“Yes, we are Irulars (Tribals), but we are human. How long can we live as salves to an employer who pays a meagre amount of Rs 120 per day for 8 to 10 hours of work?” poured out Ms. Kowsalya a 28-year-old woman in Kondancherry village, Thiruvallur District, Tamil Nadu.
In this village, about 250 families belong to the Dalits and Most Backward Classes. 18 families belong to a nomad tribe called Irulars who have been surviving by doing menial jobs such as washing clothes and vessels and working in the agricultural lands of the Dalits and MBCs.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, Jesuit Migrants Service reached out to 18 families with dry rations. Looking at their condition, especially the educational backwardness of the children JMS organised the women and ran a tuition centre. The women were offered motivation and leadership training. The local counsellor who owned farmlands in the village, constructed matchbox-type houses and allowed the 18 families to stay there and work on his farmland. He also demanded that families work at night. One day, under the leadership of Ms. Kowsalya, Ms. Devi, and Ms. Vennila the community members challenged the counsellor and refused to work at night and demanded payment for overtime work. The women said in one voice, “If you do not pay us proper wages, especially for overtime work, we will not come for work. We are not your slaves”. The counsellor retorted saying, “If you cannot work for what I pay, leave the house”. 14 families left the village and are staying in nearby areas in thatched or polythene roof houses. 4 families remain there but refuse to work for the counsellor.
Ms. Kowsalya said, “The owner asked us not to go to the meeting organised by JMS. The owner took revenge on us and removed our names from the 100-day work scheme and cut off the electricity connection to our houses. The children are the worst affected as I can’t run the tuition centre. However, I am happy with the development. JMS guided us and we as a community decided to challenge the counsellor who was sucking our blood. We are struggling for livelihood but managing our lives as we get daily wage work in nearby areas. We will not go back to the counsellor at any cost.”
JMS continues to accompany the community and helps the women to approach the district administration to access free land and housing scheme. It is a long-drawn march towards a dignified life.
Sr. Alosiya SJL
JMS