Street play airs plight of domestic workers
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 03 2012:
Plight of domestic works in Manipur has been highlighted through the medium of street plays as the campaign was formally kick-started at Manipur press Club today.
A joint venture of Ferrando Convent Don Bosco High School (Imphal), Manipur Domestic Workers' Movement Organisation and Indira Gandhi National Tribal university streets plays to highlight exploitation of domestic workers and create awareness against the practice were also staged at Palace Gate and Chingmeirong Khongnang Ani Karak on the first day of the campaign.
According to Organisation's State co-ordinator Maria Gorethi, India has over 90 million domestic workers deprived of social and legal protections.
stating that there are over 10,000 domestic workers in Manipur out of which 95 percent are females and minor children, Maria contended that discrimination is rampant with regard to random reduction in the wage amount in case of damage caused to household items, even though the item may be as cheap as a tea cup.
Besides subjecting to intense work for over 16 hours, many domestic workers are removed without any justifiable explanation, the coordinator maintained while noting that numerous cases of sexual exploitation by the owners go unreported due to fear of social stigma.
To highlight all such atrocities the street plays are being staged, Maria added.