At CarterpuriCarterpuri is a village next to a posh residential colony in old Gurgaon. Right after the sector 22 ends, next to a Shiv Mandir is a grand entrance to the village. A bunch of kids are playing next to a sugarcane seller when we reach the location. The purpose of visit is a meeting of domestic workers, organised by the Gharelu Kamgaar Sangathan, a collective of domestic workers.
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This collective was initiated by the founders of Nari Shakti Manch, an empowerment group of women labourers in Gurgaon and surrounding areas. The recognition that women labourers are more invisible and vulnerable than their male counterparts, led to the start of such an initiative. "There was no agency which dealt with the issues of domestic workers," says Elizabeth Khumallambam, who works in mobilising domestic workers in various locations at Gurgaon. "There is a group which meets in DLF phase 1, a more active one," she tells us, probably justifying the scarce turnout at the meeting in Carterpuri.
Organising domestic workers is a difficult task. The profession is such that the workplace is scattered across the city. The fact that these workers do not assemble at one place everyday makes it difficult to bring them to one place and one time. Most workers do not see the point of such organisation. Anita who works with mobilising workers along with Elizabeth goes to their houses everyday, and talks to them about their problems and the ways in which they can try to resolve them.
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The lack of recognition legally is also a hindrance to the organisation of workers. The creation of unions is not legally permitted for domestic workers. As a result, the existing unions are also registered as unions of other industries. Apart from this, domestic workers are also the sole bread winners of their families. In some cases, their husands are unemployed and the burden of looking after them and their kids fall on them.
In Carterpuri, the situation is very grim. Living conditions are deplorable and there is no respite from housework even after these workers come home.
In Carterpuri, the situation is very grim. Living conditions are deplorable and there is no respite from housework even after these workers come home.
Most workers living in Carterpuri say they are 'Bangla', an ambiguous reference to West Bengal or Bangladesh. Workers living in the area for a few years have picked up Hindi, but new workers are less acquainted with the local language. This becomes a concern when Anita and others try and speak to them. Not understanding that organising will help their own cause, these workers often ignore them.
Some of this is because of the threat of attracting attention, particularly with the fear of police. Since some of these workers are new migrants, often without legal documents of migration or identity proofs, they come at the receiving end of police atrocities.
The chief reason why a comprehensive law has not been passed of domestic workers in spite a large number of them present in the country is because it has not be demanded that strongly and vehemently.
The voices of domestic workers continue to remain muffled, the employers and placement agencies being the key silencers. Any organisation among domestic workers is looked at by a feeling of suspicion and distrust by the employer.
However, domestic workers need to come under unified platforms to address their issues and concerns and project as pressing concerns to the elected representatives in their demand for equal rights.
Some of this is because of the threat of attracting attention, particularly with the fear of police. Since some of these workers are new migrants, often without legal documents of migration or identity proofs, they come at the receiving end of police atrocities.
The chief reason why a comprehensive law has not been passed of domestic workers in spite a large number of them present in the country is because it has not be demanded that strongly and vehemently.
The voices of domestic workers continue to remain muffled, the employers and placement agencies being the key silencers. Any organisation among domestic workers is looked at by a feeling of suspicion and distrust by the employer.
However, domestic workers need to come under unified platforms to address their issues and concerns and project as pressing concerns to the elected representatives in their demand for equal rights.