M.O.P.

VAISHNAV COLLEGE FOR WOMEN (AUTONOMOUS) CHENNAI – 600034

(Affiliated to University of Madras and Re-accredited at “A++” grade by NAAC)

PROJECT REPORT

“A SOCIOLOGICAL ANALYSIS ON THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC CONDITIONS OF

DOMESTIC WORKERS IN THE LOCALITY OF CHENNAI.’’

Submitted by

AARTHI N 2013711031001

DIVYADARSHINI V 2013711031023

GNANAKODI N 2013711031026

JANVI MOHINTA 2013711031030

YOGAVIGNESHWARI M 2013711031066

III B.A. SOCIOLOGY

Under the Guidance of

Ms. P.S. RAJALAKSHMY

Asst, Professor, Department of Sociology

M.O.P Vaishnav College for Women, Chennai 600 034

2022 – 2023
 DECLARATION

I hereby declare that the Project entitled “A Sociological Analysis on the Socio-Economic
Conditions of Domestic Workers in the Locality of Chennai. ’’ has been submitted to the
Department of Sociology, M.O.P. Vaishnav College for Women, in partial fulfilment of the
B. A Degree in Sociology, by the students mentioned below:

AARTHI N 2013711031001

DIVYADARSHINI V 2013711031023

GNANAKODI N 2013711031026

JANVI MOHINTA 2013711031030

YOGAVIGNESHWARI M 2013711031066

Place: Chennai

Date:

Signature of the students:

AARTHI N

DIVYADARSHINI V

GNANAKODI N

JANVI MOHINTA

YOGAVIGNESHWARI M

2
 CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that the Project entitled “A Sociological Analysis on the Socio-Economic
Conditions of Domestic Workers in the Locality of Chennai. ’’ is completed and presented
in form of a report by Aarthi N, Divyadarshini V, Gnanakodi N, Janvi Mohinta,
Yogavigneshwari M. The project was done between August 2022 and November 2022 during
the final year of the students’ B.A Degree in Sociology. This is a descriptive study conducted
with the help of Questionnaire and case studies under the guidance of Ms. Rajalakshmy. P S.

Place: Chennai

Date:

Signature of the faculty

Ms . Rajalakshmy P S

(Research Guide)
Asst. Professor Department of sociology
M.O.P Vaishnav College for Women

3
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

We would like to thank the Almighty for his love and blessings that made this endeavour
possible.

We are thankful to Dr. Lalitha Balakrishnan, Principal of M.O.P Vaishnav College for
women (Autonomous) for giving us this opportunity to explore our capabilities and avenues
of interest.

We would also like to express our immense pleasure and gratitude to Dr A. Uma Maheswari,
our Head of the department of sociology.

We wish to extent our sincere gratitude to Ms. Rajalakshmy P S, our research guide and
assistant professor of the department of sociology, for her constant support, guidance and
suggestions.

We would also like to thank our Department teachers, Dr Sudha Krishnakumar and Dr.
Deepika Krishnan P.K for their suggestions and guidance.

We are grateful to the respondents of Chennai for their cooperation and willingness to add
value for our study.

4
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

S.NO CONTENTS PAGE NO

1 INTRODUCTION 9-19

2 REVIEW OF LITERATURE 20-24

3 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 25-32

4 DATA ANALYSIS & INTERPRETATION 33-75

5 CONCLUSION 76-86

BIBILIOGRAPHY 87-91

APPENDICIES 92-101

5
 LIST OF FIGURES & TABLES

S. NO FIGURE. TITLE OF THE FIGURE PAGE. NO

NO
1. 4.1 Distribution of the respondents on the basis of age 34
2. 4.2 Distribution of respondents on the basis of gender 36
3. 4.3 Distribution of the respondents on the basis of community 37
4. 4.4 Relationship between ancestral occupation and community 38
5. 4.5 Distribution of the respondents on the basis of experience 39
6. 4.6 Relationship between work experience and financial 40
backwardness
7. 4.7 Types of wage 41
8. 4.8 Distribution of the respondents on the basis of income 42
9. 4.9 Association between the income and financial 43
backwardness of the domestic workers
10. 4.10 Distribution of the respondents on the basis of marital status 44
11. 4.11 Distribution of the respondents on the basis of educational 45
qualification
12. 4.12 The average no.of houses the domestic workers work in a 46
day
13. 4.13 Distribution of the respondents on the basis of no. of 47
working hours
14. 4.14 Relationship between working hours and work exploitation 48
15. 4.15 Ancestral Occupation 49
16. 4.16 The type of residence 50
17. 4.17 Prevalence of ill-treatment 51
18. 4.18 Prevalence of abuse 53
19. 4.19 Health issues 54
20. 4.20 Permittance of leave 55
21. 4.21 Relationship of the workers with their employers 56
22. 4.22 Other specific issues 57
23. 4.23 Sufficiency of the salary 58

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24. 4.24 Bonus or additional wages 59
25. 4.25 Provision of food 60
26. 4.26 Allocation of separate utensils 61
27. 4.27 Allocation of separate toilets 62
28. 4.28 Respondents who have hired house helps 63
29. 4.29 Addressing Practices 64
30. 4.30 Behaviour of elders towards the house helps 66
31. 4.31 Acceptance on work exploitation 68
32. 4.32 Prevalence of untouchability 69
33. 4.33 Perception of people on untouchability 70
34. 4.35 Awareness on schemes and policies 74

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

S.NO ABBREVIATION EXPANSION

1. FDW Foreign Domestic Workers

2. ILO International Labour Organisation

3. NOAPS National Old Age Pension Scheme

4. JSY Janani Suraksha Yojana

5. PM - SYM Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan - Dhan

7
 ABSTRACT

Domestic workers are an integral part of people’s daily routine especially in the urban areas.
In India, the people’s attitude and mindset are a reflection of caste and class-based ideologies.
In today’s scenario the world is witnessing development in all possible arena, but the sector of
domestic workers remains underdeveloped and unnoticed. People sometimes remain unaware
of the consequences of their behaviour and sometimes these traditional behaviour accounts to
untouchability. This research mainly focuses on the socio-economic conditions of the domestic
workers. This also aims at investigating on the prevalence of untouchability in the behaviour
towards the domestic workers. It comprises of the public perception on the issues of the
domestic workers and opinion on the prevalence of untouchability. It elaborates upon the
schemes and policies that are available for the benefits and welfare of the domestic workers.
The result of the study elaborates on the various issues of the domestic workers including
economic issues, social issues, and health related issues. The major issue that was reported
during the interview schedule was absence of regulation on basic pay, lack of job security and
absence of social security. The study also related various factors such as providing separate
utensils, usage of different pathways and separate toilets to understand the traces of
untouchability. The study brings out the opinion of the public which lays emphasis on sanctity
of work and identifies the prevalence of untouchability in subtle forms considering the aspects
in concern. From the course of the study, it was understood that only meagre percentage of the
workers were aware of the available schemes that is provided by the government for the welfare
of the people. Therefore, it’s high time to erase the marks of untouchability and the issues of
the workers to be addressed. This remains as a mandatory need since the behaviour and
attitudes are at a threat of being passed on to the next generation.

KEYWORDS:

Domestic workers, House Helps, Maids, Untouchability, Unorganized Sector, Discrimination,

Abuse, Exploitation, House Owners, Employers, Social Insecurity , Illiteracy , Economic
Backwardness

8
 CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION

9
 CHAPTER I

1. INTRODUCTION

“If one day I can't go to work, it would complicate my boss's life.

She -just like me- has to go to work, but she can only do so if I do my job.
That is why domestic workers are the first and most important link in the work chain. Yet we
are not recognized for it. I hope one day both society and politicians will acknowledge this.”

- Mónica Aranda, Domestic worker and activist from Chile.

1.1 GLOBAL SCENARIO:

Often domestic workers migrate to other countries on various push and pull factors. The push
factors of migration stand to be financial backwardness, unemployment and lack of proper
education. The pull factor remains to be the expectation of better standard of living. Majority
of the domestic workers come from India, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. These workers
are often termed as FDW [Foreign domestic worker].

In most of the cases these workers often are being exploited and are being treated as slaves.
These workers face discrimination on the basis of their profession, race, origin, language extra.
The workers are often over exploited and are neither provided with the sufficient salary nor
with the basic facilities. The workers are sometimes even beaten in the cases of demanding
their basic rights.

From the reports of the Factsheet’s Article named “Migrant Domestic Workers” (2017), “I
did not even get enough food. Sometimes I only had bread and tea. One day, I asked, or my
full salary and I told madam not to send me to the houses of her friends and relatives and I said
that if you don’t give me salary, I will not work at all. After saying this my owner beat me with
shoes which left my right hand broke and bruises all over my body” says Amrita a female
migrant domestic worker from Nepal.

In most of the cases aboard, the passport of the domestic workers is being ceased by the
owners. The workers work in a closed environment, and it is reported that in certain cases the

10
owners lock the domestic workers inside the house when the owners leave the house. It is
reported through research that these workers are prone to mental health issues such as
psychotic, neurotic and mood disorders due to physical, verbal and sexual abuse.

In certain scenarios the intensity is very high that these workers commit suicide. In 2010, the
Nepali times articles reported 15 documented suicides of the domestic workers, and many
remain undocumented. The global scenario of these workers also raises a question of slavery
along with discrimination and untouchability. These workers do not have right to social
protection due to their migrant status in some countries. The labour exploitation of the domestic
workers in the international scenario is at a greater intensity.

1.2 INDIAN SCENARIO:

Domestic Work, the term means work performed in or for the household. Domestic worker is
any person who are engaged in domestic work with an employment relationship. The countries
population is composed of 4.75 million domestic workers of which 3 million of them are
women. This unorganized sector provides employment opportunity for many illiterate women.
Employing a domestic worker is also seen as a benchmark for social status in the Indian society.
These workers don’t have their form of legal protection or defined work hours or a stable or
defined basic pay. These workers are often exploited and are illtreated.

The traditional Indian society have always treated this sect of people as slaves or untouchables.
At a large scale the traditional Indian society has pictured themselves as masters and their
employees to be paid slaves. Despite the advantages that paid domestic work provides
employers, it takes a while for workers to be recognised as such, and there are no laws or
policies in place to control or protect those engaged in this field.

