Date:30/01/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/01/30/stories/2006013006490200.htm

Karnataka - Mysore

An effort to improve the condition of domestic help

Staff Correspondent

The Karnataka Domestic Labourers' Struggle has chosen to use the medium of street plays to achieve its purpose

MYSORE: Little attention has been paid to improve the lot of domestic help in the country, who silently suffer physical, mental and, at times, sexual exploitation at the hands of their employers. But, efforts will soon be made to create awareness among the domestic help about their right to minimum wages, self-respect and protection from exploitation. With 80 per cent of the domestic help being illiterate, the Karnataka Domestic Labourers' Struggle has chosen to use street plays to achieve their purpose. To start with, the organisation has chosen "Karunalu baa belake" a play by M. Rafi of Odanadi. The street play, which will be staged by domestic help, will make an attempt to highlight the problems faced by them and how to overcome them.