Domestic Workers’ LINK

NATIONAL
(A Quarterly Publication of the
DOMESTIC National Domestic Workers’ Movement)
WORKERS’
MOVEMENT Vol 19 No. 1 — Jan - Mar 2011

present was a success as it brought about solidarity

Editorial among Child Domestic Workers giving them a
National Convention on Child Rights ..................2 platform to express themselves freely and fearlessly.
Domestic Workers' Day ......................................4 They all felt to have been respected and heard which
they could not think of in their work environment.
News from States ...............................................6
Demanding CBI Investigation .............................15 The Government of India has decided to support the
Message of Hope ...............................................17 ILO Convention 2011 on “Decent Work for Domestic
International News .............................................18 Workers”. These have been some of the mile stones
Our Pledge ........................................................20 achieved during this quarter though the work began
years before.

Our efforts to have domestic workers’ union have

From the Editor….
The NDWM family wishes all of you a very Happy
New Year 2011!
The first quarter of the New Year has been filled with
several important activities throughout all the states
where NDWM is present. They include the Domestic
Workers' Day, The Day of Hope for Children in
Domestic Work and Children of Domestic Workers,
The Biennial Animators Meet etc.
The vehement lobbying and advocacy measures have
achieved a positive nod from the National Advisory
Council for the inclusion of domestic workers in the
Protection of Women against Sexual Harassment at
Workplace Bill 2010
come full circle as already we have formed unions in a
few states and other states have decided to follow suit
in a few month from now. Union would help
domestic workers to have better bargaining power
and a more organised setup. Moreover it will give
them better representation in all forums world over.
Today Domestic Workers are slowly snowballing to
be a strong workforce. Their contribution to the
society cannot be ignored. NDWM radiates rays of
hope to Domestic Workers and Child Domestic
Workers that some day they will have their demands
met and that day is not far away.
NDWM strives to deliver the best to Domestic
Workers!

The National Convention on Child Rights held at

J. Prabhu
Chennai for children from all states where NDWM is
 National Convention on Child Rights
National Domestic Workers Movement organized a
three days National Convention on Child Right in
Chennai from 27th to 29th December 2010, supported
by Anti Slavery International. The Convention
included two days of workshop on Right to
Participation and Education and the third day a Press
Conference and Public Meet. About 125 children from
eleven states - Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, A.P,
Maharastra, Meghalaya, Bihar, U.P, Orissa, Nagaland,
Jharkhand and Manipur participated in the event.

The workshop started with the inaugural ceremony

presided by eminent personalities including Shri. B.S.
them to develop their talents and skills and called
Ganadesigan M.P, Mr. Andrew T. Simkin (Counsel
upon them to participate in the workshop to learn
General of the U.S.A, Chennai), Mr. Saidai. P. Ravi
their rights. Children from various states exhibited
(Opposition Leader of Chennai Corporation),
their skills through cultural performances.
Mr. Marcus Ananth, National Project Manager (ILO),
Mr. R. Vidya Sagar, Child Protection Specialist,
The two days of workshop focused on the theme,
UNICEF, Mrs. Manorama, Chair Person, CWC and
“Children are the world’s most valuable resources and
Mrs. Girija, Chair Person, ICCW. The guests
its best hope for the future”. Mrs.Virgil D’Samy,
highlighted the problems faced by children in
Director, Arunodhaya, Chennai with the members of
domestic work, the government’s role to protect their
Children Sangam facilitated the workshop with
rights, the opportunity that the movement provides
informative and educative sessions on Child Rights,
Right to Participation and the need for organizing in to
groups. On the second day the sessions were on Right
to Education and the children were motivated to raise
their voices to demand their rights that are enshrined
in our constitutions.

During the peer learning session the children shared

the activities, events and programs that are organized
in their respective states, their learning’s, and the
impacts of participating in such events. Some extracts
from their sharing are the following :
l NDWM organizes meetings with children and
provides them knowledge on their rights.
l NDWM holds meetings with the parents of the

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 children and motivates them on the
importance of education.
Children are enabled to meet the government
l has been instrumental in rescuing and rehabilitating
officials to attain the rights of children.
Children get amble opportunities to develop
l education.
their talents and skills by organizing and
participating cultural activities.
Through workshops and trainings, children
l Tamil Nadu participated in the Public Meet. Mr.
are able to recognise and develop their
leadership qualities.
The participants were facilitated to prepare their
recommendations to the ILO Convention to protect
children from abuse and exploitation. They were
briefed about the ILO Convention, the stand of Indian
Government, NDWM’s role to lobby with the
Government to support the Convention.
Highlights of their recommendations are the
following :
l Do not employ children below 14 years, free
and compulsory education should be provided
to all children.
l Children employed above 15 years should be
provided special protection.
l Children should be safeguarded from abuse –
sexual, physical and emotional.
l There should be a safe and sound environment
in the working place with weekly off. Children
should be treated with respect and dignity.
l Limit their working hours to enable them to
go to school on time. Often they are asked to
work for 12 to 15 hours in a day.
The third day was made special by the Press
Conference and Public Meet. The representatives of
children themselves addressed the media. They
shared their true stories and what forced them to
domestic work even in their very early years. Due to
poverty, sickness, death of parents, alcoholic father etc
children were pushed to work. While some of them
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were trafficked and sold by the agents, others were ill-
treated and abused by the employers. The Movement
them and making a difference in their lives through
After the Press Conference, around 300 children from
Parithi Ellamvazhuthi, Hon’ble Minister for
Information, T.N, Tmt. Rani Venkatesan, M.L.A, Prof.
Shanmuga Velaudam, Dept.of Social Work, Loyola
College, Chennai, Mrs. Virgil D’Samy, Director,
Arunodaya, Chennai, Miss. Pramila, Reporter, Deccan
Chronicle, Sr.Jeanne Devos, National Coordinator,
NDWM were the distinguished guests for the Public
Meet. They interacted with the children and made
them aware of their rights, Government provisions on
welfare schemes for children and wishing them a
bright future. The demands drafted by the children
were presented to the Minister and M.L.A. Children
from the different states also presented cultural
performances. The staff from Arunodhaya performed
a street play unfolding the different problems of
child domestic workers in the society.
The three days event gave the children a platform and
an opportunity to explore their resources and
potentialities within them. They realized that they can
emerge as potential catalysts to protect and promote
the own rights and the rights of other children,
especially the right to receive a free and meaningful
education, labor and economic exploitation and free
from performing any work that is likely to harm their
development. It was also an opportunity to organize
themselves, learn from each other, and to let the
society listen to what they have to say. Anita a
participant from Meghalaya expressed that she could
find a new friend in the person of Deepa from Tamil
Nadu. Anita also shared that she was fortunate to go
out of her own state for the first time and was not
ashamed to share her stories with her friends in
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 on ‘Child Rights (Right to Survival, Right to
Development, Right to Participation, and Right to
Protection) and Child Parliament,’ by Ms. Virgil and
team were indeed motivating and filled with
creativity. I liked it, and learnt so much from it”.
Anima Munda, from Ranchi shared “Chennai trip was
my first journey outside Jharkhand. My dream of
seeing the Sea came true. While I felt happy to meet
friends from other states, their stories made me
understand the situation of child domestic workers in
their states. The Convention on children’s rights
enkindled a desire in me to fight injustice against
children and encouraged me to work for the cause of
child domestic workers”.
Chennai. She has understood the importance of
education and that every child should be educated.
Sr.Christy, icm
Sulthana from Bangalore stated, “The input sessions National Executive Coordinator

