From about an hour on Wednesday, which marked Labour Day, a few people stood holding up red placards at Majestic Bus Stand in Bengaluru. Undeterred by the afternoon heat, these people were from Maraa, a city-based media and arts collective. Their placards had messages like, “Why do you people want Bisleri water? Drink tap water from the streets”; “I am not going to pay you for working overtime. Paying any money in the first place to people like you is unnecessary”, and “You prostitutes are walking on the streets like dogs.”
The idea behind this silent demonstration was simple – talk to people about how they treat workers. Named ‘bevaru’, which translates to ‘sweat’ from Kannada, the exercise was aimed at highlight the disdain, disrespect and apathy faced by sections of the working class like domestic workers, pourakarmikas, garment workers and sex workers. And written on their placards were the insensitive and condescending statements that workers had recounted to Maraa members.
The 5-6 people from the collective stopped and spoke to passers by at the Majestic Bus Stand, while distributing pamphlets explaining the discrimination that workers face such as not being paid on time or for working overtime, limited access to health and public services, not getting holidays, workplace harassment, insults and abuse from the public and so on.
Maraa representatives emphasised on how dignity is important to workers, thereby urging the public to reflect on how they speak with them in terms of gestures and even the tone of their voices.
Referring to the stigma and brutality sex workers face for instance, Ekta, one of the organisers of the event referred to Obavva squads, comprised of specially trained women constables, formed to educate women in self-defence, raise awareness about laws such as Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, IPC, and ensure law and order. Started in Chitradurga, these squads are now at multiple places in Karnataka.
“One such Obavva squad has been set up by the Upparpet police station to clean the city. But does cleaning the city mean forcibly removing street vendors and sex workers out of the city in a violent way? Chasing them out of the bus stop in public view jeopardises their livelihood,” Ekta said.
Maraa representatives chose Majestic Bus Stand for this demonstration because different kinds of workers such as domestic workers, street vendors, pourakarmikas and sex workers are often present there and also face discrimination. Members of Maraa also explained that by holding the exhibition on Labour Day they wanted to point out to the irony that despite dedicating a day for workers, they are not free and continue to be mistreated.