Vidarbha Molkarin Sanghatana
Established on January 19, 2005, the Vidarbha Molkarin Sanghatna is dedicated to enhancing the lives of domestic workers in the Vidarbha region, particularly in Nagpur and surrounding rural areas. Founded by Dr. Rupa Kulkarni, Vilas Bhongade, Sujata Bhongade, the union focuses on unity, rights, and social protection for domestic workers.
Objectives
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Build solidarity among domestic workers for collective bargaining
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Promote economic and social well-being through welfare access
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Mediate employer-worker disputes and support legal redress
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Facilitate compensation claims under the Workmen's Compensation Act
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Conduct leadership development and skills training
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Strengthen the political, cultural, and educational status of domestic workers
Key Activities
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Enrolling members under the Maharashtra State Domestic Workers' Welfare Board
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Running awareness programmes for underprivileged women and children
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Forming and strengthening self-help groups (SHGs)
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Facilitating access to government schemes and entitlements
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Partnering with civil society organisations and CSR initiatives
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Organising community-level training in employable skills
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Conducting campaigns on gender justice and empowerment
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Advocating with government bodies for domestic workers’ welfare
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Key Achievements
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Organised 1,00,000+ domestic workers across the region
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Facilitated the enrolment of 25,000 workers in the Domestic Workers' Welfare Board
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Secured pensions for 530 women and COVID-19 relief for 390 women
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Formed 52 savings groups, strengthening financial resilience
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Enabled 550 children of insured workers to receive scholarships
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Strengthened women’s roles in families, communities, and educational decision-making
Awards and Recognitions
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Tarabai Shinde Social Work Award
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Maharashtra Times Honour Award
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Comrade Datta Deshmukh Encouragement Award
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Maharashtra Foundation Social Work Award
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Orange City Achievement Award
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S. M. Joshi Social Worker Award
