Home-based workers’ contributions unrecognised

Our Correspondent
Kohima, Oct. 20 (EMN): Dozens of home-based workers (HBWs) braved the rain to mark International Home-Based Workers’ Day by selling handmade products ranging from food items to baskets in an open area at T Khel market in Kohima, on Wednesday.

It was the second time the occasion, which falls on October 20, had been observed in the state. This year, the day was observed in four districts — Kohima, Dimapur, Phek (Pfutsero) and Tuensang (Shamator) — on the theme “We are workers too”.

‘We (HBWs) are contributing a lot to our society but we are still unseen,’ said Angunuo Miari, General Secretary of Self Employed Women Association (SEWA) Nagaland.

She lamented that the occasion, which is meant for recognising the contributions of home-based workers to the society, is neither observed nor recognised in Nagaland.

“We have to ‘visibilise’ ourselves because if we stay home, people won’t recognise us. That is why we started observing this event,” she said.

Over 1000 HBWs in Nagaland

She informed that there are more than 1000 HBWs in Nagaland who are registered under SEWA.

Weavers alone consisted of more than 600 in Phek district, 80 plus in Kohima and around 100 each in Dimapur and Shamator. Majority of the women workers are in their 30s and 40s and mostly mothers, it was informed.

‘Through the event, HBWs were encouraged to bring handmade products and sell them. At home, they would sell a few of their products to people known to them. But by organising this kind of event, it would help promote their products though profit may not be much,’ Miari said.

More than 40 home-based workers turned up on Wednesday to sell products varying from hand-woven clothes, processed food items (pickles), baskets, etc.

SEWA official urged the people to encourage home-based workers of the state.

‘Most of the time, they are denied of their rights despite being recognised as workers internationally. In addition, HBWs are not covered from various facilities and schemes,’ she said.

She further urged the government and the society to recognise these workers in informal sector and ensure that they get schemes and opportunities because ‘they are also contributing to the society’.

The International Home-Based Workers’ Day was organised by SEWA in collaboration with North East Network.

Home-based workers, farmers and vendors are under the trade categories of SEWA.