Bangalore:
Bangalore's ready made garment industry earns big dollars exporting outfits to sophisticated markets in the West.
The invisible hands behind this industry are nearly four lakh women who cut, sew and stitch nine hours a day, seven days a week. The price of nine non-stop hours on the power loom without lunch or toilet breaks is a measly Rs. 3000 a month.
For these women, life is an eternal sweatshop where they work towards targets under threats and abuse from the men in charge.
"Every hour they keep asking how much we have produced. If the production is not sufficient in their view, they announce our names on the mikes. They abuse us in foul language: ''Have you come here to die, woman!," says Rukmini V. P., Garment Workers' Union Leader.
Getting together to unionise for their rights is a far-fetched dream for these women as raising a voice against physical, verbal or sexual abuse means to lose their jobs and hence their livelihood.
"Workers have stopped coming to the courts. There used to be six labour courts in Bangalore, it's reduced to three," said AJ Srinivasan, Labour rights advocate.
"They touch these young girls while talking, box their ears, hit them on their head. Even locking eyes with a woman can be sexual harassment according to the Vishakha judgment," Rukmini adds.
Campaigns for non-exploitative labour like 'Clean Clothing' ring hollow as India continues to churn international money and fame involving so much abuse and shame.
Join NDTV's Shakti Campaign which is asking for better safety for India's women. SMS Shakti to 56388 or log onto ndtv.com/shakti
The invisible hands behind this industry are nearly four lakh women who cut, sew and stitch nine hours a day, seven days a week. The price of nine non-stop hours on the power loom without lunch or toilet breaks is a measly Rs. 3000 a month.
For these women, life is an eternal sweatshop where they work towards targets under threats and abuse from the men in charge.
"Every hour they keep asking how much we have produced. If the production is not sufficient in their view, they announce our names on the mikes. They abuse us in foul language: ''Have you come here to die, woman!," says Rukmini V. P., Garment Workers' Union Leader.
Getting together to unionise for their rights is a far-fetched dream for these women as raising a voice against physical, verbal or sexual abuse means to lose their jobs and hence their livelihood.
"Workers have stopped coming to the courts. There used to be six labour courts in Bangalore, it's reduced to three," said AJ Srinivasan, Labour rights advocate.
"They touch these young girls while talking, box their ears, hit them on their head. Even locking eyes with a woman can be sexual harassment according to the Vishakha judgment," Rukmini adds.
Campaigns for non-exploitative labour like 'Clean Clothing' ring hollow as India continues to churn international money and fame involving so much abuse and shame.
Join NDTV's Shakti Campaign which is asking for better safety for India's women. SMS Shakti to 56388 or log onto ndtv.com/shakti
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