Domestic Workers Day

The 9 of January is celebrated as the International
th

Domestic Worker’s Day by the National Domestic

Workers’ Movement every year. This day is generally
celebrated by the domestic workers at State or District
head quarters and is marked by rallies,
demonstrations and public meet. Eminent persons
are invited to address the gathering of domestic
workers. This serves as a converging point for many
domestic workers who otherwise remain busy
working. This is a day to display their strength in
numbers and voice. This year three demands in
particular apart from many others were placed before
the government of India and state governments by the
domestic workers across India on domestic workers’
day. They are:

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 1. Inclusion of Domestic Workers within the
purview of the Protection of Women Against
Sexual Harassment at Workplace Bill 2010.
2. Support ILO Convention 2011 on Decent Work
for Domestic Workers
3. A comprehensive legislation for Domestic
Workers.

The other demands included the constitution of

welfare board, implementation of minimum wages
for domestic workers etc.

In Jharkhand, there was a gathering of 2500 domestic

workers to celebrate this day at Ranchi. They were
addressed by the principal secretary of Labor who
urged them to form into unions to better voice their
demands.

In Kerala, the day was celebrated with dharnas all

over. The domestic workers gathered in large
numbers in Trivandrum, Kollam, Ernakulam and
Trissur. They took out a rally and finally ended with a
public meet.

Similarly the states of, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar,

Maharashtra had a huge gathering of more than 12 Rajasthan, Orissa and Uttar Pradesh celebrated
thousand domestic workers in Mumbai, Nashik, domestic workers day remarkably.
Solapur , Kolhapur and Satara. The spectacular rally
and public meet did catch the attention of media. In In the North East, eminent columnist and member of
Solapur alone there was a gathering of about 6000 National Security Advisory Board (NSAB)
domestic workers. This coming together is an act to Padmashree Patricia Mukhim graced the occasion as
build their self-confidence and an opportunity to the Chief Guest of the Day. She encouraged
know their rights. domestic workers to stand up courageously for
their rights.
In Tamil Nadu, they had separate celebration in the 16
districts and each district held separate rally
and public meet. The enthusiastic participation of
domestic workers displayed their unity and the
earnestness to get their rights.

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 News From The States
NORTH – EAST

National Domestic Workers’ Movement – North East,

Meghalaya Region and Migrant Forum- North East
India have organized a Press Conference at Press Club
in Shillong to demand the inclusion of Domestic
Workers in the Protection of Women Against Sexual
Harassment at Workplace Bill 2010 on 17th Dec. 2010.

Expressing concerns over the Exclusion of Domestic

Workers from the purview of the Bill, the National
Domestic Workers’ Movement put forth to the Central
Government of India the fact that vast majority of
domestic workers are women and therefore they
should be included in the proposed Bill.
Mrs. Wanpynhun Kharsyntiew, Programme
Coordinator of the North Eastern Regional Domestic
Workers Movement (NERDWM) and also former
domestic worker and representative of local domestic
workers, together with Merina Basumatary District
Coordinator and former domestic worker and
representative of migrant domestic worker alongwith
other local and migrant forum leaders, presided over
this Conference accompanied by other domestic
workers’ leaders.
Smt. Wanpynhun Kharsyntiew who mainly chaired
the Conference expressed “Exclusion of Domestic
workers from the Bill clearly indicates discriminating
a section of women who badly need more protection
than any other working women in the state and
country as a whole”.
deprived their rights of getting equal protection”, she
also added that “if the law is equal to everyone,
then the government should also extend this very
right to the domestic workers”. Mrs.Wanpynhun
Kharsyntiew also added that they have received many
cases with regard to sexual harassment and these cases
have also been referred to the police. The Movement
has also helped many victims by giving them
counseling and shelter.
Majority of the domestic workers themselves shared
their experience of being a domestic worker and most
of the time they have to face so many kinds of
harassment by the employers such as abusive words,
sexual abuse, less payment and many other related
issues.
Mrs. Domina Ranee a forum leader also addressed the
issue stating that the domestic workers should be
included in the Bill and she also added that the
Government should seriously take up the matter.