Most of these workers come from the backward, lower caste vulnerable and ethnically minority
communities. According to the Varna system in the olden days the Upper caste people prefer
the upper caste cooks and lower caste maids to clean and wash the vessels. Though this kind
of caste system is rare in the urban areas this is still prevalent in certain households. These

11
workers do not have a day off. When speaking about the relationship with their owners, though
there are some people who respect them, there are some houses where they are experiencing
continuous discrimination and ill-treatment by the employers. Though we argue that the
traditional behaviour of the employer to the domestic worker has evolved in time the
discriminatory actions are still prevalent in the society which the modern world has failed to
let go. There are houses which provide separate utensils for their house helps and in certain
houses there are places where the workers are not allowed to enter, or they have the specific
way through which the workers can enter.

Considering Chennai city in specific the population have always been generous enough to
support their help’s children with education and their upliftment, but these houses still continue
to follow the traces of untouchability and discrimination that was left behind by their ancestors
in their family tradition. Most of the time these fellow human beings are treated worse than
machines and the employers are sometimes least bothered to provide them time to eat. The
workers are given food but most of the time it is just the leftover food that the family has left
behind.

Most of the times these helps are often suspected in the matter of theft and often questioned
and checked by the security guard when they leave the house after work. This is an act which
defames the self-respect of the worker.

The entire domestic staff is either completely illiterate or only has the skills necessary to write
their names. None of them are aware of the many laws pertaining to abuse, molestation, and
other violent acts. They remain mute when questioned about sexual assault. They claim to have
no such personal experiences, but they do not rule out the potential that there may be such
instances in some homes.

To protect the rights of domestic workers, the Domestic Workers’ Welfare and Social Security
Bill has been presented, which talks of ensuring the rights of domestic workers by setting up a
board at district to state and central government levels. But due to non-passage of the Bill, no

12
directives have been issued regarding minimum wages, fixed working hours, leaves, social
security, maternity leave, day care, work environment, salary and other allowances.

Although, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra,

Odisha, Rajasthan, and Tamil Nadu have taken steps. Some states have also fixed minimum
wages for them while others have set up welfare boards. However, in the absence of a proper
law, a large section of domestic workers is forced to work without any labour laws.

The domestic workers are classified into three major types

• Part time worker

• Full time worker

• Live in worker

Part time workers, Works for more than one employer for a specified number of daily working
hours or performs specific tasks for each of the multiple employers every day.

Full-Time Workers, Work for a single employer every day for a specified number of hours and
returns to her/ his home every day after work.

Live-In Worker works full time for a single employer and stays in the premises of the employer
or in a dwelling provided by the employer and does not return to her/his home every day after
work.

Apart from this classification they can also be classified as migrant domestic workers,

Many women migrate from the rural areas to work as domestic workers. This migration
happens on the basis of two forms,

• Interstate migration

• Overseas migration

Overseas Migration workers:

The domestic worker is placed in a foreign setting, away from her family, and must adapt to
new languages, foods, and cultures whether she stays in India or travels to the Middle East or
Southeast Asia. Migrants are frequently live-in domestic servants, making them particularly
susceptible to violence, exploitation, and deprivation. Since many of them are from tribal areas,
their ethnicity further exacerbates the traditional discrimination they experience as women and

13
as live-in domestic workers. Despite these issues, underprivileged women are compelled to
relocate to urban areas and other nations in order to supplement the inadequate incomes of their
families.

Interstate migration workers:

Rural and male unemployment, poverty, abrupt death in the family, and financial bondage are
the usual causes of migration from rural to urban areas. Another "pull" element for young girls
and women to relocate is the allure of city life. The majority of domestic employees face
exploitative working conditions and little pay yet working in cities is considered as a way out
of poverty, and peasants are unaware of this. Additionally, a significant portion of domestic
workers are from communities that have been forced to leave their homes due to natural
disasters or man-made crises (like insurgencies). "Trafficking agencies" are increasingly
playing a big role in driving internal migration.

These workers are always considered replaceable and the major problem that the experience
in the society is the firing of workers without any prior notice. The workers experience a form
of untouchability that is not spoken but is performed. The reports say that in some
households these workers are not allowed to even use the restrooms that their employers use
that they are supposed to clean.

A website called bookmybai.com which acts as an intermediate to find house helps has the
tagline “Diamonds are useless Gift your wife a maid” this brings in a sense of objectification
of maid servants and also an act of mechanising them as machines to run without a break.
This explicitly mentions the attitude of labour exploiting the domestic workers.

There is a high demand for this labour pool as a result of the boom in urbanisation, migration,
and changes in the form of the home. The irony of this transformation is that for them, their
place of employment is now their home. To work at the houses of others, they depart from
their own. Historically, unlike the workplace and the office, the home has not been
considered as a place of work and labour. Some labour has come to be perceived as
"unproductive" due to the gendered conception of work. No matter how skilfully they

14
prepare meals or how thoroughly they clean, domestic servants are still viewed as
unproductive labour. They are hence both unseen and informal.

The ILO’s (C189) intervention in defining domestic work through protective regulation has
been globally very crucial, which the Indian state still has not ratified. The Unorganized
Workers Social Security Act of 2008 includes provisions for registering domestic workers,
but the effort has again been delayed. As a result, the Supreme Court ordered the Centre to
stop providing funding to those states that have not complied. The bills that were recently
introduced in the parliament include registration as a key component. Although the draughts
recommend registration with district and state welfare boards, the concurrent police
verification process actually serves as a practical reminder of previous procedures.

A Register Office was established in Calcutta in 1766 to keep track of all "menial slaves"
employed by Christian families (British, European, Armenian, and Portuguese). The
office shut down after a year. But the goal persisted without being fully realised throughout
the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. The way the registration process was conceived,
notably in the 1770s and 1780s, reveals a lot about the long history of police.

The colonial state underlined its requirement to keep a registry of servants under the
supervision of the Calcutta police superintendent in its edict from 1774. The plan entailed
the master paying one anna (paise) for each servant who signed up. Those who had enlisted
their servants were to receive preference in handling complaints. The police would make
every effort to find the servants who ran away from their assigned duties.

The dynamics of historical continuity have been dramatically overturned by something. The
modern domestic worker is now a member of the unrecognised, unorganised, and informal
sector rather than being a historically recognised category of domestic servant. Because s/he
was once controlled but is now unregulated, there is a greater need for regulation. This
transition from "formal" to "informal" is explained by the evolving definition of
"regulation," itself. Regulating the colonial state in the past was a way to improve control
over the servants.

15
Because home was considered an area that should be maintained beyond the scope of labour
regulations, the absence of formal regulation was seen as a better approach to keep control
over them from the late nineteenth century through the postcolonial period.

In this lengthy history of "control," the law was initially viewed as an active tool;
eventually, its absence became the most effective method. Beyond caste the factor of religion
also plays a role in the employment of domestic workers. Mostly other religion maids are not
employed as domestic workers. This part of the unorganized sector face so many issues in the
aspect of both economic and social criteria. They are often labour exploited and are considered
as untouchables.

1.3 PRESENT SCENARIO:

Many women in the rural background choose this as their source of livelihood because they are
illiterate or they have very little education with them. And the other reason for choosing this as
their source of livelihood is pandemic, many women lost their jobs and had financial
vulnerability and had no other go ultimately switched to domestic work. They generally work
for 8 hours to 18 hours or more in a day.

Article 17 abolishes untouchability" says that the practice of untouchability in any form, which
you attempt to practice, is not merely a crime against the Domestic Workers, but against society
and the Constitution itself. Equally alarming is the underlying casteism and modern form
untouchability. It is hardly surprising that a predominant percentage of domestic workers
belong to the Dalit community.

Our Union has persistently highlighted the caste discrimination in the employment of domestic
workers. Apart from this notice, domestic workers are also routinely subject to various caste-
based discriminations within the household, reservation of separate vessels for eating and
drinking, not being allowed to use the toilet, not being permitted to enter the kitchen or the puja
room, all of which are also unconstitutional and illegal attempts to continue practices of
untouchability. In some apartment complexes, domestic workers are compelled to use only the
service lifts and not the lifts used by the “residents and visitors”, if at all.

16
Further also is the employment of domestic workers from same or equivalent castes for cooking
and cleaning of pooja rooms, and simultaneous engaging workers from the Scheduled Castes
for other purposes including toilet cleaning, etc. None of this, of course, applies that to visitors
to these households and apartments. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, while speaking of the real way to
protect rights, stressed on the social and moral conscience of society.

Political democracy cannot last unless there is social democracy, that is a way of life, which
recognizes liberty, equality and fraternity as the principles of life, and a union of this trinity is
the only way to safeguard and ensure democracy. Needless to add it is social, economic and
political equality that can ensure liberty and fraternity.

1.4 THEORY:

Theories are formulated to explain, predict, and understand phenomena and, in many cases, to
challenge and extend existing knowledge within the limits of critical bounding assumptions.
Theories may be scientific, belong to a non-scientific discipline, or no discipline at all.
Depending on the context, a theory's assertions might, for example, include generalized
explanations of how nature works.

In social sciences, Theory - is usually thought of as a systematic set of ideas and statements
about the social world that aim to make sense of the social world. To be sociologically useful,
these ideas and statements should be such that they can be subjected to empirical observation
and testing. This study uses Karl Marx’s theory of exploitation in order to understand the
ground level issues and sufferings that women in unorganised sector faces and how are they
used and exploited due to their ignorance, powerlessness, their social status, illiteracy and other
various reasons.

EXPLOITATION:

Exploitation in special reference to labour is a concept defined as, in its broadest sense, one
agent taking unfair advantage of another agent. It denotes an unjust social
relationship based on an asymmetry of power or unequal exchange of value between
workers and their employers.

17
KARL MARX’S THEORY OF EXPLOITATION:

“The worker is exploited when he does not keep or control the value created by his own
labour power.”

Marx argues that society is composed of two main classes:

Capitalists are the business owners who organize the process of production and who own the
means of production such as factories, tools, and raw materials, and who are also entitled to
any and all profits. The other, much larger class is composed of labour (which Marx termed
the "proletariat"). Laborers do not own or have any claim to the means of production, the
finished products they work on, or any of the profits generated from sales of those products.
Rather, labour works only in return for a money wage.

Marx argued that because of this uneven arrangement, capitalists exploit workers. In general,
Marx claimed there are two major flaws inherent in capitalism that led to the exploitation of
workers by employers: the chaotic nature of free market competition and the extraction of
surplus labour.

This exploitation is the reason, according to Marx, that employers are able to generate
profits: they extract a full day's worth of effort and production from workers but only pay
them a smaller fraction of this value as wages. Marx termed this surplus value and argued
that it was nefarious.

This phenomenon creates an environment in which one group continually gains at the expense
of another group that is caught up in a cycle of poverty. Marx’s theory primarily acknowledges
the significance of labour within any given economy. Furthering this view, he espouses the
idea that labour differences should be hinged on the skill and knowledge superiority of the
individual as employee labour rights are largely equal.

