November Snapshot: SEWA Bharat

Pioneering The Inaugural?'International Day Of Care And Support 2023'

"Despite approaching the local anganwadis many times, I am not able to avail correct information regarding my children's health. If there is assistance available,? we should rightfully know about this.", says Savita ben, a home-based worker based in Jahangirpuri, Delhi. "A lot of my time is spent on taking care of my five-year-old daughter, as my husband works in the construction sector. If I had more time, I could probably expand my stitching business.", says Sonia ben, a home-based worker in Gokulpuri, Delhi. At SEWA, through our interaction with our women members, we have observed that?women with?unpaid care responsibilities?and paid care workers both face their own set of challenges. While the former sees a reduced time in productivity, the latter is oftentimes not paid on time and also faces lack of recognition.?

For women, especially in the informal economy, care support remains limited. According to a report titled 'Care work and care jobs for the future of decent work' by International Labour Organization (ILO), globally, women perform 76.2%?of total hours of unpaid care work, more than three times as much as men. Another report by ILO and World Health Organization states that women face a larger gender pay gap in the health and care sector, earning 24% less than their male counterparts. Hence, we see that both in paid and unpaid care work, women are at a disadvantage.

Recognizing the global significance of care work, this year onwards, the United Nations has officially designated October 29th, as the 'International Day of Care and Support.' This observance emphasizes the need for fostering a strong care economy, dedicating resources to care, and establishing resilient, gender-responsive, disability-inclusive, and age-sensitive care and support systems that fully uphold human rights. SEWA Delhi, SEWA Bihar and SEWA Punjab observed this day for the first time. While SEWA Delhi facilitated interaction between paid care workers, its members and Mr. Amit Kumar Pandey,?Child Development Project?Officer, SEWA Bihar invited ASHAs (Accredited Social Health Activists)?and (Auxiliary Nurse Midwives)?ANM workers to speak about their challenges. SEWA Punjab called upon domestic workers and SEWA Sanginis, its own paid care workers,?to inform and engage with them on this day.?

"Even though we work hard to inform women about the use of contraceptives and family planning, many times they do not pay heed to what we say. Sometimes they?only come to know of their pregnancy when a test is undertaken in the hospital. Having many children, without much age gap between them,?also weakens their?bodies.", said?Shama ben, an ASHA worker from Jahangirpuri, Delhi, during the interaction. "Although my work gives me immense satisfaction, timely payment is always an issue.", said Priti ben, SEWA Bihar member and ASHA worker from Baijalpur village, Bihar. "Domestic workers often lack recognition in the mainstream. They often put their work first and their health second.? On this day, we tried to teach them how to take care of their own health too.", said Manpreet ben, SEWA Punjab member and domestic workers trainer.?

Taking this forward, SEWA Bharat aims to reduce women's unpaid care work burden, provide paid care workers with dignity and rightful payment, and advocate for a stronger care infrastructure in India.?

International Street Vendors Day: The Fight For Rightful Spaces Continues

For a female street vendor in India, life throws one hurdle after the other. From lack of a safe space where they can sell their goods, harassment by authorities,?to no or limited access to washrooms, not much has changed over the years. A ray of hope emerged in 2014, when the Street Vendors Act?was passed.?The Act?provides for the protection of livelihood rights, social security of street vendors and?regulation of urban street vending in the country. One of the clauses stated in the Act?was?the formation of Town Vending Committees (TVCs) in each state, which?are?responsible for identifying the street vendors, issuing the vending certificates and keeping a record of street vendors under its jurisdiction. However, SEWA's interactions with street vendors and a report submitted to the Parliament reveals that many TVCs continue to be inactive or non-existent.?

"On paper, I am part of the Town Vending Committee, but a meeting has never been called. Women street vendors in Nagaland often do not have designated spaces to do vending and lack access to washrooms. Since the COVID-19 lockdown, our?earnings have depleted quite a lot. We have connected bens to PM Svanidhi scheme, however, some have received the loan while some are yet to receive", says Atoti ben, an aagewan?(woman community leader) and a street vendor from?Chümoukedima village in Dimapur district,?Nagaland. "The daily life of?street vendors in Delhi is extremely difficult. They?wake up at 4 am in the morning to start their?work, which is going to the morning market to sell their goods. Police often harass them?and charge 'hafta' (bribes to be able to sell).? This work is both mentally and physically taxing, as women have to not only sit for long hours in the market but also endure workplace violence.", says Seema ben, who is now a part-time street vendor and aagewan from Raghubir Nagar area, Delhi.

