THE Nagpur District Domestic Workers Union, an organisation affiliated to the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) staged on June 13, 2014 a huge protest march and demonstration in front of the labour commissioner’s office in the city. The action was meant to register protest against the adverse policies of the state and central government on domestic workers. The demands of the domestic workers included --- fair wage hike up to 10,000 as the minimum wage, monthly pension up to Rs 3000 for all workers above the age of 55 years, implementation of the benefits of Janashri Beema Yojana at the earliest, increase in the age limit for registration of domestic workers from the present 60 years to 70 years, ensured coverage of domestic workers under the national health services and their benefits, establishment of crèches in residential areas with the cooperation of domestic boards or corporations, issuance of the ration cards for all the domestic worker on priority basis and extension of the benefits of below poverty line (BPL) category to them, extension of benefits to domestic workers under the Food Security Act 2013, and coverage of the children of domestic workers under the Shiksha Sahayog Yojana, etc. During the march and demonstration, the agitating domestic workers displayed militancy and this sent the message that they were in no mood to compromise. A delegation under the leadership of Amrut Meshram, president of the organisation, went in to hold talks with the upper labour commissioner, Chikhle, and discussed the domestic workers’ demands. Shalini Raut (secretary of the Domestic Workers Union), Sheela Aakhre, Savita Somkuwar, Surekha Meshram, Godavari Dhoke and Geeta Munde were also included in the delegation. The upper labour commissioner assured the delegation to communicate their demands and grievances to the labour minister of Maharashtra in Mumbai. The meeting following the demonstration was presided over by Amrut Meshram and addressed by several trade union leaders like Shalini Raut (secretary, Domestic Workers Union), Ruma Kawde of Nagpur General Labour Union, Chanda Mendhe and Anupama Naik from Anganwadi Employees union, Baban Pawar (president, Vidarbha Breweries Mazdoor Union), Vitthal Garare of P B Igro Workers Union, Chhatrpal Harinkhede of Buttibori MIDC Kamgar Union, Kalpana Lokhande of ASHA Workers Union, Manda Jadhav and Ranjana Meshram etc. All these leaders expressed their solidarity and support for the domestic workers’ movement and offered their cooperation to the agitating mass. All of them conveyed their common will and intention to intensify the agitation up till the fulfilment of their legitimate demands. Apart from Nagpur City, a huge number of domestic workers and activist agitators came from various tehsils of Nagpur district, including Parshivni, Savner, Kanhan, Katol, Ramtek, Narkhed, Kalmeshwar, Umred, Kuhi and Bhivapur etc.