The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Domestic workers take a day off from routine tasks

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Sunday, Mar 09, 2008
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Karnataka

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Domestic workers take a day off from routine tasks

Bangalore Bureau

Union organises cultural programmes in various areas

— Photo: K. Gopinathan

Raising their voice: The Karnataka Dalita Mahila Okkuta members staging a protest against female foeticide, in Bangalore on Saturday.

BANGALORE: In what could be a first of its kind, a number of domestic workers in the city declared a holiday for themselves and indulged in a bit of fun in their own localities.

On International Women’s Day, members of the Karnataka Domestic Workers’ Union organised cultural programmes in areas where they live or work.

Sunanda M., who was part of the celebration at the Koramangala unit, said that about 40 workers from Srinivagilu, L.R. Nagar, Ambedkar Nagar and Mestri Palya participated in the programme. Similar programmes were held at Srinagar, Lingarajapuram, Bangarappa Nagar, Yeshwantpur, Fraser Town and Jayanagar.

The Janata Dal (S) has decided to field at least one woman candidate from each district in the coming Legislative Assembly elections.

Addressing women members of the party on International Women’s Day on Saturday, the party State unit president Merajuddin Patel said one woman from each district would be given ticket to contest the elections. Janata Dal (S) women’s wing president Padmavathi Gangadhar demanded allotment of more seats for women in various committees of the party. The party should field at least 50 women candidates in the coming Assembly elections, she said. The city also witnessed several rallies, organised to highlight the problems faced by women. In a marked departure from the usual, people from marginalised sexualities, genders and castes held a candle light vigil to “assert the rights of all women as human rights.”

The All-India Mahila Samskruthika Sanghatane held a protest, highlighting how governments had failed in responding to women’s issues. Members of Karnataka Dalita Mahila Okkuta staged a protest against the atrocities on Dalit women and female foeticide.

Addressing the protesters, the State convener of the okkuta, Indira Krishnappa said the women were discriminated socially, economically and politically. Atrocities on women, particularly Dalits, were on the rise.

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