By Verghese V Joseph –
Turning adversity into an opportunity during the on-going Covid-19 pandemic, the the Sisters of the Cross are helping the poor women of Guwahati find a new way of overcoming poverty with dignity.
Many of these women who work as domestic helpers experience crushing financial pressures with insufficient income. For these and so many other reasons, poverty is a troubling social problem, a problem that touches every state of their family.
Women Development Centre (WDC), a registered non-governmental organisation based in Guwahati, in India’s North Eastern State of Assam, has launched a mask-making unit exclusively run by women. In this initiative, the centre under the Sisters of the Cross co-opted the domestic workforce of Kharghuli area of Guwahati in the battle against the Corona virus. Through this approach to support the needs of families, an effort is made in particular to focus facing poverty with dignity. The members of this workforce are dedicated and hardworking and they have already made thousands of masks.
The challenges of Covid-19 are many and more so in the post-Covid scenario. “Our people simply need a chance, local employment prospects, and additional education and training, which can offer hope,” says Sr. Sulatha who has become an expert trainer in mask-making. Anamika, Rajalakhi, Purnalaskmi, Jonali Mary were the first group to join this noble work.
Together with the Sisters of WDC, the women are busy making masks to protect thousands from coronavirus and at the same time are supporting their family financially during the lockdown period. This gesture has not only helped in protecting others, but has also given livelihood opportunities. Priced between Rs. 70 and 100 depending on the layering in the mask, the masks are made of pure cotton. “The materials are procured locally from local vendors, we have already made more than 3500 masks and we can make more,” says Sr. Betsy the director of WDC.
Incidentally, the domestic workers are backbone of many of the Indian cities; they work in homes as helpers in homes. The plight of these domestic workers continues to be in peril. Many still wait for their work places to re-open. A mother who used to work as house maid in Kharghuli in Guwahati Assam says, “Unless I work, my family will not have anything to eat, and I do not know when I will be called to work again”.
The nation-wide lockdown has affected thousands of domestic workers who are not organised like the other work force in the country. In the city of Guwahati many of these women have come from different parts of North East India. Only few have gone back to their native villages and the majority of them decided to remain back. Several of these women are uncertain of their future. Loss of income naturally leads to worry about livelihood needs.
According to the National Sample Survey (NSSO Statistics – 2011-2012, 68th round) it is estimated that 39 lakh people are employed as domestic workers by private households in India, of which 26 lakh are female domestic workers.
Initiatives like the ones run by Sisters of the Cross offer the poor women a glimmer of hope. Truly, they are the salt of the earth and light for all!
For enquiries on masks, please call Sr. Betsy (9435548081) or Sr. Sulatha (8876752149)
Work is commendable. This is the need of the hour.