INDIA:     ABOUT US

The National Domestic Workers’ Movement is a non-governmental organization operating for and with domestic workers, child domestic workers and migrant workers. We are active in 14 states of India and endeavour to achieve dignity for domestic work and workers at both national and international level.
The Movement encourages participation and leadership in the hands of domestic workers. We stand up for their rights, seeking justice and legislation for them. We create a strong public awareness to enable domestic workers to achieve a healthy recognition in society.

NDWM commits to:
empowering domestic workers;
giving dignity to domestic workers and the work they do;
establishing a healthy recognition for domestic workers in society;
working towards justice and legislation for all domestic workers.

 

A    HISTORY

Before 1978 only sporadic efforts were made to learn about the presence and the plight of domestic workers in India. With a survey conducted by CBCI (Catholic Bishops Conference of India), their actual conditions came to the forefront with the survey reporting about slavery-like conditions for domestic workers all over India.

Between 1980 and 1984, Sr Jeanne Devos ICM worked with women as well as children in Dindigul District in Tamil Nadu. She assisted in the formation of small groups of domestic workers, with the objective of helping them in whatever way she could. She was upset about the situation and also about the attitudes that employers and the society in general had towards domestic workers. It was her experience that people she met would either leave them as a taboo group or describe them as girls and women who should be grateful.

Accordingly, Sr. Jeanne started her work by listening to the stories of the domestic workers. These stories were recorded and read back to them to secure authenticity. Through this process comprehensive life histories were recorded, which were then processed for the sake of a social analysis. The exercise aided in highlighting and showcasing the true conditions of domestic workers as already reported in the first study in 1978.
For instance, most of the employers felt that they were actually helping their domestic workers, because they at least gave them some food to eat and a roof over their heads. Yet, Sr. Jeanne realized that under this garb of charity, employers were actually exploiting their domestic workers allowing them no leave nor providing benefits of any form.

In 1984 the bishops of the tribal areas expressed their concern for girls, women and children who were leaving their villages to go to the towns. Realizing that something must be done to help them, they approached Sr. Jeanne: she had prior experience indeed, having helped founding students’ movements and working with them earlier. She agreed and came to Mumbai in order to start a few groups of domestic workers. The initial groups were in the Mazagoan area. Although all they did was share their experiences with each other and Sr. Jeanne, still their employers boycotted the members of these groups.  Nevertheless, objectives of the movement were shaped by these discussions and translated into the policies of the National Domestic Workers’ Movement founded in 1985.

The domestic workers made the movement conscious about the issues relating to child domestic workers. Of all the domestic workers, they are the most vulnerable and are highly exploited by their employers. Three leaders of the movement rescued the first child domestic worker, Sunita, in 1992. Up to now, the movement pays special attention to the needs of child domestic workers and undertakes rescue operations whenever needed.

 

B     ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE

 

We at the National Domestic Workers' Movement believe that domestic workers should be able to express their needs and goals in their own words. Therefore, we include domestic workers at all levels of leadership. Plans and priorities stem from local groups and domestic workers are involved in the decision-making.

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C   STAFF

National Office, Mumbai (Bombay):

  1. Fr. Felix D'Souza

President & Trustee


Fr. Lancy Pinto
Trustee
Sr. Maggie Fernandes
Trustee

  1. Sr. Jeanne Devos ICM

National coordinator & animator

Jeanne Devos ICM left Belgium in 1963 with a strong desire to work with and for the most exploited and marginalized people. She started working with hearing impaired in Chennai. In 1966 Jeanne founded a student’s movement (YCS/YSM) with the aim of linking students to the underprivileged. The student’s movement transformed into YSMD (Student Movement for Development) and was actively involved in the cyclone of Orissa in 1971. Some of the volunteers remained after the relief service and started Gram Vikas in Orissa - today one of the biggest NGOs in India focusing on people’s participation and ownership.
Later on, Jeanne paid attention to groups of sex workers and domestic workers, trying to give them a voice and listen to their experiences. In 1985, she started up different groups in Mumbai and Madras so as to organise domestic workers and child domestic workers. To date, it requires her to co-ordinate more than 14 regions across India. Networking with organisations within and outside India is also a primary function of hers.

  1. Ms. Anjali Shukla

National Support Group
Assistant Coordinator

  1. Ms. Enid D’Costa

Networking Resource Person

  1. Sr. Rachel Ingles ICM

National Support Group
Accounts

  1. Regional Coordinators are all members of the National Support Group
  1. Volunteers/Trainees at different points in time

Andrea Schepper (AIESEC exchange student from Germany)
Anne Terheggen (AIESEC exchange student from the Netherlands/Germany)
Marina Thyss

 

REGIONAL OFFICES

  1. Tamil Nadu - 1985 Mrs Virgil D’Sami, Clara P, Sr. Escaline
  2. Bihar:  1988. Sr. Maggie Fernandes
  3. Mumbai: 1985. Arokia M Chettiyar
  4. Goa: 1992. Fr. Desmond
  5. Andhra Pradesh:  1996. Sr Lizzy.
  6. Kerala: 2002. Sr. Sally
  7. Delhi: 1991. Sr. Esther Pratiti.
  8. Karnataka: 1989 Sr. Nisha
  9. Jharkhand: 1996 Sr Gemma Toppo
  10. Uttar Pradesh: 1989 Fr. Dilraj.
  11. Madhya Pradesh: 2002 Dr. Jaya Peter.
  12. Haryana: 1992 Fr  Dominic Bosco
  13. Assam: 2003, Sr Tresa Joseph