Sun Jan 26 19:30:36 UTC 2025: ## Local Groups Demand Accessible Grievance Mechanisms for Unorganized Women Workers
**Chennai, January 27, 2025** – The Unorganized Workers Federation and the Women’s Rights Movement are demanding the establishment of easily accessible grievance boxes and committees specifically for unorganized women workers across Tamil Nadu. This call follows a planning meeting on January 25th in Chennai, where concerns over workplace safety, educational environments, and public spaces for women were highlighted.
R. Leelavathi, state secretary of the Unorganized Workers Federation, emphasized the systemic challenges faced by women in various sectors, including agriculture, construction, and domestic work. She noted the ineffectiveness of existing grievance committees mandated by the Prevention of Sexual Harassment at Workplaces and Grievance Committee Justice Act, often inaccessible to those in need. The difficulty for unorganized workers, who lack any such committee at the District Collector’s office level, further underscores the need for localized solutions.
R. Geetha, general secretary of the Federation, advocated for the creation of grievance boxes and committees at the local ward level in villages, towns, and cities to address this issue. The recent rise in sexual harassment reports within educational institutions has also prompted calls for a dedicated safety policy for women in schools and universities.
The planning meeting served as a precursor to a larger upcoming conference, which will unite women workers’ representatives, activists, academics, lawyers, and social activists to advocate for women’s safety and equality. The conference will particularly focus on the rights and protections of women in the workforce.
First Piper 