Highlighting the experiences of Parichiti in Kolkata in organising domestic workers, and finding sustainable ways to address their everyday working concerns, Anchita Ghatak describes its efforts to bring domestic workers together in informal social settings thereby building their sense of collective interest and solidarity and resulting in a desire to organise themselves.

A large number of women work as paid domestic workers. This sector of women`s employment has not received much activist or academic attention. Domestic workers, or `servants`, are a popular topic of private conversations but do not figure much in public discourse; this invisibility in public discourse and action has to be confronted. Thus, the main objective of Parichiti, an organisation working for the welfare of domestic workers in Kolkata, is to assert the identities and claim the rights of women, who are unrepresented or under represented in public discourse and action.

Parichiti currently works with three types of domestic workers: live-in help, fixed-time help, who live in the city, and fixed-time help, who commute to work from outside the city.

Addressing Violence

From its inception, Parichiti has been intervening in cases of violence at the workplace against individual women domestic workers (WDWs). A large number of WDWs face domestic violence. The perpetrators of such violence are either their own husbands or other members of their families. Addressing such complaints involves meetings with the victim-survivor, her family and community, and the perpetrator wherever possible.

Parichiti also engages with the police, lawyers, courts and other government bodies such as the State Commission for Women. Parichiti supports victim-survivors of violence in different ways such as securing relief/justice from courts, arranging schooling and/or jobs, and finding shelter. The objective of addressing cases of violence against women is to provide relief to the victim and arrange for rehabilitation where needed.

Spaces for Women Domestic Workers

At present, Parichiti is engaged in mobilising workers in Dhakuria and Bagha Jatin railway stations. At the Dhakuria station, Parichiti conducts a Mangaler Baithak every Tuesday. These are long but informal sittings, in which WDWs meet the Parichiti staff and each other. On an average, 30-35 WDWs attend these meetings. Weekly baithaks are also conducted at Bagha Jatin station. Usually 15-20 WDWs attend these baithaks. Information dissemination is an integral part of these baithaks/interactions at the Bagha Jatin and the Dhakuria stations.

From April 2007, Parichiti has been running a drop-in centre, or Bishram Ghar (BG), at Dhakuria. The BG works from Monday to Saturday and is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. to all WDWs. WDWs come here between jobs to relax, rest and talk. They meet other WDWs and talk about their lives. This is also where WDWs exchange information about prospective jobs, education of children, confronting/negotiating with employers, and so on. Parichiti staff members also hold discussions with WDWs, both in groups and on a one-to-one basis. These discussions touch upon many things, for example, work-related issues, transport problems, personal issues and information on government schemes.

Many of the WDWs, who visit the centre, stay in slums or settlements within the city; the BGs are thus a way to connect with many WDWs, who do not come by local train. However, WDWs, who commute daily to the city, usually have no place to rest because they go from one employer`s house to another. Toilet facilities are also a problem because there are very few public toilets in Kolkata and most employers are reluctant to let WDWs use their toilets. At the BGs, these WDWs discuss issues with others, take rest and/or have bath or tea. The BG is part of the strategy to mobilise and bring together WDWs from all different situations, and acts as a space where WDWs can discuss their work and lives with each other and strengthen their process of organising.

It is important to actively create spaces in which WDWs can interact with each other on their own terms. On 31 January 2010, twenty-eight WDWs and four members of Parichiti took a day trip to the Nature Park in Garden Reach, Kolkata. The purpose of this trip was to spend a day relaxing, away from work and family responsibilities and to get to know other WDWs.

The day began with everyone being introduced through a ball game. They relaxed after the game, rather thrilled to be out in the open, on a mild winter`s day. We began talking about our feelings and Mira Roy of Parichiti asked why there were more WDWs on this trip than ever before. Some said, "Well, that`s because of Parichiti." As we talked, it became evident that this was also because WDWs themselves look forward to this trip, and are gradually taking the initiative to contact their friends and acquaintances and making sure they come along.

The participants broke into three groups to discuss the problems they face in their workplaces and the steps that they take or would like to take to confront injustice. The groups were anchored by Ruma Mondol, Saraswati Panja and Arati. One of the workers, Bharati, said, "Employers often falsely accuse WDWs of stealing and then use it as an excuse to sack them. Where is the proof that we have stolen anything? We should complain to the neighbourhood associations or even the police if such accusations are flung at us." Chandana, another worker, said, "It doesn`t help to protest. I`ll get sacked and another woman will come and do my job for a lower wage."  Several WDWs said that they could ask Parichiti members to help them protest. Ruma Mondol said, "We can`t always wait for Parichiti. Sure, they`ll help us but this is our life, our fight. Suppose something happens in the locality where I work, I will try and contact other WDWs and we must get together and protest. We can always look for other allies later, including Parichiti."

At the end of the outing, the WDWs expressed the need to get together and explore these ideas further. They said they would talk to other WDWs about these ideas. They also said that they might meet at the Parichiti office to talk more about these issues. It is our hope and our aim that the awareness and independence of the WDWs continues to grow, and that the number of those whom they can count as their allies increases.

The names of all women domestic workers and members of their family have been changed to protect their privacy.