Leone: Today we are going to meet Ms. Sujata Modi. Hello Madam. You are running a union for garment workers. Please say about it. Sujata: 10 years back we started Garments and Fashion workers union. We wanted to meet these garment workers. but they were always busy either doing the garment work or by sleeping. We were nit able to meet them even if we go to their village. Many times i have visited them. When I go to their home, they will be sleeping, we will wake them and talk to them. That was the situation. we were following for some time. During 2007 we took a big decision. Till now we worked among Unorganised workers but workers who are working in the factory are facing many problems. During 2007 when Nokia was started we gave a bit notice saying know your rights. This notice reached almost 10 to 15 thousand workers. This notice one of the worker of MEPZ's celebrity fashion company, Her name was Vijaylakshmi and she was working as an operator. With that notice, she called our number. That was a great surprise, i didn't expect it. Vijaylakshmi joined with me to start a Garment workers union and now we have reached this level. Leone: That's great Mam. How many members do you have in this garment union? Sujata: We have less members in the garment union. We have almost 2000 members. But the work we have done for them has reached across Tamilnadu. During 2014 the Govt has introduced a wage report. Their wage reached from 3500 to 7000. We have less members but we took full effort to implement this. As per 2014's report, the Govt cancelled the petition of those 600 companies and told them to give this wage. I didn't do this for my members but i did it for entire women. I thought they should get extra money and lead a respected life and they also should have rights in their hand. Leone: Wonderful mam. Interview with Sujata mam will continue in next episodes.
Leone: Hello friends. Today we have Ms.Saraswati Incharge of PTS Thiruvallur dist. Hello Mam. Saraswati: Hello Sir. L: Please say about yourself. S: I was doing the milk business at home. Kasturi and Uma came to meet me from the union. They asked me to join union because i am doing business. They said joining union i good for me. Later they used to come every now and then. Later they asked me to find an office and set an office. I have set up the office and made the members to come from all over the branch. Later they asked me to become the office incharge. Even after being educated it was of waste. I used to think that i am wasting my education. After joining there, i gained knowledge. Initially i used to feel shy. Later i started writting and my hand writting was good. I used to check the problems of people and used to join them in union. I also used to help them in taking to welfare dept and making them members. I used t write their problem in a paper and give it to head office. After coming here i came to know whom to approach and how to approach. Before joining union i didn't know anything. But after joining PTS i learnt about the outside world. Realised the problem of people and whom to approach to solve the problem. Like this i learnt so many things. L: Really happy to hear this. What is your qualification? S: I have studied till 10th std. sir. L: Now you are in PTS, is your husband supporting for all these? S: He is really supportive. He says that before telling to others you should understand it and till now he is supporting me. Even if I go late, he adjusts. If it crosses 9pm he calls me and asks where am I and says you do your work but side by side please do take care of the family too. L: Very adjustive and cooperative. Now there are women in construction work, garment work, domestic work etc. Normally what is their state of mind? S: Construction workers are struggling and those days they didn't have much income. They used to get Rs.150 to Rs.200. But now they are getting Rs.700 to Rs.1000. Now they are getting good money. Recently because of lack of sand, many are struggling without job. Even 100days job was stopped for a while. We went on behalf of PTS and conducted the meeting, spoke during gram sabha and gave petition. Now villagers are getting 100days scheme work. The public has trust on PTS. ANd they are saying people to join PTS so that they will join you in the welfare scheme and help you in need. All members and charges are very cooperative.
1) Chennai High court has asked TN Govt to reply in the case to stop protests against CAA. 2) Chennai High court has passed order to give detailed report about rehabilitation for fishermen's families who are affected due to Srilankan attack. 3) Students are boycotting the classes and protesting. They are condemning the termination of on Hon. Lecturers and insisting to give them permanent employment in the same college, they also insisting on providing basic facilities for Tiruvaru Govt college. 4) Employees of Tamilnadu consumer goods are protesting insisting on giving pension to corporation employees, permanent the contract staffs and other 16 points.
