Razia Ansari is in charge of WWHL unit, Sikandria Colony and vice chairperson of the organization. Being active member of the team she has always been active in organizing women. Sensing the high degree of social activism in Razia, WWHL intensively involved her in training workshops on political education and engaged her in several political activities. With the passage of time Razia’s political skills polished. She contested local bodies’ elections in 2001 and 2005 and twice elected as lady councilor with a high margin. WWHL fully supported her during the election campaign.  She is very vocal, regularly attended union council sessions and bravely defending the rights of women of her area.

2. Struggle goes on…….

WWHL rally was passing through Egerton Road on May Day 2003, when Shehnaz first time saw so many women marching and raising slogans. She was impressed. She contacted WWHL office through a friend and decided to involve herself in the WWHL activities. With the passage of time she became regular visitor of WWHL office and attended different training workshops on working women issues and trade union organization. She was motivated to fight for legal rights. 

Shehnaz was working as purchase incharge in Longman factory. The factory management felt threatened from Shahnaz renewed activisme. On April 2004, they sacked her without giving any notice or reason. Shehnaz approached WWHL for legal help. WWHL provided Shehnaz services of lawyer to file and pursue case in the labor court.

She is determined to continue the struggle and fight for her rights.

3. United we stand

Anayat Bibi is a factory worker and incharge of WWHL Uhanabad unit. She has been actively involved in various organizational activities and also participated in several training workshops on trade union awareness, formation and workers rights. In May 2003, along with ten other women workers she was sacked from the factory without any notice, by the owner. The management refused to pay the arrears. Anayat Bibi preferred struggle over silence.

She organized the sacked women, formed an action committee. She tried to resolve the matter through dialogue, but factory management did not take her serious and refused to reinstate and pay the arrears. Realizing the situation, the action committee led by Anayat Bibi staged a sit in in front of the factory and forced the management to pay the arrears of all the sacked workers.

4. Say yes to education

Tasneem Farooq 32 is a house wife and one of the 26 learners in WWHL Literacy Center, Toba Tek Singh. She did not attend any school in her life, but she always wanted to get education. She was excited after hearing news about the establishment of WWHL literacy center in the area.

She immediately got admission in the center but her husband opposed it. She argued with him but in vain. The situation got worsened and the husband severally battered her and sent her books back in center. But Tasneem refused to give in and repeatedly tried to convince her husband. At last he agreed after two weeks and allowed her to attend the center.

Now Tasneem, mother of two, is a regular learner. After getting basic literacy skills, Tasneem wants to help her children in the school home work. She also wants to read newspaper to know what is happening around her. To her WWHL literacy center is a rare opportunity for women of the area not only to educate but to organize themselves as well.

5. Paying high cost of courage

Yasmin was 5-month pregnant when cruelly murdered after rape by a male neighbor and a habitual eve teaser, at her Shahdhra residence on 8 April, 2005

Yasmin Kanwal 24 was an active member of WWHL team and a lady health worker by profession. Yasmin mother is the incharge of this WWHL Shahdhra unit. Yasmin, mother of two, always actively participated in all activities at the unit and the WWHL office. She had attended several training workshops organized by WWHL, where she learnt how to fight for the rights.

She was always found vocal participant. She was working as study circle leader at a school set up by LEF in Shahdhra at the time of her murder. Yasmin never hesitated to raise voice against excesses against women……something never liked by this bankrupt male dominated society.

On the day of murder she was on way to her home from school when the neighbor teased her. Yasmin asked him…to stop this bad habit, which infuriated the man, who trespassed in house and murdered her after rape. 

Her only fault was to speak instead of keeping silent and sobbing, like millions of voiceless women. Yasmin to be remembered for a long time as a courageous woman.

6. Mobilizing community

Iqra Bano a 9-year old class-3 student is resident of Shahdhra, was attempted for rape by a neighbor. She received minor injuries and experienced severe shock. The poor parents wanted to register police case but the accused and the local community were pressuring for a compromise.

The parents approached the WWHL through its local unit for legal help. WWHL provided lawyer to file and pursue case in court and police station. Iqra was provided medical help in terms of psychological therapy.  At the same time WWHL held meeting with the community to play positive role in the case. After this intervention community started supporting Iqra and her parents. WWHL received threats from the accused for support Iqra parents but it remained stood fast.  As a result the accused was arrested and sent to jail. The case is still under adjudication. Iqra is all right and now goes to school.

Iqra’s mother Ishrat Bibi, is now WWHL member and also set up a unit of the organization in the area. She mobilized the other women to become member of WWHL. As a result there 20 home based workers has joined WWHL.