Militant demonstration of Domestic Workers of Maharashtra in Hutatma Chauwk, Mumbai.

On 12th July 2010, hundreds of Domestic Workers from all over Maharashtra broke the orders of the Mumbai High court prohibiting staging any protest rally on the roads of Mumbai's prime locality where State Legislative Assembly, Secrateriate & High court is situated, went beyond Azad Maidan, where they are usually 'allowed' to have their protest rallies. They thronged to Hutatma Chauwk, the memorial of martyrs of Sanyukta Maharashtra movement.
Domestic Workers from every nook & corner of Maharashtra & regions such as Vidarbha, Marathwada, North & Western Maharashtra Mumbai went straight to the square instead of gathering in Azad Maidan. Workers who went there were detained there itself. Workers who could reach Hutatma Chauwk, shouted slogans in support of their demands to implement the Domestic Workers Welfare Act of the State of Maharashtra, 2008, form its rules, form the Welfare Board, issue I-cards & enact a Legislation regarding minimum wage, paid weekly off, Bonus & compensation at the termination of their services; Extending the Welfare Act to cover the benefits such as old age Pension & Health Insurance etc.They marched forcefully to the venue.
The Police sqad which was on its routine duty of guarding the Hutatma Chauwk were taken aback because they never expected such a huge army of women workers at the venue. The passer bys were also astonished by the spirit of the workers who could not be stopped & were adament on reaching their destination of Martyr's Memorial. More Police force was summoned and the workers along with the CITU leaders such as Dr. D L Karad, State General Seretary; Shubha Shamim, State General Seretary of Domestic Workers Co-Ordination Committee, Armaity Irani, Amrut Meshram ; Kiran Moghe, Sonya Gill, Sugandhi Francis, JMS leaders were stopped & put forcibally in the Police vans & brought to Azad Maidan.
1150 workers held a rally in Azad Maidan & vociforously shouted slogans time to time. Com Narsayya Adam, Dr Karad, Shubha Shamim, Kiran Moghe, Sonya Gill & Nalini Kalburgi addressed the rally. A delegation comprising of Com Narsayya Adam, Dr Karad, Shubha Shamim, Kiran Moghe, Nalini Kalburgi, Madhuri Kshirsagar, Amrut Meshram, Sindhu Shardul, Nanda Gulaskar along with Com. Rajaram Ozare, MLA of CPIM met the State Labour Welfare Minister Shri Padmakar Walvi & presented a charter of demands. He assured to complete the process of notifying the rules which were ready and had gone for the signatures of Dy Chief Minister & Chief Minister ; formig the Welfare Board before 15th August which was at the final stage ; start the process of registering the Domestic Workers & issue I-cards immediately after the notification of the Rules. He also agreed to put proposal to increase the Welfare Fund from 1.5 to 100 crores for the year 2010-2011 & extending the benefits of Labour Welfare Board & ESIS to the Domestic Workers
12th July agitation was a great success & it definitely boosted the morale of the Domestic Workers of Maharashtra!