Leone: Hello friends. Today as part of International women's day we are going to interview Ms. Sujatha Modi. She has created many unions leaders. She belongs to a well-educated family and finished her education and she is working for the workers and lower level people. She started unions for such people's benefit and its successfully running from many years. It will be apt to interview her on this women's day. Hello mam. Sujatha: Hello. Leone: By hearing your name, we are able to make it out that you have come to this state from another state, well educated. Now you are working here. How did you get this motivation? S: From my very young age i knew that women are facing injustice. No matter whether they are at home or go out to work, they are facing so many issues. During my childhood, i used to see this and think why is this injustice happening in our society. I wanted to do something First i studied economics. Even while studying that i was searching for the reason for this. When i was a student i used to attend union meetings and participate in many types of protests. Every small experience gave to knowledge. So in 1999, i came to a decision to start a union so that women should get recognition. With that motive, i stated this union PTS. L: Thats great mam. How many members are there in this PTS which was started in 1999? S: While starting this union.... I remember so many things because joining people in initial stage was very difficult. In the first 3 years we were able to join only 300 members. After that many have joined. Now the union has grown and its working in 4 districts. More than 200 branches we have. Almost 20000 women workers have joined this union. I really feel proud. L: The huge banyan tree is hidden in seeds. In the same way when you started this union that too among the bottom level who doesn't know whom to trust. Build trust among such people and join them in union reaching 20000 is great thing. If 20000 women are members in union it means, 20000 families have joined union. Really its a great work. Congratulations Madam. Its difficult to include Sujatha Modi's 20 years journey in union in one single episode. So this will be continued to another episode.
1) Unorganised workers union are protesting today in Chennai. They are chanting slogans like we will save labours laws and welfare and right to live will be protected completely. 2) Center for Economic Monitoring has told that unemployment rate has reached 7.78%. 3) As part of Mother tongue day Consultation meeting was conducted at Tanjore dist. 4) CITU members protested in Trichy condemning low budget allotted for education, health, 100days work scheme, women and child schemes.
Workers are given correct salary and social security is given. In India workers are not given minimum wages and even social security is also not given. The reason for this is lack of awareness about our rights. Ange ennama Sattham..... An awareness program on pension for unorganized workers.
VM: your owner is dong it right!! P1: Giving less salary to me is right??!! VM: Listen to me. You are working without taking rest and your friend is working while taking rest now and then. Am I right? P1: Yes sir. VM: But the result is, he has cut more trees than you. P1: Thats what that owner is saying. But how sir? VM: what you did was hard work. what your friend did is Smart work. P1: What is that sir?? VM: You have worked without taking any rest. P1: Yes. VM: But your friend has taken rest and while taking rest he has sharpened his equipments. Thats why he is able to show good result. And that why he has got more salary than you. P1: Is it sir?? VM: Yes, Rest is must for every worker. Thats why Indian factory act 1948(52) has some conditions about leave. P1: what condition sir? VM: If a worker works for 6 days, 1 day he should be given leave. No one should be allowed to work for straight 10 days without any leave. If a worker is working is working without weekly holiday, compensation should be given to him. P1: Oho!! So rest is must. VM: Yes, it is must!! Rest is must for worker to work with motivation and enthusiasm. Rest improves the quality of your work. Holiday, rest is the right of every worker. Did you get that? P1: Yes sir!!
1) Public Works Department has sealed 23 illegal drinking water units in Trichy as per the orders of Chennai High court. 2) Insisting on Continue to run, Central Govt vaccination industry in Chengalpet as Public Sector Institute, Indian democratic youth federation and indian women's association conducted protest and campaign. 3) Tamilnadu minorities association is Insisting on creating separate dept for minorities in Tamilnadu. 4) CITU Tamilnadu has requested to give Relief Fund to Delhi people who have been affected due to Religious Violence.
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1) TIUE members are protesting to take action on Railway workers union administrator who stopped Trichy Kottai officers from working in Mayiladudurai and for threatening him. 2) Pudukattai dist, Arandhangi Govt college has appointed temporary Professors and officers from the day one of its start. They are doing all the works for Periodic pay. In such situation College has appointed Annamalai University professors by ignoring all the previous staffs. Shocked staffs and professors are Protesting. 3) Tamil nadu Govt has passed order to Govt employees to wear ID card during working hours.