Campaigning for dignity of labour

Though they are indispensable in most middle and higher income households nationwide, they are often treated like unwelcome outsiders. Small wonder that domestic workers (termed housemaids or ‘servants’ by many) have been campaigning for dignity at the workplace, labour rights and employment benefits. An NGO championing the cause of domestic workers, especially in Karnataka, is Stree Jagruti Samiti (SJS), based in southern Bangalore. The Samiti is a collective of domestic workers co-founded in 1988 by well-known feminist and activist Geeta Menon and other social workers. 

“Stree Jagruti Samiti emerged from various developments in the Indian women’s movement,” Menon explains. Arumugam, a factory worker, was among the first to support this collective over a decade ago. He has attended SJS’ Saturday afternoon meetings occasionally. Sixty-year-old Rukminiamma who joined SJS in 1999 explains, “I have never missed an activity or meeting of the collective!” In 2,000, the feisty Muniyamma, Nishat and Lizzie came on board. They highlighted the challenges of domestic workers in the neighbourhoods where they lived or worked. Youngsters such as the spirited Shakuntala arrived in 2002 when SJS organised a programme to address various concerns of adolescent girls who are domestic helpers or daughters of women in the profession.  

The women of Stree Jagruti Samiti have focussed attention on their problems by allying with smaller local groups of household helpers across Bangalore and the State. In 2004, they organised public meetings on issues like right to livelihood, recognition of their occupation, need for fair wages, etc. The following year, SJS studied the minimum wages of domestic workers in Bangalore and proposed revisions based on Indian labour laws. (The collective’s important recommendations state that domestic workers must receive at least the minimum wage, identity cards, skill enhancement training et al.

They must also get overtime compensation, weekly and festival holidays and paid leave during maternity, sickness or personal emergencies). In 2005-’06, SJS facilitated discussions on ration card holder issues in Bangalore’s Byrasandra, Nakkalbande, Ragigudda and Corporation areas after several women complained about the corrupt Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) and ‘fair price’ depots. Consequently, women are on local vigilance committees monitoring the TPDS’ functioning.  

These events drew more women domestic workers into the fold. Having over 1,000 domestic workers, the collective is a part of the Domestic Workers’ Rights Union (DWRU) formed two years back. Menon adds, “From 2007 onwards, Stree Jagruti Samiti has networked with domestic workers’ groups in other districts of Karnataka like Bijapur, Gulbarga, Mysore and Kolar and in Uttar Pradesh, to strengthen their network.”  

Safety net for child workers

Rescuing and rehabilitating child household helpers in Bangalore and elsewhere is among Stree Jagruti Samiti’s critical activities. The Samiti accomplishes this task with assistance from NGOs like the South India Cell for Human Rights Education and Monitoring (SICHREM), Association for Promotion of Social Action (APSA) and Bangalore Oniyavara Seva Coota (BOSCO). Essentially, many girls from economically backward families enter domestic work when aged twelve or older (and younger sometimes) along with their mothers, elder sisters or alone. Some like Rani, a teenager from Nelamangala, are sent forcibly from small towns and villages to live with their employers.

Although this practice constitutes child labour against which there are stringent laws, it continues unabated. Many such kids are overworked and underfed with minimal options for rest, recreation, education or healthcare. Further, they are abused orally, physically and at times even sexually.    

During the first public hearing of domestic workers in Karnataka that Stree Jagruti Samiti, DWRU and SICHREM organised in April 2010, young girls and women narrated their terrible tales. Among the workers was a nine-year-old girl and her younger sister who “toiled from dawn to dusk for a demanding and tortuous man in Guttahalli.” The siblings now live and study in the BOSCO home after escaping with SJS’ support. Earlier last year, SJS, DWRU and SICHREM also helped a 20-year-old Assamese girl, leave her job with a wealthy Bangalore couple. They attacked the girl with hot instruments while burdening her with multiple chores for 17 hours every day. The NGOs counselled the youngster and helped trace her poverty stricken family. They also ensured that the police arrested the duo. 

Playing a supportive role

Stree Jagruti Samiti’s women and youth conduct science and art camps, child rights awareness workshops and adolescent health advisory sessions for children of domestic workers. In late 2005, the collective launched the Mitra Sanketa initiative to warn young girls and women about sex trafficking, through films and dialogue. The Samiti also sources domestic workers for whoever needs them. It also assists financially marginalised women facing gender violence and problems with housing, water supply, sanitation, etc. The collective’s annual inter-faith Ayudha Puja celebration is an inspiring example of communal harmony. 
 
“Domestic workers lack fundamental employee rights as that could threaten the authority inside someone else’s home. Hence, it is tougher to externally define or control our job than in other unorganised sectors,” says ‘Adike’ Lakshmi, who earlier headed DWRU.
Owing to prolonged demands, the ILO recently resolved to identify domestic work as labour with necessary regulations and provisions like social security. Further, the government has extended the Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY) or National Health Insurance Scheme to domestic workers.