Castigating the Government’s move on this, Mrs. Neeta Gurung, a migrant domestic worker and
Wanpynhun Kharsyntiew said, “Even though the forum leader said that whenever the domestic
government knows that this particular section of workers demanded their rights they had been always
people are the most vulnerable to harassment yet it excluded by the government but in the Constitution

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there are Fundamental Rights in which there is “Right
to Equality”.
The forum leader Mrs. Umabati Ray while sharing her
views expressed that “Why do we have to keep on
demanding our rights when we are equal in the eyes of
the law? As a domestic worker for 14 years, I can say
that underestimating ourselves will only destroy our
own lives. I am no longer afraid to come forward and
voice out my problems.” She also informed that
Post cards have already been mailed to the Prime
Minister of India Dr. Manmohan Singh, UPA
Chairperson Mrs. Sonia Gandhi, the M.P’s of
Meghalaya, Mr. Vincent H. Pala, Ms. Agatha Sangma,
Mr. Rahul Gandhi, demanding the following issues:-
l Ensure that India supports the adoption of the
Convention on “Decent work for Domestic
Workers” by the ILO at ILC 2011
l Inclusion of Domestic workers in the purview
of “The Protection of Women Against Sexual
Harassment at Workplace, Bill 2010”
l Considering the special situation of Domestic
workers, their rights are to be protected
through a comprehensive Act of the
Parliament.
- Mrs. Wanpynhun Kharsyntiew &
Ms. Lakshmi Thapa,
Program Coordinator (NERDWM) & Program Coordinator, MFI.
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Success Story on RSBY Scheme
In one of the most dreadful road accidents of
the year in the state of Meghalaya, when a jeep on its
way to Umiam (Barapani), Shillong, fell into a
nearly 60- foot –deep gorge on the 26th November
2010, seven of them died on the spot and 13 were
injured. Among the victims who died on the spot, 2
were women, registered members of the North
Eastern regional Domestic Workers' Movement.
They are Herbon Nongbri and Elfridda Nongbri.
Among those who were injured, Herbon's
daughter, Wanphaibiang Nongbri (20 yrs) was
admitted at Nazareth Hospital with brain injury.
Herbon Nongbri is the beneficiary under RSBY
Scheme, but her daughter's name was not
registered in the card. Thus the Hospital authority
denied her of the benefits under the scheme. The
group members from Mawlai informed Sr. Agnes
Nongrum, Animator in charge of Mawlai Zone
about it.
On hearing this, the team from NERDWM
reported to the National Rural Health Mission
about the unpleasant incident and requested them
to help and register the wounded patient's name in
the RSBY smart card holding the number 0022 8841
1704 7196 8. After receiving the complaint, the
officer in charge at first mentioned that it is in fact
impossible to do so, but the team argued that it is the
sole responsibility of the department to check and
see whether the person they are sending for field
enquiry for enrolment of the names of the
beneficiaries is really doing his duty by taking and
entering all the correct information of the
beneficiary. They also mentioned that if they can
help this family for the treatment of the girl that will
be one of the success stories of the scheme in the city.
After meeting several concerned officers,
finally, the department agreed to help. It is indeed
one of the incidents in which we see a District
Coordinator of RSBY himself came to the hospital for
enquiry and also help to register the name of the
patient. Further, Wanphaibiang was given all the
treatment under the expenses of the schemes, and
now she is in good health.
Sr. Agnes Nongrum
Animator NERDWM, Shillong
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 IMPHAL
HC Directs Setting up of Child
Commission
A ruling of the Guwahati High Court, Imphal, passed
on January 10, has directed the state government to set
up a commission for protection of child rights under
the provisions of Protection of Child Rights Act, 2005
within a period of 10 months.
The directive of the HC was issued after hearing a
Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Thokchom
Kumarjit of Thangmeiband Hijam Dewan Leikai,
Imphal West district through his counsel advocate
Meihoubam Rakesh.
Senior Government Advocate Th Ibohal represented
the respondent, state Commissioner of Social Welfare,
Director of Social Welfare Department and Secretary
of Law & Legislative Affairs. As per the order of the
court, the state government is bound to establish
the State Commission within December 31, 2011,
in any case.
The counsel of the petitioner also provided the court
order to the state government requesting the authority
concerned to take up appropriate action for
establishment of the Manipur Commission for
Protection of Child Rights.
Appalled by the attitude and ignorance of the state
toward the protection of Child Rights, which the
underprivileged and delinquents are entitled to under
the Constitution of India and also under the
Commission of Protection of Child Rights Act, 2005,
Kumarjit, in his petition, sought court intervention in
directing the government. The court noted the
contention of the petitioner that the non-
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implementation of the said Act violates the
mandate of the convention on the rights of the
child and article 15(3), article 39 (e) and (f) and
also Article 45 and 47 of the Constitution.
Provisions of the articles impose a primary
responsibility on the state ensuring that all the needs
of children are met and that their basic human rights
are fully protected. It also violates Article 21 and 21 (A)
of the Constitution of India which provides for the
right to live with dignity and right to fair trial and right
to free and compulsory primary education for
children below the age of 14 years, the court observed.
After the Commission for Protection of Child Rights
Bill was passed by the Parliament in December 2005
and received the assent of the President in January,
2006, the National Commission for the Protection of
Child Rights (NCPCR) was set up in March 2007. The
commission's mandate is to ensure the observance of
all laws, politics, perspectives, as enshrined in the
Constitution of India and also the UN Convention on
the Rights of the Child. In order to make effective the
CPCR Act, various states and union territories like
Assam, Delhi, Goa, Maharashtra, Sikkim, Karnataka,
Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan have established their
own State Commissions for Protection of Child Rights.
In Manipur, incidents of child trafficking and the
dangerous phenomenon of militants recruiting child
soldiers have been taking place in the recent years.
Rescuing children who have been trafficked to outside
Manipur has also been reported many times. The
absence of a State Commission for Protection of Child
Rights and a Children's Court is an imperative need,
the petitioner observed.
Source: Hueiyen News Service
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 GUWAHATI
Look beyond specific religions, says
Prelate
An archbishop has urged leaders of various religions
to look beyond their communities and promote the
human family. “Behind every civilization there is a
unifying vision of reality and in our case, it is a
spiritual vision, and it is the most important element
in a culture,” Archbishop Thomas Menamparampil of
Guwahati said at a recent colloquium in Pune.
About 100 representatives of various religions and
NGOs attended the Jan. 6-8 program that addressed
the theme, 'Indian pluralism and solidarity for a just
humanity.”
Archbishop Menamparampil, who initiated an inter-
religious peace forum in the strife-torn northeastern
India, says uniting diverse communities is a “mystic
experience.”
The archbishop pointed out that the early Christians
brought social changes not through agitation but by
planting values which Jesus taught. Likewise, Pope
John Paul II transformed communist Poland with his
moral philosophy, cultural sensitivity, non-violent
r e s i s t a n c e a n d c r e d i b i l i t y, A r c h b i s h o p
Menamparampil said. “Mother Teresa touched the
conscience of the world with her powerful witness of
love, without a single word of rebuke,” he added.
The Ishvani Kendra, center for missiology and
communication managed by the Divine Word
congregation, organized the colloquium.
Source : UCA news.com
TAMIL NADU
The State level convention on Minimum
Wage for Domestic workers and ILO
convention on Domestic workers