Borrowing from his rich and wide experience as an economic analyst, Marx, points out that
an effective economy is characterized by a commensurate amount of labour for any given
product. From his point of view, therefore, exploitation in capitalist systems arises from the
fact that workers are compelled to sell their knowledge and skills at a much lower value than
the commodities produced as a result of their input.

18
For Marx, while all class-based societies depict exploitation tendencies, in capitalism
exploitation is the driving force for the capitalist. In other words, workers in a capitalist system
are forced to produce for capitalists owing to the power imbalance between those who own the
means of production and the laborers

19
CHAPTER II
REVIEW
OF
LITERATURE

20
 CHAPTER II
2. REVIEW OF LITERATURE

A literature review is a comprehensive summary of previous research on a topic. The literature

review surveys scholarly articles, books, and other sources relevant to a particular area of
research. The review should enumerate, describe, summarize, objectively evaluate, and clarify
this previous research. Literature reviews on divorce are discussed under the topic of divorce
and its reasons, effects on children, children as stabilizers, and social support

2.1 SOCIO-ECONOMIC CONDITIONS OF THE DOMESTIC WORKERS:

• The issues of female domestic workers are a very vast thing to find, analyse and address
and Jawaid Ahmed Dar (2014) in his work on “Socio-Economic conditions of
female workers in Punjab”, Specifically presents about how poor is the pay given to
these workers in Punjab as it is not considered as a tedious job. It speaks about different
issues that comes with the work as job instability, job insecurity, minimal wages,
exploitation etc... This study mainly studies the Economic aspect of the female domestic
worker. He stressed on the issues faced by the domestic workers in Punjab.

• People are not defined solely by their work , nor it is possible to ignore the effects of
factors outside the workplace , Martha Fetherolf Loufi, in her book named,
“Women, Gender and Work”, Studies about how and why women are pushed into
certain jobs relating to their demographic place and circumstances like, How the
patriarchal mindset of the society pushes the women into unorganised sector works
excluding them from protective labour laws resulting them in a more probable chance
of exploitation.

• The female domestic workers are often exploited in every part of the nation , this study
was conducted in special reference to Thrissur , Socio Economic Status of Domestic
Women Servants –A Case Study of Thrissur Corporation by Aarati B.
Pokale, Jayashree S. Gothankar, and Prasad D. Pore (2021) , this research study
emphasizes the plight of the women in unorganized sector is miserable as they work at
extremely Low wages, with total lack of job security and unprotected by any

21
 government labour legislations. The women workers in unorganized sector covers most
of those activities Which are carried out by small and family enterprises, partly or
wholly with family, labourers which are largely non- unionised. The most common
characteristics of this sector are the small size of establishment, often consisting of only
one individual, with perhaps.

2.2 ISSUES OF THE DOMESTIC WORKERS:

• Over last few decades, there has been a rapid growth in the number of women
employed in India due to socio-economic changes, increase in women rights and spread
of women education in India. Due to which the demand for domestic workers are
increasing day by day Singh Balwinder (2008) in his work on “Socio-Economic
Conditions of Urban Female Domestic Servants- A Case Study”. The main
objective of the paper was to examine the issues of the women in labour market and
feminist thinking and it also deals with the quality of work and trends of women
workers in India. For the study 100 female domestic servants was selected and stratified
random technique was used. The study shows that labour force and employment of
females has been increasing in the Indian economy.

• Moreover, workers’ bargaining power is very low given the extreme insecurity of
employment, allowing little negotiation for leave, increments, or other working
conditions. However, there are several instances of hard bargaining, subversions, and
contestations with a keen awareness of the advantages and disadvantages the job
offers. In the book, “Domestic workers and the role of social Institutions: The
Indian context” by Sonal Sharma (2022) emphasizes how these people are so
unaware and ignorant that even the fulfilment of basic needs keeps them satisfied and
get exploited more and created a vulnerable part for themselves.

• Women in rural areas have a great potential to contribute more. Sadly, these
energies and potential had been wasted by not involving them The book, “Rural
women – The untapped potential by Dr. Abhishek Mukherjee (2021)”, speaks
about how women in rural areas are suppressed and exploited, how their potential goes

22
 unignited, how they are made to settle for less. This book also guides on how can rural
women showcase and channelize their potential and come up with flying colours

• The complexity of the specific strategies and negotiations adopted by domestic workers
as they contest and challenge the sociocultural markers of hierarchical difference that
their employers mobilize as they try to create boundaries and distinctions between
themselves and their employees. Maid in India: Negotiating and Contesting the
Boundaries of Domestic Work, this research paper done by Padmaja Barua , Haldis
Haukanes and Anne Waldrop (2016) shows that while paid domestic work within
the home is a social relation of extreme inequality characterized by fundamental
domination and dependency between domestic workers and their employers, domestic
workers deploy creative and innovative strategies to contest practices and ideologies
of inequality and distinction put forth by their employers.

• The workers in unorganized sector remain unprotected by law. They are the most
vulnerable section of the society and they enjoy no job or Income security with little
bargaining power. The research paper called Living and Working Conditions of
Female Domestic Workers in Pune City (2020) by Aarati B. Pokale, Jayashree S.
Gothankar, and Prasad D. Pore The unorganized sector is divided in to
institutionalized and non- institutionalized Sectors. The non- institutionalized
unorganized sector comprises workers doing casual Work like domestic workers,
sweepers, scavengers etc.

• According to National Survey conducted by the School of Social Work, in Calcutta

Only 6 per cent of the workers had made some contract with the employers, while, in
other regions, it is a mere 1 – 2 per cent. The contract is made with a third party of
agent and so the exploitation runs beyond the employer-employee relationship.
According to the survey, in domestic service rest is considered a luxury by the
employers and this Problem has serious consequences on her health. The National
Survey commence that Though hours of work were regularized in Kerala, 76 percent
of its workers did not enjoy any holidays.

23
2.3 PREVALENCE OF DISCRIMINATION AND UNTOUCHABILITY:

• Untouchability, although a cognizable offense in India, is still practiced covertly in

several households. Domestic Workers in India Are Stuck Between a Rock and A
Hard Place- An article written by Radhika Rana emphasizes about the prevailing
modern form of untouchability towards the maid workers, she quotes about a
problematic advertisement released by appliances firm Kent RO last year after the
coronavirus outbreak. The ad read: "Are you allowing your maid to knead atta dough
by hand? Choose KENT Atta & Bread Maker for hands-free kneading of dough. Let
automation take care of hygiene this time! Don't compromise on health and Purity." It
received widespread backlash for being classist and the company was forced to take it
down.

• Even in rural India, there is awareness that caste discrimination is politically incorrect.
So, if you ask people if they practice it, they will probably claim that they don’t.
Travelling as a journalist in north India, I have often heard people say, “Here there is
no caste.” Touch-me-not: From the Eyes of the Domestic Worker (2020) – An
article from ‘THE SOFT COPY’ - Untouchability, although a cognizable offense in
India, is still practiced covertly in several households. In the city of Bangalore, not
sharing utensils and other items is just another assertion of the belief that ‘one who
cleans my washroom can’t cook my food’.

• Domestic workers were disallowed from using toilets within the home and have
reported being unable to relieve themselves through the entire day’s work. Kaam ki
Kadar: The Ill-Treatment of Domestic Workers in Indian Households, a book by
Aadya Narain puts down that, Employers continue to maintain physical and ritualistic
distance from domestic workers who they consider to be ‘impure’, replicating in
everyday life the rigid social hierarchies and resultant norms of segregation that
characterise the caste system.

24
 CHAPTER III
RESEARCH
METHODOLOGY

25
 CHAPTER III
3. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

This chapter includes the overall framework of the research. It includes the problem statement,
significance, objectives, scope, research design, sampling methods, tools of data collection,
sources of data, and limitations of the study.

3.1 TITLE:

“A Sociological Analysis on the Socio-Economic Conditions of Domestic Workers in the

Locality of Chennai.’’

3.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM:

Domestic workers are a neglected group among the unorganised workforce. There is a common
concept of labour exploitation that is often discussed in the corporate sector but these workers
are being exploited for decades. Women domestic workers face several problems in their
personal and occupational life. They work for long hours and are poorly paid. They don’t have
job security. If they take leave even for genuine reasons, they may lose their job. They face
problems such as no job training to handle modern home appliances, no regular or fixed work
schedule, no access to toilets, lack of social life and support system, lack of social insurance
etc. This study highlights the “issues and challenges of domestic workers and focuses on the
ingrained working and living conditions of domestic workers”. The study intends to bring
greater attention to the situation of domestic workers and to facilitate the development of
strategies and practical measures for promoting their rights and employment and working and
living conditions.

26
3.3 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY:

1. India a society which gives more priority to the hierarchy of caste and class, the unorganised
sectors are oppressed and denied of basic respect, rights and are silenced.

2. These issues of these workers are added to the pile of unrecognised and one of the critical
issues that are in the mandatory need to be solved.

3. The people sometimes they themselves are not aware that they are treating their house helps
in the so-called modernised form of untouchability.

4. The issues such as unregulated basic pay, overtime, high level job insecurity, hazardous
work, sexual assaults, loss of employment are unnoticed in the society.

3.4 SCOPE OF STUDY:

The study was conducted in Chennai. It mainly focuses on the issues of the domestic workers
and the behavioural pattern of the employers towards them in the basic level. This study mainly
focuses on the issue aspects such as basic pay, leave requirements and also studies upon
behavioural traits that accounts to a form of untouchability. The study also comprises public
opinion on the behavioural patterns of the employers towards these workers. The sample size
that was considered for the study was 70. For the public opinion 100 people were surveyed.
The timeline of the study was 3 months.

3.5 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY:

1.To understand the socio- demographic profile of the domestic workers.

2.To understand the issues of women workers in unorganised sector engaged in domestic
works.

3.To investigate and understand the prevalence of untouchability in the present – day society.

27
4.To investigate on the public opinion on the charwoman and their socio- economic issues.

5.To analyse the available schemes and to come up with suggestions according to the current
needs of the society.

3.6 HYPOTHESIS:

1. Traditional behaviour of the owner’s accounts to untouchability.

2. Longer working hours has an influence on the health of the domestic workers.

3.7 CLARIFICATION OF CONCEPTS:

Charwoman / Domestic worker

Domestic workers are those workers who perform work in or for a private household or
households. The workers may stay in the owner’s house (in house) or the workers may migrate
from their place to work in another (Migrant workers).

