Introduction
Thousands of migrant women workers seeking better living conditions are drawn to South Delhi, a center of economic activity and urban growth. These women make substantial contributions to small-scale industry, building, textiles, and household labor. But they face several obstacles along the way, such as social marginalization, legal difficulties, and economic weakness.
This blog highlights chances for migrant women workers' empowerment while examining the socioeconomic and legal factors influencing their experiences in South Delhi.
Challenges Faced by Migrant Women Workers
1. Socio-Economic Challenges
a. Poor Working Conditions and Low Wages
Many migrant women in South Delhi work in informal sectors where they receive low and irregular wages. Domestic workers and construction laborers often earn below the minimum wage, with no job security or benefits like paid leave, health insurance, or pensions. Even suffered from economic rising cost.
b. Gender Discrimination and Exploitation
Disparities in pay between male and female employees are among the many forms of gender-based discrimination that women workers encounter. Many also experience unsafe working conditions, harassment, and exploitation at work, particularly in unregulated sectors like domestic work and clothing manufacturing. In contrast to men's workforce labor, which discriminates against women to keep them from working, women's financial aspirations are still not fulfilled.
c. Lack of Access to Affordable Housing
Due to the exorbitant costs in official housing markets, the majority of migrant women reside in slums or unapproved colonies. Poor health and hygiene conditions are a result of these settlements' frequent absence of essential services including electricity, potable water, and sanitary facilities. Due to the high cost and limited access options, they chose to dwell in unsuitable settlements, resulting in unnecessary occupation. In addition to inadequate infrastructure, this puts residents at risk for health and environmental issues and promotes gender-based violence against them.
d. Health and Safety Concerns
These women are susceptible to occupational diseases and other health problems because to their long work hours, exposure to dangerous surroundings, and lack of access to healthcare facilities.e. Limited Access to Education and Skill Development
Due to their lack of education, many migrant women workers are unable to obtain higher-paying positions. Their ability to move into higher-skilled jobs is further hampered by the lack of skill development efforts and vocational training programs. Lack of understanding regarding the government's programs for women because of ignorance of their uses. Due to time restrictions, essential support actions have been refocused on distributing them and making door-to-door contacts with migrant women in order to better assist them.
Legal and Policy Challenges
a. Lack of Legal Recognition and Social Security
The majority of migrant women workers are employed in the informal sector, which is exempt from labor rules including the 1948 Employees' State Insurance (ESI) Act and the Minimum Wages Act. They are consequently unable to access retirement plans, accident insurance, and maternity benefits.
b. Bureaucratic Barriers to Government Schemes
Despite the existence of many assistance programs for migrant workers, including as the Unorganized Workers' Social Security Act (2008) and state-level programs, many people are unable to get these benefits due to administrative obstacles, a lack of knowledge, and problems with verification.
c. Weak Implementation of Legal Protections
Labour laws that prohibit exploitation are not properly implemented due to corruption, inadequate inspections, and employers' reluctance to comply. For example, because labor laws do not adequately protect domestic workers, they are more vulnerable to abuse and unfair treatment.
Opportunities for Empowerment
1. Policy and Legal Reforms
Strengthening the implementation of labor laws, ensuring minimum wage compliance, and extending social security benefits to informal workers can improve the conditions of migrant women workers. Laws such as the Code on Social Security (2020) should be effectively enforced to provide universal coverage. Policy and legal reforms for migrant women in South Delhi from 2019 to 2025 encompass various initiatives aimed at empowering women and ensuring their safety.
Key Reforms and Initiatives:
- Education and Empowerment
- Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP): Focuses on improving the child sex ratio and promoting girls' education.
- Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan: Supports school infrastructure and girl-friendly facilities.
- National Education Policy (NEP) 2020: Prioritizes gender equity and inclusion in education.
- Health and Nutrition
- Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY)*: Provides cash incentives to pregnant and lactating mothers.
- Jal Jeevan Mission: Ensures potable tap water to households, reducing health risks.
- Economic Empowerment and Financial Inclusion
- Stand-Up India Scheme: Offers loans to women entrepreneurs.
- MUDRA Scheme: Provides microloans to women-led enterprises.
- Safety and Protection
- The Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2018: Enhances penalties for crimes against women.
- The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005*: Safeguards women from domestic abuse.
- Nirbhaya Fund Projects: Supports initiatives for women's safety and empowerment.
Other Initiatives
- The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023: Strengthens provisions for gender justice.
- The Women's Reservation Bill 2023: Aims to reserve 33% of seats in Parliament and state legislatures for women.
- These reforms and initiatives demonstrate the government's efforts to address the unique challenges faced by migrant women in South Delhi, ensuring their empowerment, safety, and well-being.
2. Skill Development and Economic Inclusion
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Government and non-government organizations (NGOs) can introduce vocational training programs tailored to the needs of migrant women. Programs in tailoring, digital literacy, and entrepreneurship can enhance their employability and financial independence. Several studies focus on the challenges migrant women face, for example, in Kerala, about health issues and workplace challenges of migrant women. According to 2001 census data indicates that the percentage of migrant women has populated for employment rather than solely family reasons. Women's gains in communication and economic reforms that have changed traditional labor indicators can be attributed to this transformation. According to a recent analysis, women who work long distances are traveling farther and farther for work. It is impossible to overestimate the influence of economic reasons on female migration. A growing number of women are forced to relocate in pursuit of greater economic chances as traditional career opportunities diminish. Marriage continues to play a significant role, but the increasing trend of migration for work and financial reasons indicates a shift in social norms. Overall study underscores the unique dynamics of interstate migration in combination with economic opportunities and regional disparities.