The State level convention on Minimum Wage for

“God reveals himself in cultures and communities
Domestic Workers and ILO convention on Domestic
when they draw closer to each other as though in a
workers was commenced with great gusto at 11.15 am.
pre-ordained fashion,” the archbishop said in his
on 14th Dec. 2010 Shri. S. S. Ramasubha, Member of
keynote address. He further stated that “genuine
Parliament, Tirunelveli Constituency was the Chief
religion” did not promote sectarianism or put up
guest of the day.
boundaries.

“All our destinies are interwoven and until the last

of us has lived, the significance of the first cannot
be finally clear,” he told Buddhists, Christians
Hindus, Muslims, Jains, Sikhs and agnostics.

Archbishop Menamparampil cited the examples of

Mahatma Gandhi, Sun Yat-sen and Aung Suu Kyi.
Similarly, the Dalai Lama, Nelson Mandela, Mother
Teresa and Pope John Paul II as representing “the
entire humanity” despite their special commitment to
their own communities, he added.

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The chief guest said, “all were demand are just and
you have rights to have them, so continuously fight
for your rights“. All of you are the backbone of
the growing world. I will join with you and fight
for your demands. The chief guest also assured that
he would take up the issues of the domestic workers
in Parliament and support their cause.
A Memorandum was handed over to M.P by
Mrs. Banumathi, the State President, Tamilnadu
Domestic Workers' Union, on behalf of all the
domestic workers.
Mr. R.P.K. Murugesan, Advocate. General Secretary,
INTUC (TN) said “I know that you are doing a difficult
job, which should be recognized and appreciated. We
should not lose hope but we should persistently fight
for our rights.”
Mr. E. Ponmudi, State Committee Member, Minimum
Wage Committee Member, Tamilnadu, Chennai said
that the world came into existence because of struggle.
The world is made of struggle, resistance and fight.
Our demands change in accordance with our time and
the existing condition of the world. We are fighting
now for the Minimum Wages, and time passes, our
demands or needs may change and we have to fight
for that. In that manner our struggle or fight has to
continue till our death.
Mrs. Virgil D'samy, Director, Arunodhaya Centre for
street and working children appreciated the
representation of 20,000 employees in Tamilnadu. She
said “We have three demands. 1. Minimum wage for
the Domestic Workers. 2. The Indian government
should support the ILO Convention 2011. 3. Domestic
workers should be included in the Protection of
Women Against Sexual Harassment at Workplace Bill
2010. Someone said on T.V interview that sexual
harassment of domestic workers take place in the
houses because of the stimulating nature of the
domestic workers themselves. We must campaign
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against such sort of inhuman talks. There is always
false accusation on the domestic workers when it
comes to sexual harassment. The media also reports
the matter without proper investigation. So, we must
create a good contact with the media. We should also
increase the membership of domestic workers. We
should also vote in the coming elections to the party
which is able to fulfill our demands.”
Miss Pramila Krishnan, reporter Deccan Chronicle,
made a humble request to all the domestic workers not
to send their children for work. She urged them to
educate their friends and neighbors to follow suit. If
children are being exploited, inform the Movement.
They will rescue the children. When you are exploited
and labeled as thieves and when your fundamental
rights are violated, you should boldly express in
Newspapers and Television. By doing so, you can
attain dignity and respect in the public
Mrs. Banumathi, State President, Tamil Nadu
Domestic Workers' Union said that they have been
fighting since 2005 to fix the minimum wage for
domestic workers. But it has not yet been
implemented. The state government had announced
in 2009 that the domestic workers should be paid Rs.
30 or Rs.35 for an hour however it has not yet been
executed. We should fast unto death until these
demands are met by the government.
Ms. Geetha, National Co-ordinator Unorganized
Workers Federation, Chennai said that physical
labor of ordinary people need appreciation and
recognition.
Dr. Gabriel said “The Indian government should be
genuine to confess the core reality of the domestic
workers and support ILO convention by its active
involvement and participation for the welfare of the
domestic workers in India.” After all the speakers the
resolutions were passed.
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“Resolutions:
l The government must fix the minimum wage for
us. Domestic workers have no international laws
or organizations which could safeguard us. Due
to this, 99 million domestic workers are ruthlessly
exploited. Keeping this in mind the Indian
government should support the ILO convention.
l The government should provide enough welfare
schemes for the betterment of domestic workers.
l Domestic workers should be protected in their
work places. Due to long hours of work
(minimum 12 – 16 hours) the domestic workers
are likely to get very serious diseases. This
minimizes their lifespan. So, the government
should reduce the pension age from 60 to 55.
l There should be tripartite system, where the Workshop on Social Security and Issues of
workers also can express their opinion. Keeping Migrant Workers
the struggles of the domestic workers in mind the
central government should create tripartite Migrant Forum India organized a one day workshop
system in our country. for the Migrant workers’ family members at
l The domestic workers should be included in the Nagercoil on “Social security”. About 75 family
Protection of Women Against Sexual Harassment members have participated in the workshop and
at Workplace Bill 2010.” majority of them were women (69) and the rest were
men. First of all, Mrs. Sakunthala, the animator of
Nagercoil explained the meaning of Social security. It
refers to all the essential elements of good life. An
individual can live a good life if he/she has a good job,
education, food, shelter medical care etc. An
individual can be socially secured when he/she has all
the mentioned elements adequately. In India only 7%
people can have all their needs adequately met and
the rest of the population is struggling to have the basic
needs for a decent living.

