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Among the things Kerala is best known for is its rich history of left movements and organisations. The state’s socialist moorings are often credited as one reason for its relatively impressive performance in fields such as health and education.
But what is less known about these movements and groups, trade unions prominent among them, is the ways in which they have been exclusionary. Women, for instance, have struggled for decades to be heard and represented in them, as Johanna Deeksha found, reporting from Kerala.
Denied a voice and platform, some women took matters into their own hands and launched their own movements and organisations, fighting for rights as basic as to sit while working in shops, and to use toilets in the establishments. Their battles have been far from easy, but over the years, they have notched up several small victories.
“Women are failed by so many institutions, but it was especially disappointing to see that trade unions have failed them too, despite espousing values of equality,” Deeksha said. “Even in these spaces, women have to fight to be heard, for their problems to be considered and addressed.”
She added, “But it was heartening to see some women take things into their own hands and set up their own unions.”
You can read the story here.
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Ajay Krishnan
Senior Editor
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