3. Awareness and Advocacy Programs
Raising awareness about legal rights, workplace protections, and health benefits through community-based initiatives can empower women to demand better working conditions. NGOs and NGOs play a crucial role in advocating for their rights.
- SMILE FOUNDATION - https://www.smilefoundationindia.org/
- RAHI FOUNDATION - http://rahifoundation.org/
- CHILD RIGHTS AND YOU - https://www.cry.org/
- ROBIN HOOD ARMY - https://robinhoodarmy.com/
These are selected NGOs across Delhi, India who is encouraging to work and help helpless women for better health and wellness.
4. Improved Access to Financial Services
Providing access to microfinance, self-help groups (SHGs), and cooperative banking services can help migrant women gain financial independence, start small businesses, and escape exploitative labor conditions.
5. Safe and Affordable Housing
Government policies should prioritize affordable housing projects for migrant workers, ensuring access to essential services. Women-friendly housing schemes can enhance their safety and stability in urban settings.
6. Strengthening Social Security Measures
Expanding social security coverage through better implementation of schemes like Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-Dhan (PMSYM) and the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) can provide financial security to migrant women workers. Migrant women workers in South Delhi face a complex array of socio-economic and legal challenges. The social dynamics of informal settlements, such as problems with social cohesiveness and conflict, as well as how locals manage their living circumstances and obtain resources, can be examined through sociological research. Based on that, it is required to investigate that exact data through government and local survey analysis on migrant women workers.
Demographics: A 2010 survey by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry revealed that 70% of migrant women in Delhi originated from Uttar Pradesh (38%) and Bihar (32%).
Employment Sectors: The same survey indicated that a significant portion of these women were employed in the unorganised sector—65% from Uttar Pradesh and 64% from Bihar—engaging in roles such as domestic work, construction, and vending.
Income Levels: A 2023 study by the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS) found that over 78% of migrant workers in Delhi had a family income of less than Rs 20,000 per month.
Educational Attainment: The CSDS study also reported that over 60% of migrant workers had not progressed beyond middle school education, limiting their access to higher-paying, formal sector jobs.
Transition to Formal Sector: According to a survey conducted by the Institute for Human Development (IHD), over 20% of women moved from the informal to the official labor market between 2010 and 2019, taking jobs in office support, teaching, and sales. 1.96 million women were employed in various financial private sectors, such as BPOs and factories in South Delhi, according to the 73rd National Survey, which was carried out between 2015 and 2016.
These figures highlight the urgent need for focused measures to raise the legal and socioeconomic status of South Delhi's migratory women workers.
Case Studies
A case study can provide insight into particular facets of Delhi's urban informality. Let's look at a case study that centers on Sanjay Colony, a private agreement. When migrants (mostly from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh) started settling on vacant plots of land around 30 years ago, the slum was born. Now that it is a "notified slum," this illegal colony gets access to formal water delivery and power. Daily wage workers, such as construction workers, rickshaw pullers, domestic servants, and rag pickers or recyclers, made up the majority of the population. Sanjay Colony has been chosen as the case study due to it perfectly captures how feminism and city life interplay in the context of informal labor marketplaces.
A 24-year-old Jharkhand lady embodies the predicament faced by numerous domestic workers. She was forced to look for work in other regions, including Delhi, Gujarat, and Rajasthan, following the death of her father. She was trafficked and coerced into wageless bonded work in Delhi Patel Nagar. She still awaits restitution and rehabilitation in spite of legal actions and her eventual rescue, underscoring structural weaknesses in the protection of migrant domestic workers.
After accepting lesser pay than men, women in Delhi's industrial units who worked informally became favored hires for specific jobs. The undervaluation of women's labor is reflected in this salary gap. In addition to facing financial difficulties, these women are more vulnerable to physical and sexual abuse, which emphasizes the critical need for extensive labor reforms and safeguards in unorganized workplaces.Last one seen. that migrant woman residing in squatter settlements, such as Kusumpur Pahari, often find employment as domestic workers in nearby planned colonies. Despite their crucial role in maintaining urban households, they grapple with informality and lack of legal protection. Their migration journey from rural to urban centers was marked by aspirations for better opportunities but is often met with socio-spatial exclusion and limited mobility.
Conclusion
Migrant women workers in South Delhi contribute immensely to the city’s economy but remain marginalized due to socio-economic and legal challenges. Addressing these issues requires a multi-faceted approach, including stronger legal protections, skill development initiatives, financial inclusion, and better living conditions.
By implementing targeted policies and strengthening grassroots efforts, society can empower these women, ensuring their rightful place in India's economic progress. For women, privacy is important. Women in slums must endure living with outside feces since there are no sanitary requirements. Women continue to suffer despite our expectations that many issues will be resolved. This knowledge can inform policy and interventions aimed at addressing urban poverty, improving housing conditions, and promoting social inclusion in cities. Our survey revealed that migrant women in South Delhi illuminate the intersections of gender, labor and migration. Addressing their challenges necessitates targeted policy interventions that ensure fair wages, safe working conditions, legal protections, and access to essential services. Recognizing and valuing their contributions is pivotal to fostering an inclusive and equitable urban environment.
