Life Of An Unorganized Woman Labourer
By Soheb Lokhandwala
07 March, 2013
Countercurrents.org
‘Gangubai’ is well known among the building contractors and labourers. She is from Karnataka, Nallur. She migrated to Mumbai 25years ago leaving husband and children for better pay and work. She works as contract labour doing the job of filling cement between gaps of tiles, marbles etc, she is an expert of doing this job dutifully and keenly. Gangubai’s husband who is a farm labourer hardly helped her and their children, and she had no choice but to migrate to another state for better pay and regular job.
This is my first interview with and unorganized woman labourer who constitutes about 93% of workforce in India and are rising, according to the data released(Dec.2012) by the country's apex policy making body National Development Council (NDC) non-manufacturing sector(unorganized and self employed) increased from 20.84 million in 1999-2000 to 29.96 million and 48.28 million in 2004-05 and 2009-10 respectively.
Gangubai is is now 48 years and working in this field for the last 23 years. She gets a daily wage of Rs.300/a day now. This job is very hard; whereby one has to sit and bend continuously for 6 hours. With her job she raised six children got two daughters married off. Of her four sons three are married and settled .The last son is studying and for which she has taken a loan of Rs.50,000/. He is pursuing a computer diploma in his village. Gangubai who is like a strong pillar to their family is hard working and courageous women but till date her husband has not acknowledged her labour and the great difference she has made to their family. Inspite all the indifference her love for her husband is steadfast.
I asked her if she got any welfare benefits from government, she replied in negative. I asked if any of her kids got welfare benefits; she said her last son got some scholarship grants.
Today on International women’s day let’s salute to all such great women who has altruistic and tenacious qualities to keep their family alive, who want their children to get higher education and lead a quality of life.
Soheb Lokhandwala who works as social activist and also as a Representative to SC(on Right to Food Maharashtra)
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