Unorganised sector

The term unorganized sector refers to home-based, self-employed workers who do not come
under the rules and regulations laid by the government regarding the conditions of employment.
These workers do not have job or social security.

Discrimination
Discrimination is the unfair or prejudicial treatment of people and groups based on
characteristics such as race, gender, age or sexual orientation.

Untouchability

Untouchability is a form of discrimination towards people based on their caste, class and jobs
done by them.

28
3.8 VARIABLES

INDEPENDENT VARIABLES:

The independent variables considered for the study are as follows

• Income
• Ancestral occupation
• Working hours
• Community
• Experience

DEPENDENT VARIABLES:

The dependent variables considered for the study are as follows

• Health issues
• Financial backwardness
• Exploitation

3.9 RESEARCH DESIGN:

A descriptive research design was adopted for the study. Since the study focuses in describing
the socio-economic conditions and investigates the traces of prevalence of untouchability in
the current day society.

3.10 PILOT STUDY:

A Pilot study was conducted to understand the feasibility of the study, availability of the
respondents and attainability of the required data.

29
3.11 UNIVERSE:

The universe of the study was the domestic workers in Chennai city.

3.12 SAMPLING UNIT:

The sampling unit for the study was all the domestic workers belonging to the age group of 16
to 65 in the localities of Nungambakkam, T.Nagar, Perambur, Triplicane, Avadi and Ambattur
in Chennai.
The sampling unit for the public opinion was the population belonging to the age group of 20
to 60.

3.13 SAMPLE SIZE:

The sample size of the research was 70 which includes 69 female domestic workers and 1
transgender domestic worker in the areas of Nungambakkam, T.Nagar, Perambur, Triplicane,
Avadi and Ambattur. All the respondents were housemaids doing household chores such as
cooking, cleaning and washing.
The sample size considered to understand the perception of the public was 100.

3.14 SAMPLING METHOD:

For the purpose of studying the conditions of domestic workers snowball sampling was used.
Snowball sampling was used because the domestic workers were difficult to find. So, we asked
the individuals to name others in their community who are influential. This technique is called
“snowball” because the sample group grows like a rolling snowball.

3.15 PRE- TEST:

To understand the liability of the study a pre-test was conducted with a sample size of 10 with
the help of a random sampling method. Results observed from pre – test was used to make
slight modifications and to extend the aspects of the questions in the interview schedule of the
main research.

30
3.16 TOOLS OF DATA COLLECTION:

The interview schedule was adopted for the purpose of data collection and the data was
collected through personal investigation in their respective localities.
For the public opinion a small online survey was conducted among the public.
There are two types of questions in general:
• Open ended
• Closed ended
Open ended questions gives liberty to the sample to elaborate and reason out on their answers.
Closed ended questions restricts the respondents to the options that are already prescribed by
the researcher. The questionnaire that was used for the study consists open end questions in
majority.

3.17 SOURCES OF DATA:

Primary Data:

The primary data was collected through a pre structured questionnaire and the respondents
were interviewed in person. The domestic workers were doing household chores such as
cooking, cleaning and washing etc. Each interview was carried out for 15 to 20 minutes and
public opinion online survey for a duration of 5 minutes.

Secondary Data:

The secondary data was collected through cases studies, previous researches papers,
newspaper articles, e-articles and e-journals.

3.18 REFERENCE PERIOD:

The research was conducted during the mid- week of September to November 2022.

31
3.19 TOOLS OF DATA PROCESSING & ANALYSIS:

Tool used for data analysis is SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social sciences). Components
like Pearson’s correlation, Chi-square tests were performed using the software for analysis and
hypothesis testing.

3.20 LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY:

1. The respondents were found to be loyal to their owners resulting in restrictions and
modifications of the answers.
2. The respondents were mostly female domestic workers male domestic workers were
not interviewed.
3. The respondent were also afraid to answer the questions in the interview.
4. The sample size of the study was small when compared to the population of the
domestic workers in the city.

32
 CHAPTER IV

DATA ANALYSIS

AND

INTERPRETATION

33
 CHAPTER IV

4.ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION

Data analysis and interpretation is the process of assigning meaning to the collected
information and determining the conclusions, significance, and implications of the findings. It
is an important and exciting step in the process of research. In all research studies, analysis
follows data collection. There are two main methods of interpretation of data; qualitative and
quantitative analysis. Qualitative data can be observed and recorded. This data is non-
numerical. This type of data is collected through methods of observations, one-to-one
interviews, conducting focus groups, and similar methods. Quantitative data analysis is a
systematic approach to investigations during which numerical data is collected and the
researcher transforms what is collected or observed into numerical data. Quantitative data is
usually collected for statistical analysis using surveys, polls, or questionnaires sent across to a
specific section of a population. It refers to a set of processes by which numerical data is
analysed.

THE SOCIO – DEMOGRAPHIC PROFILE OF THE DOMESTIC WORKERS.

4.1 DISTRIBUTION OF THE RESPONDENTS ON THE BASIS OF AGE:

Age
30

25

20

15
26
10 22

5 11
6 5
0
14 - 25 26- 35 36 - 45 46 - 55 56 -65

Age

Figure 4.1

34
INTERPRETATION:

From the graph it is understood that the individuals of the age group 36 to 45 are highly
involved in domestic work.
The main reason is that they can support their financially backward family by doing
household chores which does not require separate set of skills.
Followed by individuals of age group 26 to 35 and 46 to 55 respectively. The individuals of
the age group 56 to 65 are less involved in domestic work because of their physical
incapability or inefficiency.

35
4.2 DISTRIBUTION OF THE RESPONDENTS ON THE BASIS OF GENDER:

Gender

Transgender
1%

Female
Transgender

Female
99%

Figure 4.2

INTERPRETATION:

According to the chart women are involved more in domestic work when compared to men.
The study shows that household chores are almost done by women rather than men.
99% of domestic workers are women and 1% of domestic work is done by transgender.
In the Indian society it is presumed that the household chores are meant for the females.
Hence it is slight obvious that the population of the female domestic workers is maximum.

36
4.3 DISTRIBUTION OF THE RESPONDENTS ON THE BASIS OF COMMUNITY:

Community

6%
9%
9%

OC
OBC
MBC
38%
SC
38%
ST

Figure 4.3

INTERPRETATION:

From the chart it is understood that majority of domestic workers either belong to Most
backward class or the Scheduled caste. Almost 38 % of domestic workers belong to MBC
and SC category.

Followed by OBC (i.e., the Other Backward castes) and Scheduled tribes. 9% of domestic
workers belong to OBC & ST category. Other caste is having the least number of individuals
serving as domestic workers.

From the pie chart we can understand the social hierarchy of the Indian society. Social
hierarchy still plays an important role in the segregation of occupation amongst people.

The theory of exploitation can be related as the people who are termed to be the lower in
caste hierarchy are more exposed to these jobs which are considered not a great job by the
people who have higher social status in the society. This kind of perception leads to the
exploitation of the people.

37
4.4 RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ANCESTRAL OCCUPATION AND
COMMUNITY:

Figure 4.4

From the above graph, it can be understood that majority of the domestic workers belong to
MBC which shows that more than SCs and STs, people prefer other caste people rather than
SCs and STs which shows the caste-based discrimination prevails at even jobs like domestic
works at home Some people even said that STs were not even allowed to get inside the houses
to do these jobs. Respondents were barely found in ST.
Moreover, there is an association between community and ancestral occupation as 19
respondents have told that they have been following their ancestral occupation in which 10
were from MBC, 6 were from SC, 2 were from OBC and OC and none from ST.

38
4.5 DISTRIBUTION OF THE RESPONDENTS ON THE BASIS OF EXPERIENCE:

Experience

2%

0 - 5 yrs
47% 5 - 10 yrs
51%
More than 10 yrs

Figure 4.5

INTERPRETATION:

According to the chart, 40% of domestic workers have experience of 5 to 10 years. Followed
by individuals having experience of 0 to 5 years. 37% of domestic workers have 0 to 5 years
of experience.

The percentage of house helps with experience of more than 10 years is 2.

39
4.6 RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN WORK EXPERIENCE AND FINANCIAL
BACKWARDNESS:

The above graph represents that the work experience impacts the financial status of the
domestic worker, i.e. from the study it is known that workers have hikes or an increased salary
wage based on their work experience which gives the owner a credibility and trust on the work
of the domestic worker.
The respondents who have more than 10 years of experience knows to speak their wage amount
according to their work, their work speed, efficiency etc. Rather than the less experienced
people. Comparatively, Work experience indirectly influences the financial status.

40
4.7 TYPE OF WAGES:

Wages

10%
1%
1%
Daily
Weekly
Monthly
Yearly
87%

Figure 4.7

INTERPRETATION:

From the chart it is understood that majority of domestic workers receive their salary monthly.
87% of domestic workers receive monthly wages. About 10% of workers receive daily wages.

Exceptionally 1% of domestic workers receive weekly wages and 1% of workers receive yearly
wages.

41
4.8 DISTRIBUTION OF THE RESPONDENTS ON THE BASIS OF INCOME:

Income

1% 9%
13%

100 - 3000
3500 - 5000

34% 5500 - 10000

10,500 - 20,000
43% More than 20,000

Figure 4.8

INTERPRETATION:

According to the chart, 43% of domestic worker’s income is between Rs. 5,500 to Rs. 10,000.
About 34% worker’s income is between Rs. 3500 to Rs. 5000. Nearly, 22% worker’s income
is less than Rs. 5000. Only 1% receive more than Rs. 20,000 salary. So, from the above
statistics, it is clear that there is no standard payment is fixed for domestic workers. It is
considered as a major issue in the unorganised sector.

The low income structure for the work that they does , is also accounted as the exploitation of
workers as they are not offered sufficient wages for the job that they do. As the theory of
exploitation suggests , Laborers do not own or have any claim to the means of production,
the finished products they work on, or any of the profits generated from sales of those
products. Rather, labour works only in return for a money wage.

Similarly , The workers are only given money for their work but not in a sufficient level to
run a family which leads to the exploitation.

42
4.9 ASSOCIATION BETWEEN THE INCOME AND FINANCIAL BACKWARDNESS
OF THE DOEMSTIC WORKERS:

Figure 4.9

The above graph represents that the respondents with income ranging from below 1000, 1000-
5000, 5000-10,000 per month has said that their salary is insufficient and the income is not
enough for the work that they do. The lower income determines the lower financial status of
the respondents.
Other respondents who get their income ranging from 10,000 - 15,000 and above 15,000 had
collectively responded that they could make a living out of this salary which is acceptable for
their work. This establishes that income has a direct relationship with the financial status of the
domestic worker. The financial status of the domestic worker increases when they have
sufficient pay to run a family and take care of themselves.

