The lucrative income involved in picking of cotton has created a grave shortage of domestic helps in Adilabad. An assured earning of over Rs. 300 per day has women toiling in the cotton fields instead of indulging in the drab cleaning of homes.
The introduction of Bt cotton has brought a revolutionary change in many activities that has gone unnoticed. Employment of women in agriculture fields is one such area, which had a positive impact on the economy of the working class here.
The increase in area of cotton cultivation from 1.5 lakh hectares to 3.8 lakh hectares during the last four years has created a tremendous employment potential for women. The mode of remuneration has also changed from daily wages to the one based on quantity of cotton picked.
The slightly shorter crop duration and longer harvest period add to the number of days with employment potential. Thousands of women get to work on cotton fields in October and February.
“This is an opportunity to save money for my daughter's wedding. I cannot depend on my husband, as he drinks away whatever he earns”, says Are Narmada (name changed), a maid servant, who has been picking cotton these days, as she displays her economic prudence.
The economy of many families, which have more number of women working in cotton fields, has seen a drastic change in recent times. “We either lend our cumulative savings on interest or participate in chits, which is a better way to raise a lumpsum anount needed to perform marriages or other functions”, says the acuminous Narmada.
Trade union organisations like the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) have played an important role in injecting economic sense among women labourers through various activities. “We organise periodical meetings with them to create awareness on education of children and merits of savings”, reveals S.Vilas, AITUC district general secretary.
