Women workers in India

The fast pace of India's economic transformation has thrown up many social, cultural and human problems. None of them is so acute as the rise of what may be called informal women workers in the industrialized metropolitan areas in the country. These women workers, contrary to popular, even informed belief, are not what is termed as 'marginal workers'; they are indeed principal, even sole supporters of their families. And yet, most scholarly studies have paid scant attention to them.

This book views them as constituting a core issue in the planning for nation's growth strategies and policies for distributive justice. It is in the context of this perception that this book presents some real life case studies showing, on the one hand, the economic and social contribution made by these women workers, and, on the other, the various ways in which they are exploited.

The book has three parts. Part one deals with women workers who have migrated from Tamil Nadu to Delhi and work mostly as domestic servants. The study shows how they are scattered, unorganized, and, therefore, largely exploited. They have no fixed working conditions and protective legislation to take care of them. And yet, they have become conscious of their indispensability and often successfully pressed for better wages and job choices. In their new reversed roles as principal bread-winners, they have also become conscious of their new identitics.

Part two shows the pathetic plight of Hamal women of Pune. They are migrants from poor rural areas in Maharashtra and work as casual labour in the market places in and around Pune. They work as manual transporters of goods by head-load or in handcarts. The study reveals their miseries as women workers and how meagrely they are paid for more hours of work.

Part three narrates the sad plight of the quilt makers of Dariapur, Ahmedabad, who belong mostly to Muslim community. Until SEWA came to their help these women worked in highly incongenial conditions, were extremely ill-paid. As purdah clad traditional women they were easy victims of exploiters. Under SEWA's support, however, they have developed courage to challenge tradition and solve most of their job problems. Altogether, the book reveals through its eye opening case studies the real, "flesh and blood" poverty of Indian women workers.