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Anjana, Tamil Nadu New forms of dowry accumumation: Sumangali Thittam

My name is Anjana. I was and I am working in fireworks Industries near Sivakasi which is famous for match works industries. I live with my mother who does “Paper rolls making” in the house. These paper rolls are important for making fire crackers. I went to work in Tirupoor in a Textiles mill under the Sumangali Thittam. I was introduced to the mill through one of the agent. A lot of girls around our places have gone for this.

I was also told about the condition that whoever is going under this system would get Rs. 30,000/- at the end of the third year and free boarding and lodging would be provided but for any cause we leave in between the three years we will not be given that money.

I worked there for a year, except only once I had never been to my house. The second time I was informed that my father was very serious ill and came home. Within a week’s time my father passed away. I also got sickness and lost all my energy to go back and work.

Similary another two girls from my neighbouring village had gone to the textiles mill.

These two girls went to Tirupur to work in textiles factory to earn their dowry under the so called “Sumangali Thittam”. They were promised of RS. 30,000 each at the end of three years with a condition that if they leave the work due to any reason before three years, they will not be paid any amount. One girl out of two lost her hand while working with machine and she returned, since she could not work with only one hand. The other girl also returned home because of the worst working condition and lack of facilities.


BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON SUMANGALI THITTAM:

It is told that from the year 2000 onwards this Sumangali thittam is in practice. Accordingly unmarried women between the age group of fourteen to twenty three are employed in textile Mills. They are told that they are provided with free boarding and lodging. The period of employment is three and half years in which six months are training period. At the end of three years they would be given a lumpsum amount of Rs, 30,000/-. In the state of Tamil Nadu the women labourers are many times higher in number than the permanent employers. In Tamil Nadu there are about 1975 Mills and these women constitute about 46908.

When they are employed they are told that they should not discontinue their services for any reason and if they do so they will loose the amount of Rs. 30,000/-. The accommodation and food provided for these labourers are very very poor in quality. Many of them get very sick and discontinue their employment.

Very less number of holidays were given and when they come home on holidays these girls refuse to go back. However the parents compel them to go because of loosing the wages/ salaries even for the period that they have worked. The violence they face in these textiles are far more dreadful than the family violence or domestic violence. Many times the agents are coming to the villages to take these girls for employment. Many girls commit suicide. On an average there would be around five hundred girls employed like this in each Mill under this so called “Sumangali Thittam”. To put it in short terms it is “earn your own dowry” scheme.