Every year on 14th November, International Street Vendors Day is observed. SEWA Delhi, SEWA Bihar and SEWA Nagaland brought together women street vendors this year to commemorate this day. Issues pertaining to inactive town vending committees, lack of awareness amongst street vendors regarding their rights and street vendors not having proper places to carry out their work were raised. The teams of these states plan to continue resolving these problems through advocacy efforts and awareness building.

Empower, Unite, Resist: 16 Days Of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence

Despite the myriad opportunities now accessible for women to pursue education and enhance their lives, the grim reality persists: violence against them continues. Whether young girls or elderly women, many still navigate an environment shrouded in fear. Oftentimes, they are also unable to voice their experiences with violence, due to shame, retaliation from oppressors and?owing?to the apathetic nature of others around them.

"Domestic workers have often complained about violence in their workplaces, which includes denial of toilet access and threats to cut wages. For many home-based workers, their own homes which are their workplaces are also sources of violence.", says Anju ben, a home-based worker and aagewan (woman community leader) working closely with community members in Delhi to tackle this issue. "A lot of women in the community have normalized domestic violence in their homes and didn't even know it was a form of violence till we told them.", said Rukmani ben, an aagewan and home-based worker from Sundernagri in Delhi.?

The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence is an annual international campaign that begins on 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and runs until 10 December, Human Rights Day.?It is used as an organizing strategy by individuals and organizations around the world to call for the prevention and elimination of violence against women and girls. SEWA Delhi organized two events around this, the first was a POSH Consultation at the Canadian Embassy in Delhi and the second was a community event at Rajiv Nagar, Delhi.?

During the POSH Consultation, Rukmani ben narrated a heartwrenching ordeal of a domestic worker in Delhi, "She was molested?by her employers in Sundernagri area and wrongly accused of stealing money.? With assistance from SEWA Delhi, she gathered the courage to file a police complaint and an FIR. This made the perpetrator apologize, however, no formal case was registered against the employers for sexual harassment." Speakers from organizations such as Delhi Commission for Women, UN Women, Martha Farrell Foundation,?Society for Labour and Development and Partners for Law in Development spoke about violence at workplace, POSH Act, reforms in the Local Committees and sensitization of employers regarding workplace violence.

At the community event held in Rajiv Nagar, Delhi, our bens were educated to identify violence through a variety of methods such as street plays, discussions and finally a candlelight march. They were also given information on the crucial helpline numbers that exist to report violence. Above is a short video where our bens sing a SEWA song signifying the resilience of women and living life to the fullest. We truly hope to witness a day where they?can be without fear of violence of any kind and hold their heads high wherever they may go.?Here is a glimpse into the candlelight march held at the event.

Bringing Our Bens One Step Closer To Social Security

"I'm the only earning member of my family. My husband passed away in 2015 and since then I have been doing odd jobs like cleaning other people's homes and selling beauty products. I'm able to earn Rs. 3,000-4000 in a month, but as you know, it's not enough to live a comfortable life. I have to educate my 18-year-old son and at times he also has to work to supplement the family income. I just want him to focus on his studies and become successful.", says Jyoti ben,?SEWA member from Bhagalpur, Bihar. This is just one story of the many that exist in our country.?

For women in the informal economy,? information and access to social security benefits remain scarce.?Based on years of experience, SEWA has learned that social security and social protection must at least include health care, childcare, insurance, pension, and housing with basic amenities like a tap and toilet in every home.?Our members also taught us that “work security and social security are two sides of the same coin” and that having one without the other meant they could not achieve economic empowerment and self-reliance.

Social security camps are an important means to get informal women workers closer to the ambit of social protection. A recent one was held in Bhagalpur, Bihar where 70?participants attended. Forms for?ration cards,?caste certificates, residence certificates, income, pension for old age and widows, along with?death certificates were made. "It has just been six months since I joined SEWA Bihar. I didn't know about the benefits of obtaining the widow pension scheme earlier but through this camp, I have applied for the same. I hope that I can get some benefits as I am currently not working. However, interacting with SEWA sisters brings a sense of comfort within me. SEWA ghar jaise hi lagta hai (SEWA feels like home)", says Poonam Devi ben, member, SEWA Bihar.?

"As I am the sole earner in my family, I hope this pension amount helps me to better our standard of living. I now recognize that my work has value and I'm a more confident individual. Life is difficult, but I will sail through.", continues Jyoti ben. Access to comprehensive social security benefits can enable women in the informal economy to lead dignified lives and come out of the clutches of poverty and despair.?

SEWA Bharat's Instagram Page Crosses 3,000+ Followers!

With your continued support and appreciation, our Instagram page has now crossed 3,000 followers. We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all our followers and well-wishers. Every follow, like and share enables us to amplify the voices of women in the informal economy.?Your dedication to our cause allows us to make a positive impact in their lives. Follow us on Instagram!