Dr Prasad said that the government schemes and its

functions are loyal only for the 20% of rich and elite
people. They don’t help the poor to come up in their
lives. The salary of the M.L.A and M.P has been raised
and 60 % people are not getting 20 rupees as salary per
day. 40% people are able to eat only once in a day after

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slogging for whole day. The Migrants are not getting
any assistance from the government while it spends
huge amount for the national security.
Mr. Tamil Selvan, Advocate, explained about the laws
and human rights. When our rights’ are violated by the
powerful, we should fight against them. When we
aspire to go abroad, we should approach the legalized
agents and also when we go abroad for work, we
should know the rules and regulations of the that
country and we have to respect all their rules and
rights. He also explained to the group about the need
to have social security. Recently the Government of
Tamilnadu has announced that soon the it would come
up with the Welfare Board for the migrant workers.
Migrant workers are the people who bring lot of
foreign remittance to our country especially our
unskilled workers. So it is our right to demand from
the Government for social security measures for
these workers.
Sr. Valarmathi
Chennai
MAHARASHTRA
Day of Hope For Children
Maharastra Domestic Workers Movement organized
Day of Hope event for children on 27th February 2011 at
St.Blaise School Amboli, Andheri (W). Child domestic
workers and children of domestic workers form
Mumbai and Thane participated. The program
started with cultural items performed by children
from different areas. Pooja, a member of Task Force for
children gave the purpose outline about the day. She
said, “everyone has a dream in their life and wants to
fulfill that dream but many are unable to fulfill because
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of family problems, and many other reasons, but still
we have to dream because dreams make our life and it
always keep us alive, so celebrate this day of dream
and hope with lots of enjoyment and happiness”.
Radhika a CDW shared her dreams. She stated, “we all
are together under this Movement, this is our
Movement. I am a child domestic worker and I face
many problems in my life. I want to go to school but
because of my family problems I stopped going to
school. I work more than 4 hours a day and have less
time to play, enjoy and to meet friends. When I came
into the Movement and I got many friends who are in
similar situations they face but this is one day where
we can celebrate and express what we want and
proclaim, our dreams and hopes.
The different groups of children performed dance on
different cultures and traditions of India. Children
enjoyed the dance and cultural activities. Through
these performances we understand the various
abilities and talents of our children. This event has
become a platform for child domestic workers to
share, to express their feelings, emotions and
concerns. Mr. Dinkar, a social activist, participated in
this program and shared about his childhood,
education and hopes to the children emphasizing the
importance of the education to change lives.
After the lunch break the exhibition stalls were opened
for children. The stalls exhibited informative and
educative materials to motivate them to achieve their
goals in future. Some stalls conducted games, some
stalls gave away snacks, a few displayed drawings,
writings and paintings and so on . So the children had a
lot of variety. A puppet show imparted awareness on
child rights.
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Some children placed their dreams in the form of a
drawing, in the heart of the “Golem”, which they
believe is their friend who stands by them to fulfill
their dreams.
The day was full of joy and freedom for the children.
They were free from their daily toils and enjoyed with
their friends. The feedback from some of the children
are:
Archana Chendurkar : “It is our program and every
year I am participating in this program, I enjoyed
today very much and also got lots of new friends like
me, this is a special day for me where I can share my
feelings, thoughts and emotions with others”
Yogita Baing : “ I like this day very much, this year I
had taken part in dance, even I had taken part in each
of the games which was organized in different stalls, I
liked most the drawing where I can express my dreams
through drawing.”
Pooja Shinde : “This is my first year in this program.
Prior to this I had never participated in such types of
program. Today I got many friends and found
happiness. I saw that I am not alone, there are many
children like me who are in domestic work and this
program is giving them a platform to express and
share their emotions and feelings. I came alone to this
program but I am returning with lots of friends.
There are many stalls and I enjoyed everything.”
Pranali Bhosle : “This day is my day and it is only for
me. I am happy to know that there is a Movement
which is thinking about us and giving us happiness in
life. This is the first time I came on stage to perform.
This is a memorable day for me. I am very happy to be a
part in this program. There are many creative stalls
of drawing, craft and tattoo which I liked very much.”
Nikita : “I am very happy to be a part of this program.
This is my second program with the Movement. I
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want to become a teacher but because of my poverty I
am unable to continue my education. Though I am a
child domestic worker still I have a dream, and this
program is helping me to continue my dream. Golem
is the friend to whom every year I request to fulfill
my dreams.”
Mr. Ashish
Animator
ANDHRA PRADESH
Yesterday's Child Domestic Workers and
Children of Domestic Workers Dream Today
for Tomorrow
NDWM-AP formed Child Domestic Workers and
Children of Domestic workers towards Children’s
parliament in 14 slums. They are gathered once in a
week. This group meeting creates a platform for
them to enjoy their child rights and in turn grow in
self confidence. In a group discussion on “Searching
the root cause of Children entering Domestic Work”
the children identified the following:
1. Price rise on essential commodities and
insufficient household income forces domestic
workers to take up work in several homes. Often
the employers make them over work which
delays their arrival at other houses resulting in
angry rebukes from the other employers. So in
order to bridge that, they seek the help of their
children to start working in those households
until they reach.
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2. Domestic Workers never get a day off, holidays,
sick leave or paid leave. This forces them to
work even when they are sick. At times when
there is a life-event they do take leave and that
goes as leave of absence and the payment is
deducted proportionately. So at times when
they are sick they send their children to work
to keep their job secure.
3. The children’s concern was that at present they
are into full time schooling though some of them
are trying to cope up with domestic work and
