management

• Instututional Care

  • Short Stay homes

  • Old age homes

  • Single working Women Hostel