Hundreds of women campaigners employed by the Uttar Pradesh government for high-priority campaigns on sanitation and women’s welfare have been denied wages for several months of work. A few men employed for these campaigns have also not received their dues.
Nandini lives in Bharatpur village, Chitrakut district. She is well-known in her village for her dedicated educational work with children from the Dalit community.
Some time ago, when the Swachh Bharat Mission was at its peak, she joined it as a swachhgrahi or sanitation campaigner, to spread awareness about sanitation and ensure the proper construction of toilets. Nandini received certificates commending her work. She was invited to two big functions – one in which the state chief minister was present and one which the prime minister attended. At both functions, her work was appreciated.
Despite this, she has not received payments due to her for several months. She has made several representations to the concerned authorities, but to no avail. In the event she attended in the presence of the chief minister, Nandini received a kit, containing food and a gift. Even this kit was taken away from her.
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Similar is the condition of many if not all of her swachhgrahi colleagues in Chitrakut district.
Mahaprasad, a lawyer in Allahabad high court, told The Wire, “This complaint of non-payment of swachhgrahis is certainly not confined to Chitrakut district. I’ve come across these sanitation campaigners from other districts of UP like Banda who did not get their due payments.”
He adds, “For a long time, these campaigners did not complain as they had hoped their services will be regularised, and so they should not speak against the authorities and adversely affect their chances of regularisation. But now that their hopes have been more or less dashed after a long time of waiting, some of them may be willing to speak up.”
Mahila Samakhya activists protesting in Lucknow. Photo: Special arrangement
Struggle of Mahila Samakhya activists
Hundreds of women development activists employed in the UP government’s Mahila Samakhya programme were not paid their salaries or honorarium for about 14 months.
Maya Devi, who was employed in this programme in Chitrakut district, says, “Even our travel allowances were not given and for 14 months we used our own money for all such expenses. Those who were living on rent faced humiliation, some had their luggage thrown out by landlords.” Maya is currently owed approximately Rs 1 lakh by the state.
This denial of wages took place over a large area – about 700 Mahila Samakhya employees in 19 districts suffered this fate. “Many of them fell ill and faced hunger. Two of them died in this phase. Even the donations we collected despite our great difficulties to help a dying colleague were not passed on to her family by powerful persons in the programme,” Maya alleged.
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Usha, a colleague from the same district, said, “I do not have words to describe the hardships we have undergone. Our distress and humiliation are still continuing despite the fact that we worked so hard for increasing awareness among women.”
Matters came to a head in the last week of December 2019, when a large number of these women gathered in Lucknow to confront the authorities. For nearly a week, they protested despite the biting cold and rain. They still break down when talking about how they were treated in those days. In one instance when they were taken to a night shelter, a van used for carrying garbage was allegedly sent to transport them. They were put up in a place which was not safe, as there drunk men nearby, the women say.
When their protest started gaining media attention, the protesting women were given verbal assurances, but a written agreement could not be reached.
They have still not received their dues, and most of them now have no choice but to look for other options. Their struggle continues, and the little hope they had left is waning.
Bharat Dogra is a freelance journalist who has been involved with several social movements.
