Research Abstracts on Child Labour Women Labour - Nipccd

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<strong>Research</strong> <strong>Abstracts</strong> on Child Labour, Labour and Women Labour 1998 - 2009
Domestic Worker
money, and ambition for living a better life. About 78,000 females have migrated from
rural tribal areas in search of jobs for livelihood. Proportion of these migrants from Gumla
and Ranchi districts of Jharkhand and Raigarh of Chattisgarh appears to be more. Among
these female migrants, the number of those going for domestic work to Delhi, Mumbai, Goa,
Bangalore, Chandigarh and Chennai works out to be about 20,000. The percentage of
females migrating for other wage labour was highest (92%) in Raigarh district of
Chhattisgarh. Female migrants (FM) usually accompany other members of their families who
also migrate for this type of work. Female migrants from Ranchi district of Jharkhand
were maximum (73%). Out of 604 migrants for domestic work surveyed, 418 i.e 69% were
working in Delhi, 10% in Mumbai, and the rest in distant places like Chennai and Bangalore.
Employers contacted placement agencies who matched the needs of employers with the
migrant worker. Female Domestic Workers (FDWs) surveyed were found to be engaged in
household chores like cleaning/ sweeping (62%), entire household chores (56%), washing
clothes (54%), help in cooking (51%), baby sitting (33%), cooking (21%), shopping (20%),
looking after aged persons (13%), taking children to schools (8%). These FDWs are paid
wages on the basis of type and quantum of work done. Generally wages vary from Rs.1500 to
Rs.3000 per month. Chetanalaya NGO carries out field work, takes care of FDWs, fights
for their rights if injustice is done, rescues minor girls, searches for and investigates rape
cases, investigates physical/ sexual harassment cases, and investigates cases of non
payment of wages. Nirmala Niketan, an NGO, provides residential accommodation to FDWs
who are not in a position to work. Bharatiya Kisan Sangh, Ranchi (NGO) rescues minor girls
and rehabilitates them. Prerana (NGO) in Mumbai works for trafficked women and children.
Vanawasi Kalyan Ashram, Vanabandhu Parishad and Vishwa Hindu Parishad are also
concerned with the problems of FDWs. They point out the risks or danger involved in
migration and discourage them from migrating to Delhi or elsewhere, and their main activity
is to provide education in tribal areas and strive for removal of illiteracy and ignorance.
Vikas Bharati, Bishanpur (NGO) works in the areas of education, health, employment,
environment, agriculture, village industries and technological development, etc. It was
recommended that an effective mechanism to discourage migration of minor girls (below 18
years), both tribal and non-tribal, for employment as FDWs should be established by law.
There is need to bring in a law for domestic workers to define the quantum of work, hours
of work, wages paid to them, and other facilities to be given. It is essential to curb
unlawful activities, especially the exploitation of FDWs, both financial and physical by
placement agencies. Registration of girls migrating from villages or towns for work in other
states as FDWs should be made compulsory. Special training centres/ institutes were
established in districts for upgrading the skills of FDWs. Special and independent cells
should be opened in the public relation offices of NGOs in Delhi for solving the problems/
difficulties faced by FDWs, and a number of counselling centres should be opened for their
benefit.