study. If the above mentioned two realties of
their mothers in domestic work continue, the
children are worried that they will be back as
domestic workers.
Outing for Child Domestic Workers :
On 26th Feb. 2011 a day of outing was organized for
Child Domestic Workers in Hyderabad. Inspite of
heavy rains on that day, 140 CDWs and Children of
Domestic Workers reached Lumini Park from different
slums. A boat ride was arranged to visit Buddha statue.
80 more children joined these children at Tank band at
3.30 pm for a human chain program to bring awareness
in the civil society and demand the government to
protect child rights. They were holding posters,
banners and placards.
Their demands were:
l Elimination of child labor in Domestic Work, and
protection of their rights:
l Just wages for Domestic Workers with a weekly off.
Social Security schemes for domestic workers.
Domestic Workers submitted a memorandum to
the Commissioner of Labor and Principal Secretary of
Labor to demand scholarship for their children.
Sr. Hema
District Coordinator, Hyderabad
14
JHARKHAND
Celebrating Togetherness
About 7-8 lakhs of domestic workers in the State of
Jharkhand live on an average of Rs.1000 a month in the
absence of any legal protective measures. Sheila Devi
(70 yrs.) is all alone, with no roof over her head and
nobody to care for her. She still works as a domestic
help and earns Rs 500 a month with her pension of Rs
400 to keep herself going. Rinki Munda says that she
has been paid the same amount for the last nine years.
Mohi Kumari, a school girl says that she works as a
domestic help in order to support her studies.
Phoolmani Devi says that she does not get any day off
during the week. Hundreds of thousands of domestic
workers in the State have similar stories to say.
Campaigns and lobbying activities to include
domestic workers in the schedule of employment for
fixation of minimum rates of wages are being
intensified. In solidarity with the domestic workers in
the country the NDWM, Jharkhand unit organized a
series of events in the last couple of months, such as
signature campaign against the exclusion of domestic
workers from the “Protection of Women Against
Sexual Harassment Bill, 2010”, press meet to gather
support for the ILO Convention, public meet to press
for their demands such as fixation of minimum
wages, creation of a welfare board, initiating welfare
measures under the Unorganized Workers Social
Security Act, 2008 etc.
Addressing a gathering of about 2500 domestic
workers Mr. Vishnu Kumar, the principal secretary,
labour, Govt. of Jharkhand said, “domestic workers
constitute a large of work force and they should not be
oppressed”. He suggested the domestic workers to
register a union so that their grievances can be
effectively addressed through the union. He also said,
“registration of domestic workers is important and
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their wages should be fixed corresponding to their
labour and amount of time spent”.
Domestic workers took a day off from work and voiced
their demands through slogans, posters, banners,
hand bills etc. Two signature campaigns to support the
ILO Convention and to include domestic workers in
the Protection of Women against sexual Harassment
Bill preceded the two rallies, which created a mass
awareness along two major streets in the city. Speaking
on the occasion, Mrs. Rama Xalxo, Mayor, Ranchi
Municipal Corporation emphasized that forced
migration for domestic labour need to be stopped
through skill training and local employment. She also
reiterated that women need to be united and voice
their demands for rights and justice which the
Constitution of India guarantees.
Domestic workers exhibited their self-confidence,
leadership and empowerment by their colouful
cultural item and speeches. Mrs. Sunita Munda,
president of the Jharkhand Domestic Workers Union
spoke on the plight of domestic workers and urged
the State Government to fix minimum rates of
wages. Mrs. Mahadevi Tirkey, a leader of domestic
workers spoke on the Sexual Harassment Bill and
asked domestic workers to protest against the
injustice done to millions of domestic workers in the
country. Ms.Jyoti Kumari Munda, a student of class
10 shared how child domestic workers are exploited
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at work place and the urgent need for the Govt. to
protect them from abuse and to ensure fuller
childhood. Child domestic workers from Lanka
Colony, Khijuria Toli and S.D.A Mission made the
day still more memorable with their beautiful dance
performances. “Jhumar Sanskritik Manch” a street
theater group from the city helped the domestic
workers to have a greater clarity on issues, such as,
minimum wages, ILO Convention and Sexual
harassment Bill and encouraged them to continue
in their lobbying activities.
Fr. Chetan IMS
State Co-ordinator
Demanding CBI Investigation on the
Mysterious death of Anna Oraon
Anna Oraon, a tribal girl and a domestic worker who
fell off the balcony of Mr. Vikram Sinha’s house at
Morabadi, Ranchi on 4th March 2011, and died
consequently as reported in the UD case No.4/11 at
Bariatu Police station, and the futile attempt of the
police to trace the deceased’s parents or relatives for
the past seven days have become a matter of serious
concern for the fellow workers in the State. The present
status of investigation by the local police raises several
questions and the workers feel that justice is being
denied to Anna and that truth is being hidden by
people concerned.
The mysterious death of Anna Oraon opens a can of
worms that hundreds of young girls, from the tribal
communities in villages are lured, tricked and
trafficked by agents who bring them to cities where
they are sold into the hands of trafficking mafias and
pimps. These young girls become victims of sexual
abuse and exploitation and are forced to live a life of
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fear, indignity, poor self image, hatred etc. Middle and
upper class citizens, who need these domestic workers
to do their house chorus do not even bother to know
where these workers come from, leave alone fulfilling
their rights of decent wages, proper working
conditions, annual home leave etc . The poor,
marginalized and weaker sections of this country are
being traded by the selfish interests. It has almost
become acceptable for such incidents of domestic
abuse and violence in our communities. The blood of
Anna Oraon reminds us that it is time to wake up,
protest and protect the future of our country.
While the cause of the death of Anna Oraon is still
mysterious, one cannot but ask the following
questions:
1. Does any one know anything about history of
Anna Oraon for the past five years?
2. Is Anna Oraon a case and victim of trafficking?
3. Why has the police not been able to trace the
parents or relatives of the deceased even after 7
days?
4. How does it sound that the employer of Anna
Oraon has no clues about her family whereabouts,
even though she worked and lived with the
employer for five long years?
5. Why is the police satisfied with an Unnatural
Death F.I.R and not look into the case more
deeply?
Anna Oraon should become a case forward, a light for