43
4.10 DISTRIBUTION OF THE RESPONDENTS ON THE BASIS OF MARITAL
STATUS:

Marital status

9%
11%
Married
Unmarried
13% Divorced

67% Widowed

Figure 4.10

INTERPRETATION:

From the chart it is understood that majority of the respondents are married. Almost, 67% of
domestic workers are married. 13% of charwomen are unmarried, 11% of charwomen are
divorced and 9% of domestic workers are widowed.

44
4.11 DISTRIBUTION OF THE RESPONDENTS ON THE BASIS OF
EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATION:

Qualification

17% 19%
No education
Primary
Secondary

34% 30% Higher Secondary

Figure 4.11

INTERPRETATION:

34% of domestic workers have secondary education. 30% of domestic workers have primary
education, 17% have higher secondary qualifications and 19% of domestic workers are not
educated.

From the above statistics it is clear that even when an individual has secondary education the
job opportunities are less so many women end up in the unorganised sector as domestic
workers.

Due to the low level of education / only school level education, these workers are deprived or
refrained from getting other jobs that is jobs which are socially in higher status and provide
more income, So, due to their unawareness they are exploited by the owners.

45
4.12 THE AVERAGE NUMBER OF HOUSES THE DOMESTIC WORKERS WORK
IN A DAY:

No of houses

7%
26%
1
31%
2
7%
3
4
29%
More than 4

Figure 4.12

INTERPRETATION:

The above pie chart illustrates about the number of houses at which house helps work.

Almost 31 % of domestic workers work in at least 2 houses and 29% of domestic workers in
at least 3 houses per day. The number of percentage of house helps working in more than 4
houses is 26%.

So, therefore it can be understood that the salary given to the house helps are not sufficient for
running a family. Hence, they work in many houses for getting more salary. Because of which
their health is affected drastically.

46
4.13 DISTRIBUTION OF RESPONDENTS ON THE BASIS OF WORKING HOURS
PER DAY:

Number of working hours per day

less than 8 hours more than 8 hours approximately 8 hours

Figure – 4.13

INTERPRETATION:

From the chart it is understood that majority of the domestic workers work more than for 8
hours a day, that is 23.8%. Followed by that 19.6% of the domestic workers work
approximately 8 hours a day. And only 5.6% of the domestic workers work for less than 8
hours a day.
These working hours also changes according to the number of houses they work and the works
that they do at each house.

47
 4.14 RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN WORKING HOURS AND WORK
EXPLOITATION:

Figure 4.14

Few of the respondents have responded that their working hours is lesser than 8 hours a day
and the works that they do will also be considerably low accordingly which shows that the
people are not exploited by imposing huge amount of work onto them.
More than 25 respondents have told that they work approximately 8 hours in different houses
but smaller amount of works at each home.
Ultimately, most of the people who work more than 8 hours a day feel that they are being
exploited as their owners put on them a lot of work which include extra works when guests
arrive, Extra works than the said work for the wage, Extending the work hours etc. Mostly,
these people work at comparatively in 1 or 2 houses, but work at a stretch for hours. These
respondents have also told that the wages would not be given extra than the said wages which
is definitely exploiting them. So, there is a relationship between higher working hours and
higher work exploitation.

48
4.15 ANCESTRAL OCCUPATION:

27%

Yes
No

73%

Figure 4.15

INTERPRETATION:

The picture above represents that out of respondents, 73% of the respondents do not follow
their parents’ profession and 27% of the respondents said that they do not follow their
hereditary occupation.

It can be indirectly interpreted that the parents are more focused on developing their Children's
future by providing educational support and uplifting their lives.

49
4.16 TYPE OF RESIDENCE:

House type

16%

Rent
Own

84%

Figure 4.16

INTERPRETATION:

From the above chart, it is observed that, 84 % respondents live in rental houses and 16% of
house helps live in own houses. The main cause is that the salary is not sufficient enough for
the construction of own house.

50
THE SOCIAL, PHYSICAL AND ECONOMIC CONDITIONS OF WOMEN
WORKERS IN UNORGANSED SECTOR ENGAGED IN DOMESTIC WORKS.

4.17 PREVALENCE OF ILL-TREATMENT:

EXPERIENCE OF ILL-TREATMENT

28.8

71.6

YES NO

Figure 4. 17

INTERPRETATION:

The above pie chart illustrates about the experience of ill-treatment faced by the women
domestic workers. It shows that almost 71.6% have responded that they haven’t faced any
bigger ill-treatment as such, and 28.8 % of the respondents have shared their experience on
being ill-treated.

This shows that people are becoming aware in treating these workers as they deserve but still,
some respondents are quite uncomfortable sharing their experience and so we cannot conclude
that all the owners of this day does treat the workers the good way.

The rest 28 % of the respondents conveyed the ill-treatment that they faced in the forms if
verbal abuse, lack of trust, complaining their work, not giving them respect, micro-analysing
every work and finding faults often.

51
In conclusion, even though people started to realize that domestic workers are not merely
machines but a human being with feelings, Still there are that superiority complex and an
authoritative handling in the name of keeping worker in control leading to ill-treatment in both
conscious and unconscious forms.

52
4.18 PREVALENCE OF ABUSE:

EXPERIENCE OF ABUSE

18.6

81.2

YES NO

Figure 4. 18

INTERPRETATION:

From the above chart, it is observed that, 81 % respondents do not experience any kind of
violence, as they responded that owners have become quite conscious and 18 % respondents
said that they have experienced violence in the forms of verbal, physical and sexual.
Due to the deep-rooted acceptance of everything can be done by the owners, certain
respondents don’t even realize that they are being abused.
Nevertheless, Comparatively, the attitudes of owners have seen change and the percentage of
violence towards their household workers have seen a great decrease for various reasons.

The poverty and the powerless nature give way for the exploitation of the workers in every
form. Be it abuse, ill-treatment or violence, The exploitation in any form is done as This
phenomenon creates an environment in which one group continually gains at the expense of
another group that is caught up in a cycle of poverty.

53
4.19 HEALTH ISSUES:

S.NO HEALTH ISSUE FACED NUMBER OF RESPONDENTS

FACED THIS PROBLEM
1. Excessive Tiredness 56
2. Body ache and Body pain 63
3. Sleeplessness , head ache , giddiness 14
4. Leg , knee pain 56
5. Allergies , sprain , skin allergies 21
6. Joint pain 56
7. C-Section women experience severe 21
pain in the back

Table 4.19

INTERPRETATION:

The above table represents that more than half of the respondents experience excessive
tiredness, body ache, body pain, leg and knee pain, joint pain which is due to the over work
they do daily and they have no other option.
Other respondents also responded that they experience a sleeplessness, headache often. The
women who had C-section delivery experiences a severe back pain and it affects the women’s
health and body.
Medical assistance must be given for these women in free of cost such as providing free medical
check-ups, medicines and treatments if needed as their only source of income is their wellness.

54
4.20 PERMITTENCE OF LEAVE:

LEAVE
12 %

88%

YES NO

Figure 4.20

INTERPRETATION:

The picture above represents that out of total respondents, 88 % respondents have informed
that they do not get leave or day off as such weekly and 12% respondents have said that they
were provided leaves but only for reasons such as sickness and sometimes, even they are
shouted at for taking leave for sickness.

55
4.21 RELATIONSHIP OF THE WORKERS WITH THEIR EMPLOYERS:

Of the many factors those influence job satisfaction of workers, relationship with their
employers plays significant role in determining efficiency and work of the workers. If the
workers have cordial and better relations with their employers, then they work efficiently or
vice versa. Hence, relationship of the women domestic workers with employers is essentially
to be studied to assess the working conditions of women domestic workers.

Relationship with the Percentage

employees

Better 21%

Good 31.5 %
Not so good 3.5 %

Moderate 14 %

TOTAL 70 %

Table 4.21
INTERPRETATION:

From the above table, it can be understood that most of the domestic workers have a Good
(31.5) and a Better (21) type of relationship between the owners which could be interpreted
that they have an employer - employee relationship which doesn't have much of issues.
Following that, (14) of respondents responded that they have a relationship which is not bad or
moderate.
(3.5) of women domestic workers have told that they do not have a good relationship with their
workers due to certain arguments regarding the works, workload or delayed salary.

56
4.22 OTHER SPECIFIC ISSUES:

PROBLEMS FACED NUMBER OF PERCENTAGE

RESPONDENTS
No time to spend with their 60 60%
family or themselves
Suspected for theft 60 60%
Excessive workload 50 50%
Delayed payment of salary 40 40%
Rude and demeaning 60 60%
treatment.

Table 4.22

INTERPRETATION:

The table represents other specific problems expressed by the respondents, where 60% of
respondents have responded for no time to spend with their family as they sometimes have 7
hours of work or at multiple houses and they do not get holidays often.
Again 60% of people have reported that they are constantly suspected for theft, lack of trust
over them which is very hurtful towards the workers. Another set of people have told that
Excessive workload without wages compensation or delayed payment of salary is a very big
issue for their livelihood and they feel exploited.
60% of respondents have told that the demeaning or rude way of conversation or the
authoritative tone seems very unapproachable.

57
ECONOMIC CONDITIONS OF THE WOMEN DOMESTIC WORKERS:

4.23 SUFFICIENCY OF THE SALARY:

SUFFICIENCY OF THE SALARY

10%

90%

YES NO

Figure 4. 23

INTERPRETATION:

The figure above represents that 90% of the respondents said that their salary is not sufficient
for the work that they do. Some respondents receive more than 20,000 per month but 2-3 houses
cumulatively which is a really low wages for the amount of work that they do.
10 % of respondents said that they are satisfied with their salary where their owners take care
of their food and accommodation and certain people provide additional money as per their
requirements such as for emergency expenditures.

58
4.24 BONUS OR ADDITIONAL WAGES:

BONUS OR ADDITIONAL WAGES

30

29

30

200-500 500-1000 1000-1500 1500 AND ABOVE

Figure 4.24

INTERPRETATION:

It can be considered that above 90 % of respondents has said that they received additional
wages or bonus during festivals, where 30 % of people said that they were given Rs.200-500
and Rs.500-1000 as minimal wages.
Some even received 1000 and 1500 above as bonus during festivals which the respondents told
that was helpful during those days for festive expenses.

