NCW to initiate research on plight of women plantation workers

In the backdrop of agitation by women plantation workers in Kerala, the National Commission for Women today said it will initiate research to ascertain their plight.
After learning about the problem of women plantation workers in Kerala, NCW thought it was a suitable topic for future research on their plight, Chairman Lalithaa Kumaramangalam told reporters here.
Since NCW's brief was not only looking at violence against women, but also the denial of service and exploitation of women folk, it thought to study the plight of the women in the sector.
Women in various plantations in Kerala had recently held agitations demanding among other things higher wages and hike in bonus. More than 70 per cent of the workers in the sector are women.

There was no technological or scientific study or data about the women workers for 20 to 25 years, she said, adding that she will be visiting Munnar in Kerala next month to study the situation.
She said the research, for which an agency will be identified later, would commence in another two to three months and likely to be completed by one year.

Besides, the union Commerce Ministry and Labour Ministry, trade unions, planters and producers will be party in the research team led by NCW, she said, adding, so far no women worker has sent any complaints to the commission.

Lalithaa, here to participate in the 122nd Annual conference of United Planters Association of South India said NCW was receiving 200 complaints on a daily basis, majority from North India with only five per cent getting from Southern states.
When asked whether the trend of violence against women was diminishing across the country, she said with women becoming more aware and educated, the violence was marginally down, in which the media was also playing a major role.
On NCW seeking power for punishing guilty, she said so far the Commission has not thought on the lines.