the rest of her suffering hundreds of thousands of
sisters in the country, who due to poverty and
unemployment dare to march towards cities with a
noble intention to find work in order to support their
families and to educate their younger ones, but end up
fighting injustice, abuse, exploitation and even death.
The State cannot remain silent any longer. It has the
responsibility to protect the rights of the poor, the
marginalised and the unorganized working class. A
number of legislations for the protection of the
16
unorganized working class, especially the domestic
workers, which are waiting for years to be
implemented in the State need to be done without
any further delay. Two such legislations are:
1. The Minimum Wages Act, 1948 – Inclusion of
D o m e s t i c Wo r k e r s i n t h e S c h e d u l e o f
employment and fixation of decent rates of
wages.
2. The Unorganized Workers Social Security Act,
2008 – formation of Social Welfare Boards and to
extend welfares schemes for Domestic Workers.
We also bring to the attention of the State the
following for its immediate action and protection of
the lives of domestic workers:
1. Strict and compulsory registration of all
placement agencies under the Shops and
establishment, Act 1953 and proper regulatory
mechanism for such agencies.
2. Compulsory registration of all employers and
employees in the Department of labour and the
employees should be provided with a SMART
Card.
3. A Code of Practice - a practical guide or tool to
protect the rights of domestic workers at the
workplace should be drafted.
In the case of Anna Oraon, we, the domestic workers in
the State, the members of the Jharkhand Domestic
Workers Union, the National Domestic Workers
Movement and all people of good will request the
State for the following actions:
1. CBI Investigation of the case of Anna Oraon (UD
case No.4/11 at Bariatu Police Station, Ranchi)
2. CBI to take over the responsibility to trace the
parents of the deceased.
3. For a registration of FIR on the basis of the several
complaints on the mysterious death of Anna
Oraon and the same to be investigated by the
CBI.
Fr. Chetan IMS
State Coordinator
NATIONAL
DOMESTIC
WORKERS’
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International Day of Hope for Children
International day of hope for all children was
celebrated on the 17th February by the Bihar Domestic
Workers Welfare Trust. The children from the slum
areas of Patna and from the Brick Kiln sites gathered
and shared their joy. The chief guest Shri. Muqtharul
Huq, State Coordinator of Bachpan Bachao Andolan,
Bihar, along with the children lit the lamp and
inaugurated the function.
Shri. Muqtharul in his inaugural speech told that the
children should study and be healthy in order to have
their dreams come true. He also notified that in India
there are more than 6 crore children away from schools
and are working in dhabas, hotels, families, railway
stations and factories. In spite of their constitutional
right they are deprived of their childhood, health,
entertainment and education. He gave the example of
Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam and insisted that the children
should be provided all the possibilities to enjoy their
childhood and parents should realize that it is their
duty to earn and educate their children and not the
children becoming earning members of the families.
The special guest Ms.Lilly Gupta, Children’s Welfare
Association - Vice president, Bihar appreciated the
Movement and requested that we should make use of
the 25% reservation in admitting the poor children in
private schools. The special guest Sr.Josephine ICM
raised the question to the children who they wanted to
become in future and many of them expressed that
they would become doctors,
engineers, teachers,
leaders and social
workers etc.
The special
g u e s t
M r. A n k u r
told that the
children are
not born rich
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or poor and so we need to have high dreams to become
someone in the society.
The animator Ms.Shahla briefed the audience about
day of hope. She elucidated that the first international
day of hope was celebrated in Mumbai on the 17th
February 2006. The children have their dreams to flow
like a river, to fly like a bird and to touch the sky but
because of their poverty their dreams are buried. The
children also expressed their joy through dance,
khawali, skit and action songs after which they drew
their dreams for future beautifully and placed it in the
Golem. With a sumptuous meal the day of hope and
celebration was concluded.
Sr. Leema
State Coordinator
Message of Hope
Truth and Love have always won
“On 13th January I had the wonderful opportunity to meet Rani
Trong,” says Sr. Jeanne Devos, “an Indian American leader
who was trafficked for domestic work at the age of 7 years
from Kerala. She shared her story and has a message for all
domestic workers who are victims of trafficking. It is
encouraging and challenging to meet a person as Rani”.
Stolen from home and robbed of a childhood more than 30 years
ago, Rani Tong, a victim of child trafficking, launched a battle
against human trafficking through her NGO, Tronie Foundation,
one that she set up with her husband Tron in 2006. At the age of 7
she was stolen from her family in Kerala and sold into slavery
and taken to another state where her captors used intimidation
and force to control.
At the age of 8, she was almost close to death as she was
completely broken down by the cruelty meted out to her. Since
she was no longer of any use to her slave owner, she was sold
into adoption. Her adoptive mother in Washington State
instilled her with the belief that love can conquer any evil. Along
with her husband they used this belief to dedicate their lives
to the goal of a slave-free world as founders of the Tronie
Foundation.
As a U.S.Department of State speaker, Rani has travelled to India,
Brazil, Canada, Estonia and Romania to talk about human
trafficking and address the systemic issues that cause slavery
today. Rani and Trong were honored in 2008 and received the
United Nations Human Rights Award.
Sr. Jeanne Devos
National Co-ordinator
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 INTERNATIONAL NEWS
SINGAPORE
In 2003, TWC2 looked into this. We found that nearly
all the workers who had died in falls in Singapore since
1997 (we had no earlier records) were Indonesians.
There were no figures out at the time, but they came
out after we raised the matter with the Indonesian
embassy. When we started asking questions, some
people said, ‘The workers come from villages and
aren’t used to high buildings, which is why they have
accidents.”
We pointed out that most of the Filipina domestic
workers in Singapore were from villages too, but
hardly any of them had died in falls in the previous six
years. We also pointed out that the rate of deaths of
Indonesian domestic workers in falls in Hongkong
was a lot lower, and the workers there are just as likely
to come from villages. So what made the difference? In
Hongkong, workers are supposed to get a weekly day
off under local law; in Singapore, the law does not
require that domestic workers be given a regular day