59
THE PREVALENCE OF UNTOUCHABILITY IN THE PRESENT – DAY SOCEITY:

4.25 PROVISION OF FOOD

Food

1%

Yes
No

99%

Figure 4.25

INTERPRETATION:

According to the chart, 99% of house owners provide food to the domestic workers which
shows a positive sign like the society.

Whereas 1% of house owners do not provide food to the domestic workers which makes
untouchability still prevailing in the society.

This shows the generosity of the public most of the time stale food items are being provided to
the domestic workers which cannot be encouraged.

60
4.26 ALLOCATION OF SEPARATE UTENSILS:

Separate Utensils

14%

Yes
No

86%

Figure 4.26

INTERPRETATION:

According to the chart, 86% of the house owners have separate utensils for domestic workers
in their households for their daily meals, which indicates no morality towards them thereby
showcasing acts of untouchability.

Whereas, 14% of house owners do not have separate utensils for domestic workers.

The main reasons that were reported by the public were the absence of cleanliness, unhygienic
and many also state it to be a traditional behaviour.

61
4.27 ALLOCATION OF SEPARATE TOILETS:

Separate Toilets

46% Yes
54% No

Figure 4.27

INTERPRETATION:

From the pie-chart, we can see that 54% of house owners have separate toilets for domestic
workers which indicates a strong presence of untouchability in the society.
The main reason stated was fear of infections. But it was also reported that no basic facilities
were provided in allotted toilets. This accounts to a discriminative behaviour resulting in
justifying the prevalence of untouchability.
Whereas, 46% of house owners do not have separate toilets for domestic workers which
indicates that the treatment towards domestic workers are gradually changing.

62
THE PUBLIC OPINION ON DOMESTIC WORKERS AND THE PUBLIC
PERCEPTION ON THE PREVALNCE OF UNTOUCHABLILITY.

4.28 RESPONDENTS WHO HAVE HIRED HOUSE HELPS:

13.4

86.6

Yes No

Figure 4.28

INTERPRETATION:

Figure 4.24 explains that the respondents who have hired house helps to support them on their
day-to-day routine.
The fast modern world has pushed majority of the population to seek help of the house helps
to support them with their household chores such as cleaning, washing cooking. Usually, it is
the combination of these chores, but the recent trend has been to have work specialization and
people hire helps for a specific household job.

The figure showcases the percentage of the respondents who seek the help of the domestic
workers to fulfil the household chores.
From the figure it is clearly understood that out 100 respondents 86.6% of the respondents are
dependent on the house helps for their chores.
House helps are an integral and unignorable part of the urban population lives. This is one of
the major reasons to have conducted this research in understanding the social and the economic
conditions of these workers.

63
4.29 ADDRESSING PRACTICES:

27

33

13

15

Grandmother Sister Aunty Maid Name

Figure 4.29

The way people address them

Cumulative
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Percent
Grandmother 6 6.0 6.0 6.0
Sister 33 33.0 33.0 39.0
Aunty 15 15.0 15.0 54.0
maid 13 13.0 13.0 67.0
Mother 6 6.0 6.0 73.0
Name 27 27.0 27.0 100.0
Total 100 100.0 100.0

INTERPRETATION:

The figure 4.25 explains how the respondents address their house helps. The way a person is
respected starts with the way the person is addressed. This question was intended at
understanding the basic line of respect that the owners give their house helps.
From the Figure 4.25 it is understood that 33% of the respondents address their house helps as
sister which is also a respectful manner of addressing a person.

64
The Figure also shows that 27% of the respondents call their house helps by their name
considering the age factor in concern addressing a younger person by name is acceptable but
addressing someone older by name is considered unethical and is also disrespectful.

The figure also says that 13% of the respondents address their house helps as Maids which in
certain scenarios be disrespectful and hurting.
The table gives the statistical inference on the way people address the house helps.

The underlying intention of asking the question is that in majority of the families the way the
house helps are addressed is carried to the next generation and in most cases the next generation
also adopt the manner of addressing their house helps. This threatens the concept of respect in
certain cases.

65
4.30 BEHAVIOUR OF ELDERS TOWARDS THE HOUSE HELPS:

37%

63%

Good Bad

Figure 4.30

The behaviour of the elders towards the house maids

Cumulative
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Percent
Good
63 63.0 63.0 63.0

Bad 37 37.0 37.0 100.0

Total 100 100.0 100.0

INTERPRETATION:

In a family set up the behaviour of the elders is sometimes carried over by the next generations.
Thus, the study intended to understand the behaviour of the elders and its reflection on the
behaviour of next generation towards the house helps.
Figure 4.26 gives a pictorial representation of the responses on the elder’s behaviours towards
the house helps. Table is the statistical inference of the elder’s behaviour towards the house
helps.

66
From the figure, it is understood that 63% of the elders behave good to the house helps. The
respondents also added that the elders tend to be more generous when it comes to providing
food or other items to their house help and they also reported that the elders are more concerned
of the house help’s Children’s development through the means of education, and they also
provide moral and educational support to those children.

According to the chart it is also understood that 37% of the elders do not behave in a good
manner to the house helps. Some added that this behaviour could be out of the caste hierarchical
mentality and some reported that it is result of the superiority of the economic status.

67
4.31 ACCEPTANCE ON WORK EXPLOITATION:

36%

64%

Yes No

Figure 4.31

INTERPRETATION:

Figure 4.27 explains about the responses on the perception of people on house helps being
work exploited. According to the figure it is understood that 64% of the people agree that
people exploit their house helps. The repondents added that most of the house helps either work
overtime or the househelps are given too much work within the working hours. 36% of the
respondents have reported that the house helps are not beings exploited and they are given the
right amount of work. But during the interview with the house helps the major problem stated
by them was the excessive workload and low salary at the same time which also justifys that
the house helps are being exploited by their employers.

68
4.32 PREVALENCE OF UNTOUCHABILITY:

38%

62%

Yes No

Figure 4.32

INTERPRETATION:

The figure 4.28 explains about the perception of people on the prevalence of untouchability in
the current day society. It is explicit from the figure that 64% of the respondents have accepted
that there is a prevalence of untouchability in treating the house helps. Though some are not
aware of their behaviour towards the House helps, it is explicit through the results of the
surveys such as providing separate plates and utensils, the mentality of superiority in authority,
separate toilets and even it was reported that in some cases the house helps are not allowed to
use the front gate of the houses. This can be out of the traditional way of behaviour of the
previous generations which has being carried out by the next generations.
38% of the respondents have reported that there is no prevalence of untouchability in the
behaviour towards the house helps.

69
4.33 PERCEPTION OF PEOPLE ON UNTOUCHABILITY:

45
Unacceptable, 42

40

35

30

25 Unignoreable, 23
Resisting to change,
20 18
Acceptable, 17

15

10

0
Acceptable Unacceptable Unignoreable Resisting to change

FIGURE 4.33

INTERPRETATION:

The figure 4.29 gives the pictorial representation of perception of the respondents on the
untouchability that is prevailing in the society in the behaviour towards the house helps. From
the bar chart it is understood that 42% of the respondents have the behaviour to be unethical
and have respondent it to be unacceptable to treat the house helps in a submissive and inferior
way. The respondents stated that when there is progression of thought in other sectors of
thinking and other behavioural changes is seen in the society there is a mandatory need in
respecting the workers and accepting a sanctity in the work. Considering a house help as one
among the family is a subjective thought but the house helps need to be given the respect that
a normal human being deserves in a work arena.

22% of the respondents have reported that the discrimination and the untouchability that
prevails in the society is unignorable since the society is filled with economic disparities and
the caste hierarchy. In most of the scenarios it has become the norm of the society to treat the
house help in a submissive manner.

70
18% of the respondents have reported that there has been a discussion on this with their family
and most of the cases the family members weren’t ready to accept the fact of equality since
they stood grounded to their ideologies on inferiority of the house helps.

17% of the respondents have reported that having a gap between the employer and the house
help acceptable. The major reason reported is that when given freedom or when treat equally
many of them take advantage of the relationship and often cheat the owners. The fear of theft
is also prevalent in the society in treating the house helps equally.

71
4.34 HYPOTHESIS TESTING:

HYPOTHESIS 1:

Traditional behaviour of the owner’s accounts to untouchability.

H1: There is an association between traditional behaviour and prevalence of untouchability.
H0: There is no association between traditional behaviour and prevalence of untouchability.

STATISTICAL TOOL:
Chi square test was used for the analysis.

CHI-SQUARE TEST:
Chi-Square Tests
Asymptotic
Significance Exact Sig. (2- Exact Sig. (1-
Value df (2-sided) sided) sided)
Pearson Chi-Square 49.984a 1 .000
Continuity Correctionb 46.061 1 .000
Likelihood Ratio 57.291 1 .000
Fisher's Exact Test .000 .000
Linear-by-Linear
49.270 1 .000
Association
N of Valid Cases 70
a. 0 cells (0.0%) have expected count less than 5. The minimum expected count is 6.51.
b. Computed only for a 2x2 table

INTERPRETATION:
Since the p value 0.000 is less than 0.05 (i.e., p<0.05) the null hypothesis is rejected and the
association between traditional behaviour and the prevalence of untouchability is established.
Therefore, traditional behaviour such as providing separate utensils, toilets and sometimes
using different pathways are also traditional behaviour that results to untouchability.

72
HYPOTHESIS 2:

Longer working hours has an influence on the health of the domestic workers.
H1: There is association between longer working hours and health of the domestic workers.
H0: There is no association between longer working hours and health of the domestic workers.

STATISTICAL TOOL:
Chi square test was used for the analysis.

CHI SQUARE TEST:

Chi-Square Tests
Value df Asymptotic Significance (2-sided)
Pearson Chi-Square 38.432a 2 .000
Likelihood Ratio 49.969 2 .000
Linear-by-Linear
37.806 1 .000
Association
N of Valid Cases 70
a. 1 cells (16.7%) have expected count less than 5. The minimum expected count is 2.63.

INTERPRETATION:

Since the p value 0.000 is less than 0.05 (i.e., p<0.05) the null hypothesis is rejected and the
association between longer working hours and health of the domestic workers is established.
Therefore, longer working hours leads to health issues.

73
THE AVAILABLE SCHEMES AND SUGGESTIONS ACCORDING TO THE
CURRENT NEEDS OF THE SOCEITY:

4.35 AWARNESS ON SCHEMES AND POLICIES:

Awareness

Yes
23%

Yes
No No
77%

Figure 4.35

INTERPRETATION:

From the chart, it is understood that the majority of domestic workers are not aware of the
schemes and policies available to them.
Only 23% of the respondents are aware that there are schemes and laws for their welfare and
protection.
Almost 77% of the respondents are not aware of their rights. Because of lack of access to
education, some of the respondents were not even aware of the term scheme and law.

