Women Domestic Workers & Placement Agencies, Curb On Exploitation (2007)

The program was inaugurated by Sh. Mangat Ram Singhal ji, Labour Minister Delhi. Govt, by lighting a lamp. The Secretary of the "Drishti", Anjali placed the 'Survey report' on the House Table. This seminar was based on survey carried at by Drishti, Stri Adyayan Prabodhan Kendra and us on migration of tribal girls in Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Orissa and its impact. It was observed in survey that a large number of scheduled tribal girls are being migrated to Delhi, Punjab, Chandigarh & Haryana in search to employment/job. These girls are known as Domestic Workers in cities. The girls are brought here through placement agencies & agents of villages based in Delhi & other metropolis.

In session -2 particularly Sh. Piyush Sharma, Joint Secretary, Labour Department, Delhi Govt, and Bharti Sharma Chairperson, Child Welfare Committee, Nimal Chhaya Pariwar, Delhi, participated. At the outset of session-2 Child Labour Act 1986, was discussed in detail. He assured that Delhi Government is committed to prohibit child labour and from Oct. 10th 2006 Children engaged in Hotels, Dhabas or houses are also covered under this Act. Sh. Piyush Sharma termed the engagement of boys and girls who work in houses, below 14 years as a violation of law. Certain banners and posters were also distributed among all the representatives. The representatives asked various Questions from Sh. Piyush ji which he did reply and after this, Smt Bharti Sharma explained the Juvenile Justice Act, 2000 in detail, she told that any girl or boy below the age of 18 who needs security and protection is covered under Juvenile Justice Act, 2000. Smt. Bharti Sharma apprised that the persons violating this Act have to undergo sentence in jail. On questioning to her that whether child beggars are also covered under this category she clarified that yes, any of the children who need security and protection is covered under this category.

Starting the session-3 Pinki Anand who is an eminent advocate of Supreme Court stated that keeping in view the interest of domestic workers, the Government would have to immediately bring them under the protection of law. Pinki Anand also presented domestic workers (Protection of rights) bill 2007. The bill presented by her speaks of interests to three components i.e. Domestic Workers placement agencies and their owners. In her bill she also warned that, no one, under any circumstance, can engage a boy or a girl below 18 years as domestic worker. It he does so, he could be liable to pay fine of Rs. 10,000/- to 25,000/-. The second speaker of the session-3 was, Smt. Meenakshi Lekhi, who besides being an advocate is also known for her fearless comments on social issues, also gave her views.

Smt. Lekhi commented that in the Bill brought out for Domestic Workers, there is no mention about the rights of the owners/master. She said that this bill is one sided. Giving her opinion she said that this type of bill will detrimental to the Social structure. Poornima Advani, Ex. Chairperson National Commission For Women said that she held public hearing Adalats (Court) for redresser of the problems of the domestic workers. Through these public hearing Adalats (Court) efforts were made to realize and solve the problems of domestic worker. She also said that there is need of social involvement to understand and find out the problems of domestic workers.

In the end. Deepak Mishra, Joint Commissioner, Delhi Police said that we need no such law. This problem could not be tackled by laws. This could only be tackled by public participation programs.

Addressing the Session-4, Mridula Sinha, who has been the Chairperson of Central Social Welfare Board said that Family Welfare Centers are the only solutions of the problem of domestic workers. She said that there are about 1000 counseling centers working in India. She was of the view that if such counseling centers are developed as a nodal agency and through them the problems of domestic workers and their owners could be settled. Hon'ble Shri L.C. Jain who has been the Ex. Justice of High Court and a member of High Powered Committee, said that we should create awareness amongst public and tell them that domestic workers are also the respected citizen of the country and they should also get the full remuneration for their labour as domestic workers.

In Session - 5, Seminar was concluded by Shri. P. Narayan Murti Joint Secretary, Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Govt, of India. The joint secretary in his speech said that seminar conducted by "Sampurna" was very informative and educative. It was based on extensive survey and each problem of domestic workers was taken up seriously. He told that in the 11th Five Years Plan, a scheme is being drawn focusing the domestic workers but it is also true that still much is required to be done to mitigate the problems of domestic workers by Govt, of India.

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