|
|
SEWA
- Organising
Head
Loaders
Headloaders
were the first among our members to approach Elaben Bhatt, SEWA's
founder, for advice and support. They organised their own union
and after a long struggle a tripartite board to look into all
aspects of head-loading was formed in 1980. For the first time,
a women's status as a worker was firmly established through the
identity card she obtained. Workers also got social security services
including maternity benefits, health care, insurance and child
care. The Cloth Market Board experience is an example of organising
with the participation of all concerned. Gandhiji always pressed
for this strategy of organising. The Board is active to this day.
Last
year, workers and owners, both on the Cloth Market Board, jointly
worked out wage increases. In this way, the over 100 year old
Board conducted negotiations as Gandhiji always advised:
by peaceful negotiation and mutual respect for all concerned.
Organising
Headloaders in 1999
No. |
Activites |
women |
Rs. |
1 |
Identity
cards |
421 |
- |
2 |
Festival
Bouns |
1200 |
250000 |
3 |
Medical
aid |
50 |
22,141 |
4 |
Maternity
Benefit |
8 |
3200 |
5 |
Life
insurance claims |
8 |
40000 |
 |
Total |
1687 |
315341 |
|