When domestic workers are not aware of their rights they are exploited in various ways. They
cannot raise their voice against the ill-treatment and humiliation they face from society.

74
THE AVAILABLE SCHEMES:

To provide social security benefits to the workers in the unorganised sector including
domestic workers, the Government has enacted the Unorganised Workers’ Social Security
Act, 2008.
2008, at the formation of suitable welfare schemes for unorganised workers on matters
relating to
1. Life and disability cover
2. Health and maternity benefits
3. old age protection
4. any other benefit as may be determined by the Central Government through the
National Social Security Board.

The various schemes under the security act 2008, are

1. National old age pension scheme (NAOPS) (2007) – This schemes helps in providing
financial and social protection to the older citizens of India who lie below the poverty
line.

2. Janani suraksha yojana (JSY)(2005) - This scheme provides financial assistance for
delivery and post-partum care.

3. Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan – dhan ( PM-SYM) (2019) – This scheme
provides social security for the unorganised sector workers.

75
CHAPTER V
CONCLUSION

76
 CHAPTER V

CONCLUSION

5.1 MAJOR FINDINGS:

SOCIO – DEMOGRAPHIC PROFILE

• 18 % of domestic workers out of all are of age between 36-45 , 15 % of the domestic
workers were of 26-25 , from these the majority of the workers were between 25-45 which
comes under the middle aged group , 8 % of the people were of 46-55 and the minority
were 7% were of 56-65 , 9% were of age group 14-25.

• 99% of domestic workers are women and 1% of domestic work is done by transgender.
In the Indian society it is presumed that the household chores are meant for the females.
Hence it is slight obvious that the population of the female domestic workers is maximum.
• 38 % of domestic workers belong to MBC and SC category which is the majority. 9% of
domestic workers belong to OBC & ST category. Other caste is having the least number of
individuals serving as domestic workers which is 6%.
• 40% of domestic workers have experience of 5 to 10 years. 37% of domestic workers have
0 to 5 years of experience. The percentage of house helps with experience of more than 10
years is 2.
• 87% of domestic workers receive monthly wages. About 10% of workers receive daily
wages, 1% of domestic workers receive weekly wages and 1% of workers receive yearly
wages.
• 43% of domestic worker’s income is between Rs. 5,500 to Rs. 10,000. About 34% worker’s
income is between Rs. 3500 to Rs. 5000. Nearly, 22% worker’s income is less than Rs.
5000. Only 1% receive more than Rs. 20,000 salary.
• 67% of domestic workers are married. 13% of charwomen are unmarried, 11% of
charwomen are divorced and 9% of domestic workers are widowed.
• Almost 66% of domestic workers have 2 children. Nearly, 19 % of domestic workers have
1 child, 13% of domestic workers have 3 children and 2% of domestic workers have 4
children.
• 34% of domestic workers have secondary education. 30% of domestic workers have
primary education, 17% have higher secondary qualifications and 19% of domestic workers
are not educated.

77
• Almost 31 % of domestic workers work in at least 2 houses and 29% of domestic workers
in at least 3 houses per day. The number of percentage of house helps working in more than
4 houses is 26%.
• Out of the respondents, 73% of the respondents do not follow their parents’ profession and
27% of the respondents said that they do not follow their hereditary occupation.
• 84 % respondents live in rental houses and 16% of house helps live in own houses.

THE SOCIAL, PHYSICAL AND ECONOMIC CONDITIONS OF WOMEN

WORKERS IN UNORGANIZED SECTORS ENGAGED IN DOMESTIC WORK.

• 71 % of respondents out of all have responded that they haven’t experienced any ill-
treatment by their owners but this data can’t generalize that the ill-treatment or
discrimination towards the workers have become lesser or gone down because the
respondents were not ready to blame their owners, uncomfortable confessing their ill-
treatment and most importantly some are naturally accepting mild ill-treatment or mild sort
of discriminations.

• 80% of respondents said that they haven’t explicitly experienced forms of violence but
verbal abuses such as shouting, yelling at them, complaining etc have happened but not
technically bigger acts of violence such as sexual abuse, physical abuse etc.
The rest have admitted the violence that had to happen to them and how mentally their
employer abuses them when some mistake happens at work.

• More than 90% percent of the women domestic workers admitted that they face health
ailments due to their work load such as joint pain, knee pain, back pain, excessive tiredness
and various other problems which shows that they should be given medical assistance.

• 88% and above has expressed that they are not given a day off or leave as per their
requirement (health issues, family functions etc) even occasionally which is making these
women drain mentally, physically and emotionally. They also add that most of them cut
salary based on the leave that they take.

78
• Other specific issues that have been found which are experienced by these women workers
are,

1. They hardly get time to spend with their family or to take care of themselves and
their family.

2. More than 90% had ultimately said that they are suspected for theft or their
approach and attitude will always contain that suspecting tone which makes the
workers more uncomfortable and difficult to work in that non trust bounded
environment.

3. The delayed payment of salary is one of the major issues that the respondents
quoted. The owners at times delay their salary amount until 15th or 16th of that
month which makes these people’s life more miserable.

4. Rude and Demeaning treatment i.e., the attitude by them and their guests will at
times be very diminishing where they look down and discriminate us at certain
times through words.

THE PREVALENCE OF UNTOUCHABILITY IN THE PRESENT – SOCEITY:

• 99% of the domestic workers were provided with food by the house owners and rest 1%
weren't.

• 86% of the respondents have reported that they are provide with separate utensils this
indicates the presences of traces of untouchability

• 46% of the respondents have reported that they have to use separate toilets. This explicitly
show the presence of untouchability

79
THE PUBLIC OPINION ON DOMESTIC WORKERS AND THEIR PERCEPTION ON
THE MODERN FORM OF UNTOUCHABILITY:

• 86.6% of the respondents have hired house helps for their daily chores. This indicates house
helps play an integral part in day-to-day life especially in urban areas.

• 64% of the respondents have stated the that the house maids are being labour exploited.

• 62% of the respondents have accepted that is their prevalence of untouchability in the
society

• 18% of the respondents have reported that their families are resisting to change the
traditional ideologies and are staying grounded to their ideologies.

THE AVAILABLE SCHEMES AND SUGGESTIONS ACCORDING TO THE

CURRENT NEEDS OF THE SOCEITY:

• Only 23% of the respondents are aware of the schemes and policies available for them and
almost 77% of the total respondents lack awareness.

• The government does not have the exact data of the number of domestic workers of the
nation which makes it difficult for identifying the workers of unorganised sector.

80
5.2 SUGGESTIONS:

1. The Social Worker can to register facilitate meant to form a welfare association through
which secured jobs can be ensure for women in this kind of domestic work. The employers
who require domestic workers can approach this association for booking the number of
domestic workers required and these associations can help when the domestic workers need
assistance.

2. The domestic workers must be provided with free health check-ups and medicines as their
asset and main source of income is their health.

3. The society is in a high time in establishing a need for professional behaviour among the
house helps and the owners.

4. It is important to create awareness on sanctity of work.

5. Domestic workers must register as unorganized workers. Such registration will facilitate
their access to rights & benefits. No such data is maintained at the Central level. However
as per the National Sample Survey (NSSO Statsitics-2011-2012,68th round) according to
which estimated 39 lakhs people are employed as domestic workers by private
households, of which 26 lakhs are female domestic workers.

6. Most of the domestic servants are migrants, women, and belong to the lowest end of the
economic spectrum. This makes them easy to replace, and easier still to exploit. Since
they belong to the unorganized sector, there are no laws safeguarding their rights – no
minimum wage requirements or job security. So, laws should be brought for fixing
minimum wages for domestic workers.

7. In a country where 93% of the workforce is in the unorganised sector and therefore beyond
the purview of most labour laws, domestic workers represent a new low in terms of
disempowerment: they are not even recognised as workers. Their work — cooking,
cleaning, dish-washing, baby-sitting — is not recognised as work by the state. So, domestic
workers should be included in the labour rules and regulations.

81
8. The ongoing conflict also suggests that laws can serve only as enabling frameworks, albeit
crucial ones, for improving these employees’ abysmal working conditions and terms. To
be able to use the law effectively, domestic workers also need to organize, given that their
employers are in an economically and socially superior position.

9. The community members should take a leading role in educating community members
about the importance of domestic work, regardless of the gender and how people perceive
domestic work. Developing a positive attitude towards domestic work may help
community members to understand the importance of domestic work and to know how
important domestic work is.

10. Policies and strategies that protect domestic workers’ labour and social rights, like social
security, written contracts, and so on, should be pushed by the government.

11. Corruption among officials can be the main cause for the improper implementation of
government schemes. Because of this, the government's benefits are not reaching the target
population.

82
5.3 RECOMMENDATION FOR A DEVELOPMENT MODEL:

OBJECTIVE:

• To provide a better platform to improve the economic conditions of the domestic

workers.
• To fulfil the temporary and permanent domestic worker service requirements of the
public.

BRIEF:

• We have planned to develop an app with the details of the domestic workers through
which the public can hire the domestic workers.
• For the purpose of registration Name, gender, age, contact number and Aadhar number
of the domestic workers will be considered.
• After the process of registration, the domestic workers will receive an OTP number to
their registered mobile number for verification. (Not necessarily to have an android
phone – For domestic workers)
• Public may choose the household chores to be done by the worker and pay them the
basic pay allocated in the app for a particular duration.

OUTCOME:

This app will fulfil the basic demand of the domestic workers such as basic pay and time
regulation. This will also satisfy the consumer's temporary and permanent domestic worker
need.

83
84
5.4 CONCLUSION:

This research paper is aimed at shedding light on the socio-economic aspects of domestic
workers, public opinion on this kind of work including the owners, The prevailing modern form
of untouchability, does it exist or not.

The socio – Economic condition of these workers are not so great as they aren’t recognised for
their work neither by the government nor the owners by giving them justifiable wages. Over
98% of the respondents had responded that their salary or wages is not sufficient. Considering
their mode of living i.e., in rental homes, these people can only stay at urban slums for their
earning despite working 8-9 hours per day. Due to various other reasons, these women domestic
workers be the primary source of income at most of their house but still these families cannot
climb up the ladder of social status or see upward mobility.

To an extent, the modern form of untouchability exists at a milder way, regardless of the
positive responses that we got. People prefer giving separate vessels or give away food for the
workers to eat at home rather than making them eat at their homes. Coming to the ill-treatment
factor, some workers are overly conscious or overly dedicated towards their owners which
could be due to their powerless situation financially or socially, which had in turn made them
to be submissive. To add to this, these household workers need to be provided with social
security to protect them from exploitation, abuse and violence.