off, whether weekly, fortnightly, monthly or at any
time. As a result, around half of the employers in
Singapore do not give their domestic worker
employees any days off throughout their placement
with them. This is why women try to climb out of the
buildings when they are abused or just can’t bear to be
locked up any more, and some fall to their deaths, and
why some throw themselves to their deaths. Those
women would most likely be alive today if their right
to have a day off and go out was asserted in law and
enforced firmly.
Filipina workers are more likely than Indonesians to
get a day off; this has made a difference. It is because of
their government and embassies being more assertive
on the issue and Filipina women more confident about
asserting their rights with agents and employers, so
18
they are more likely to stand up to threats that they will
be sent home if they don’t accept a ‘No Day Off’
placement. There’s a difference in employer
expectations. Employers of Indonesian workers
expect to get them on the cheap, and they tend to be
employers who can only just manage to hire a worker.
Indonesians are more likely than Filipinas to go into
employment in households where there is financial
stress, where a family is finding it hard to cope and
where the ‘let’sget all that we can for what we’re
paying for’ mentality reigns supreme.
In 2004, the Indonesian embassy said that 89
Indonesian workers had lost their lives in falls since
1999, out of which 51 had died in accidents and 25 had
killed themselves; others were under investigation. A
TWC2 team put together a dossier on this in 2003 and
supplied it to the media; the ensuing publicity was
clearly a major factor leading to action by the
authorities to curb accidental falls. A leaflet on safety
in hanging out washing and cleaning windows was
sent to all employers and domestic workers in
February 2004. Several employers have been
prosecuted for making their workers take safety risks
in cleaning windows. As a result, there has been a
decline in the loss of life through accidental falls.
However, there is a reluctance to face up to the fact that
many of those who die are trying to escape or are
killing themselves. This would be far less likely to
happen if those women had days off, protected under
law. No-one would try to escape through a window if
she was free to walk out through the door; a woman
who felt depressed or who was distressed about being
treated abusively would be able to seek help every
seven days and would therefore be unlikely to become
so desperate as to take her own life. An employer who
felt like lashing out at a worker or otherwise abusing
her would think twice before doing so if she knew that
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someone would find out about it within days.
Not having a day off is a denial of a basic right and
need, but for some workers, it is fatal. The single
most effective measure that could be introduced
to staunch this loss of life would be the introduction
of a weekly day off, guaranteed by law, for all
domestic workers. It doesn’t much matter
whether this is the result of bringing domestic
workers under the provisions of the Employment
Act or by some other means; the important thing is that
it should happen.
John Gee
President, Transient Workers Count Too (TWC2)
PHILIPPINES
Alert over rogue job agencies
AN increasing number of Filipino workers are using
shady recruitment agencies and other backdoor
routes to secure jobs in Bahrain, a Philippines
Embassy official said yesterday. Labour attach E
Alejandro Santos said even university graduates were
arriving through illegal channels - only to end up in
low-paid jobs when they got here. He said many were
duped into paying massive fees to agencies not
licensed by the Philippines government to get here.
“There is no control on these illegal agencies in
Manila, which continue to send workers - mostly
women - to Bahrain and other Gulf countries,”
Mr Santos told the GDN yesterday. He said despite
repeated pleas to bring in tighter regulations on such
agencies, “the situation has not changed”.
“Ninety-five per cent of cases we reported to our
Department of Labour and Employment (DOLE) in
the past five years were mostly runaway workers or
those escorted to the airport,” he said.
He said individual reports were sent to DOLE
regularly so that officials back home knew exactly
how the illegal recruitment racket operated.”We file
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every worker’s case stating all relevant details, such as
their recruitment agency, employer details and
departure. This gives an idea to our government to
track down illegal channels.”
Mr Santos was speaking on the sidelines of a second
mass repatriation of domestic workers to the
Philippines. Twenty-eight housemaids flew out of
Bahrain last night on Gulf Air flight GF154 to Manila.
Ambassador Corazon Yap-Bahjin was due to meet
them at Manila Ninoy Aquino International Airport.
“We had a tough time convincing the employers of
these maids to release their passports and allow them
to leave,” said embassy minister and consular general
Sahid Glang. “This project is part of our government
policy to help distressed OFWs (Overseas Filipino
Workers) and keep check on undocumented
workers.”He said the departure of the maids meant
the number of women now at the embassy’s shelter
had dropped to 40. “Most cases are complaints of
being overworked, unpaid wages, sexual harassment,
rape and even not being given enough food,” added
Mr Glang. “We will gradually try to send them in the
coming months as part of the mass repatriation
project.”
Last August, the embassy repatriated 39 workers, the
majority of whom were maids. Officials said all OFWs
repatriated would benefit from a rehabilitation
programme. They are enrolled at DOLE regional
offices in the Philippines, where they are given tips to
start their own business or placed in jobs that suit their
qualifications.”We need to reintegrate OFWs and
through this programme they are given a chance to
find jobs that suit them or enhance their skills,” Mr
Santos said. He urged people in the Philippines
against paying massive fees to unscrupulous agents in
exchange for work visas in Bahrain.”Our message is
clear - use the right channels to work in a foreign
country,” he said.Around 46,000 Filipinos are working
in Bahrain, according to Labour Market Regulatory
Authority figures.
Sandeep Singh Grewal
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16

Printed at Ganesh Offset, Dadar, Mumbai - 28. Tel.: 2437 8688

Our Pledge

For Correspondence : The Editor, DOMESTIC WORKERS’ OFFICE 104, St. Mary’s Apts A, Nesbit Rd., Mazgaon, Mumbai - 400 010.
We shall be worthy citizens of India

We shall rise above all divides of caste,

religion, region, languages and gender
to make a United and Powerful India

We shall not allow anyone to exploit our

emotions to cause any harm to our
Country;

For Private Circulation Only ●

We shall perform our duties in our
sphere of working with honesty and
truthfulness

We shall never give in to any

temptation to betray our motherland

Published by : Domestic Workers Movement ●

Dr. Abdul Kalam
(Former President of India)