Women today have come a long way from about 20 years ago. Many occupy top executive positions in the corporate world; many are successfully working from home and those managing homes too do so with greater understanding and scientific knowledge about all their activities. All of us who have one invaluable support system. I am of course referring to the ladies who perform our household chores, leaving us free for other matters.

They say cost of domestic help in India is less than in US and we take this for granted often realising their worth in times when we have to go without help. Besides so many other important women in our lives (mother, daughter, m-i-l, d-i-l, sister, friend etc) I think Woman’s Day is incomplete if we do not recognise the contribution of this support that allows us to work free of worries.

Personally, I find that washing vessels and cleaning the floor and furniture have a nasty habit of driving all thoughts out of my mind- creative or otherwise! However these tasks have to be done come what may, irrespective of whether any woman has a conventional job or otherwise.

Yet many of us grudge the smallest pay hike for our ‘bai’. While we ensure weekly holidays are firmly incorporated into whatever work we do, not many household helpers have this luxury. In fact, her request for a holiday often meets stiff resistance. I have found that in many homes kids speak rudely to household helpers. She is often addressed by her name giving no respect to her age if that is the case. Surely adding a simple ‘ben / didi’ would not hurt too much?

Lets for a moment pause to consider the background. Having lived in many parts of India I have noted that the domestic worker often is the sole breadwinner in her family, providing for not only her kids but kids-kids as well. The husband often spends his time in an alcoholic daze, the money for which is provided by our ‘mavshi’ of course. And what does she get in return? Physical abuse is common as is under nourishment and illness.

We can offer limited help in these social issues as there are too many interwoven threads and undercurrents but surely we can make sure that the lady who handles our home jobs leaving us to happily tap away at the keyboard at least gets regular holidays or yearly increments. Teaching our kids to speak politely will also go a long way. Often just a sympathetic listening to my ‘bai’s’ agonised heart outpouring is enough to give her the strength to carry on. I have found that many are very eager to know reasons for what is happening around the world as many watch TV. Do spend some time reading out from the newspapers or explaining savings schemes to them. Health is often an issue wherein we can offer guidance, as many tend to go in for late treatment or ignore it altogether.

Recently there was a huge uproar about child labour wherein the issue of employing girls to work in homes was widely debated. Each one of us has to objectively analyse the pros and cons before employing a girl for our household jobs. Do think whether the girl is going to school, getting adequate nutrition, has time to study and play, what kind of work does she have to perform etc. Work must not come in the way of her other fundamental progress.

Many ladies in Pune are progressing in their chosen field by  attending ‘cookery classes’ to learn new and varied cuisines - all to feed the people they work for. One speciality cook I know works with a cell phone to one ear as she dishes out future ‘appointments’ while cooking simultaneously- no compromises on the food quality mind you! I have read of some who commute by two-wheelers to work and some even successfully manage a parallel home business like supplying meals to students or minor tailoring jobs which regular tailors do not undertake. That’s thinking out of the box!

Women often end up being the best friend / support  / enemy for each other. While we may exchange cards, gifts, treat ourselves at beauty parlours, attend special theme parties, read and write about women achievers this 8th of March, remember its all possible because some other lady is slogging away in our own home making sure we can relax the moment we return back! Spare a moment for her, do something for her today.

Happy Woman’s Day to all of us!