The public opinion about the workers was welcoming but looking through the owner’s
perspective, they internally have a slight hesitation or a invasion of privacy which also isn’t the
fault of the workers but still, they want to draw a line in order to maintain a professional
relationship, Also due to the past bitter experience through some workers stealing money or
spreading the family matters to other families, This hesitant behaviour has seen a deep root.

To make it easy for both the employers and the domestic workers’ a model contract specifying
the working conditions, wages based on tasks performed, duration of
work, paid leaves per month etc. has become an absolute essential. An adequate mechanism
also needs to be in place so that non-payment of dues or any kind of sexual harassment faced
during work gets reported.

85
Domestic work is not only an important source of livelihood for a huge section of uneducated
and unskilled women in urban areas, but it has also become an important part of the urban
lifestyle. minimum standard of life with proper working conditions, adequate social security,
legal protection, respect, and timely sufficient wages for the workload is something that these
female domestic workers need.

86
BIBLIOGRAPHY

87
 6.BIBLIOGRAPHY:

BOOKS:

1. Elizabeth Reichert, PhD, “Social work & Human rights” A foundation for policy
and practice, Columbia University Press, New York, 2011.

2. Jairam Kansal, Vani Prabakar, “Social Problems & Social Change”, Wisdom Press,
January 1 2012.

3. Dr D. Janaki, “Women’s issues (Perspectives from Social history)” Dhana

publications, 2001.

4. Reema Bhatia, “GENDER – A sociological understanding” Pearson publication,

2020.

5. Maratha Fetherolf Loutfi, “WOMEN, GENDER & WORK (What is Equality and
How do we get there?) International Labour Organisation, 2001.

6. Dr Sanjay Roy, “WOMEN IN CONTEMPORARY INDIA (Realities &

Perspectives) Akansha publishing house, 2010.

7. A N Panda, “Situating Indian Women”- Abhijeet publications, 2008.

8. Dr Abhishek Mukherjee, “Rural women the untapped potential”, Notion Press

Media. Pvt.Ltd – 2021

9. Singh Balwinder “Socio-Economic Conditions of Urban Female Domestic Servants-

A Case Study”.

10. Samita Sen & Nilanjana Sengupta “Domestic days women, work and politics in
contemporary Kolkata- Oxford University Press -2016.

88
11. Upasana Mahanta, Indra Nath Gupta, “Recognition of the rights of domestic
workers in India: Challenges and the Way Forward”, Springer, 2019

12. Gita Ramasamy “LAND, GUNS, CASTE, WOMEN: The memoir of a Lapsed
Revolutionary, Nayvayana publications, 2022

89
JOURNAL & MAGAZINES:

1. Social change, SAGE Publications, Volume 52 Number 1, March 2022

2. Social change, SAGE Publications, Volume 52 Number 3, September 2022

3. Social Action, A quarterly review of social trends – Volume 71 Number 2, April

– June 2021

90
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1. https://pib.gov.in/Pressreleaseshare.aspx?PRID=1558848
2. https://pib.gov.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=187222
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or%20Schemes%20like%20PMJJBY,disability%20cover%2C%20insurance%20an
d%20pension.
4. https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1760039#:~:text=Prime%20Minist
er%20launches%20Schemes%20for,Swachh%20Bharat%20Mission%2DUrban%2
02.0
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91
APPENDICIES

92
 7. APPENDICIES

CASE STUDIES:

At present day, where India claims to a developing country which offers constitutional,
fundamental rights such as right to life, right against exploitation, still the system fails to protect
the unorganised people and their life and rights. There are various cases which have been
happening on a regular basis and few such cases are given below.

SEEMA PATRA CASE:

A case which highlights the problematic nature of a person who is in a higher position in a
political party through her authoritative behaviour due to the powerless situation of the
workers, misuse of the power and money towards the women domestic worker who works
at her place. This case created a rage among the public due to the very sensitive tortures,
inhuman attitudes and unimaginable abuse towards her Adivasi domestic worker. The
particulars of the case as follows, the accused, Seema Patra is in a higher position in a
political party and a wife of former IAS officer was alleged for torturing her tribal domestic
help. The report says that, according to a post shared by The Dalit Voice, the domestic help
was kept at the Patra household and tortured for eight years. She was beaten with a hot
‘tawa’(pan) and metal rods and was compelled to lick the floor's urine. In a video shared in
the post, the woman is seen lying on a hospital bed making a desperate attempt to utter a
few words to a man speaking to her. Her teeth are broken and bruises on her body point to
repeated attacks, according to several media reports. This created a massive rage among
the public and the accused was arrested and removed from her post immediately for abusing
the house help. The brutality that happened to this tribal woman in Jharkhand is extremely
painful, for eight consecutive years she was imprisoned and tortured, her teeth were blown
out. she was given urine; she was burnt with iron rods several times. Cases like this reminds
us that the world is not same for everyone and the law is not for everyone as it claims to
be.

93
 CASE AGAINST ACTRESS BANUPRIYA FOR ‘HARASSING’ MINOR
DOMESTIC HELP

This case again serves as a proof how powerful, famous people exploit domestic helps
and underage girls especially. They even go to the extent of blaming and accusing the
victims for speaking up and allege them for stealing valuables. The case reports that
Banupriya’s brother constantly kept on sexually assaulting and raping the minor girls that
work at their home and the victims were silenced. The mother of the minor domestic
house helps has alleged that her fourteen-year-old daughter Sandhiya who is a domestic
help is being physically and sexually abused and also that salary has not been paid.
Banupriya has explained her part of the story stating that the girl had been stealing
twenty-five to thirty sovereigns of gold jewels and cash to the tune of one lakh fifty
thousand. Her alleged modus operandi is that over the months she used to take a
bangle or earring and cash and hide them and whenever her mother visits once in three
months or so would give it to her. According to Banupriya her brother Gopalakrishnan
had caught Sandhiya red handed and when he confronted her she fell at his feet and
begged not to give police complaint and after they contacted her mother she came from
Andhra and returned some of the valuable things. The mother however told them that no
jewels were taken.

MUSLIM DOMESTICWORKERS IN INDIA CHANGING NAMES OUT OF FEAR

This case speaks on the religion based discrimination still prevailing in India. India’s domestic
workers in general face caste-based discrimination and violence, but Muslims are further
marginalised. This is a case happened in New Delhi were a 10 year old girl named Munni
Begum was asked to drop her last name. At initial days she didn’t understand this concept, but
during her younger age she used to accompany with her mother and grandmother to homes
they worked in.But it was only in late 50’s when Begum started doing her domestic work , and
lately she understood that all the women in her family had to pick up Hindu sounding names
at their work places in order to survive. She adds that “They just won’t hire us”, when she said
she is Al Jazeera – they hated her because she was Muslim and also few commented that
Muslims are bad people. So, she opted having Munni as her name which went well with both
[Hindu and Muslim] communities.

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QUESTIONNAIRE

A SOCIOLOGICAL ANALYSIS ON THE SOCIO – ECONOMIC CONDITIONS OF

THE DOMESTIC WORKERS, CHENNAI.

Socio–Demographic Profile:

Name:

Age:

Gender:
a) Male
b) Female
c) Transgender

Community
a) OC
b) OBC
c) MBC
d) SC
e) ST

Experience
a) 0-5
b) 5-10
c) More than 10

Type of wage
a) Daily
b) Weekly
c) Monthly
d) Yearly

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Income:

Marital Status:
a) Married
b) Unmarried
c) Divorced
d) Widowed

No. of children:
a) 1
b) 2
c) 3
d) 4

At how many houses do you work?

a) 1
b) 2
c) 3
d) 4
e) More than 4

Reasons for working as a domestic house worker:

Are you following your parents’ profession?

a) Yes
b) No
What are your educational qualifications?
a) No education
b) Primary
c) Secondary
d) Higher Secondary

What kind of house do you live in?

a) Rent

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 b) Own

To understand the issues of domestic workers:

What kind of changes do you find in people’s attitude?

Is your monthly income sufficient for your livelihood?

a) Yes
b) No
c) Sometimes

How many hours do you work in a day?

a) Less than 8 hours
b) More than 8 hours
c) Approximately 8 hours

Do you get holidays?

a) Yes
b) No

Do you get leave as per your requirements?

a) Yes
b) No
c) Sometimes

Do they cut your salary when you take leave?

a) Yes
b) No
c) Sometimes

What was your mean of income during covid?

What was your salary during covid 19?

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Do you get any bonuses / additional wages during the festive seasons?
a) Yes
b) No

How extra-long do you work during the festive seasons?

Do they provide food at your workplace?

a) Yes
b) No

Do you have separate utensils?

a) Yes
b) No

Do you have separate toilets?

a) Yes
b) No

Do you experience any health issues due to excess workload?

a) Yes
b) No

Are you allowed for birthday parties or functions beyond the intention of working?

What has been your hike in your salary?

a) Less than 500
b) 500 – 1000
c) 1000 – 2000
d) More than 2000

What kind of health issues do you face?

Have you faced any kind of violence?

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 a) Yes
b) No

One major issue that you have faced at your workplace?

Have you ever experienced any ill-treatment?

a) Yes
b) No

Do your owners provide moral support for your children’s education?

a) Yes
b) No

How do your owners treat your children?

Do you get time for yourself and your family?

a) Yes
b) No

Are you aware of the laws that protect your rights?

a) Yes
b) No

How is the relationship with your owner?

What do you expect from your owners?

What do you expect from the government?

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Public Opinion Questionnaire:

Name:

Gender:
a) Male
b) Female
c) Others

Age:
a) 20 – 30
b) 30 – 40
c) 40 – 50
d) Above 50

Do you have house help at your house?

a) Yes
b) No

How do you address them?

Do they have holidays?

a) Yes
b) No

Do you allow them to take leaves if they want?

a) Yes
b) No

What is the salary of your house help?

a) 2000 – 5000
b) 5000 – 10000
c) 10000 -15000
d) Above 15000

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Do you cut their salaries for the leaves taken by them?
a) Yes
b) No
Do you provide food for them?
a) Yes
b) No

Do you have separate utensils for them to use?

a) Yes
b) No

Do you have separate toilets for them?

a) Yes
b) No

Have you ever felt suspicious of them for theft?

a) Yes
b) No

How do the elders of your house treat your house help?

Do you accept that there is a modern form of untouchability that prevails in society in the
case of treating the house helps?
a) Yes
b) No

What is your perspective on this scenario?

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