8th March is International Working Women's Day. Yes, that is the complete phrase. The day was to commemorate the anniversary of the strike by International Ladies Garment Workers Union and is celebrated in recognition of a woman's economic, social and political rights. It symbolises WORKING WOMEN'S STRUGGLE for "Bread and Roses" – bread representing economic struggle, and roses cultural struggle.

Today is about women’s right to education, employment, safe public spaces and the right over our bodies. Salar News brings you 8 tales of gritty women. They are our pourakarmikas, anganwadi workers, housemaids, construction workers & they all make the City our home

I remained unmarried to take care of my family

Lalitha, Police Constable

Lalitha, a 32-year-old police constable, stands tall amid the hustle and bustle of City life. 

The Kodigehalli native has been serving as a police constable for nine years, her unwavering resolve mirrored in her personal life as well. The daughter of a farmer, Lalitha, has remained unmarried to fulfil her responsibilities as the eldest among four siblings. She provided education for her two brothers and helped them set up a business also. Lalitha also married off her younger sister. 

Lalita said the biggest struggle of her life was to complete her education without anyone’s support. “Anybody hardly supported me and with great difficulty, I completed my bachelor's and master's degrees. I worked hard to get a well-paying job so that I can support my siblings to get education,” Lalitha said.

She expressed her wish to get married if she finds a groom who can support her. 

On International Women's Day, Lalitha advocates for a societal shift, urging men to recognise and celebrate women's efforts daily. “Why should women be treated and celebrated only on birthdays or women’s days? The work of women is always undervalued, especially homemakers. Men of the house comfortably say ‘What were you doing all day’ and it is not right. If family members are supportive, women can achieve great things,” Lalitha said. 

Building homes gives me happiness

Kanaka, Construction Worker

She doesn’t have a permanent abode, but Kanaka loves to build someone’s dream house.

Kanaka and her husband, both construction workers, are from Davangere, but they moved to Bengaluru after marriage hoping for a better future. “I don't have a home. My home is where my husband is and I have been helping him with his work for 5 years. I go with him wherever his next project is,” the 35-year-old woman said.

Kanaka said her husband never made her feel they were poor. “He feeds me with three meals every day, ensuring that I don’t go hungry to bed.”

She doesn’t believe in Women’s Day. “I believe in equality. My dream is to build my own house with my husband and help others to build their dream house too.”

My life is all about adjustments

Lakshmi, Anganwadi Worker

Anganwadi worker Lakshmi knows the art of dreaming within constraints. Despite facing financial limitations alongside her disabled husband, this 46-year-old mother of two daughters refuses to let adversity dim her spirit.

From the crack of dawn until dusk, Lakshmi tends to the children of the Anganwadi nestled at Bashettihalli on the outskirts of the City, earning around Rs 11,800 every month.

juggling the aspirations of her daughters against the backdrop of financial constraints presents its challenges. While her older daughter is pursuing a BSc in Animation at Moodbidri in Dakshina Kannada district, the younger one is studying Second PU in the City. “Since animation is an expensive course, we had to send the daughter to Moodbidri,” Lakshmi said.

Her husband's income from his role at the NGO, Child Rights Trust, adds around Rs 12,000 to their household coffers. "We cannot run our house from both of our incomes. But we adjust. Isn’t adjusting a part of life?” Lakshmi asked.

The wedding was the most difficult time for Lakhmi. “With meagre earnings and a father unable to afford a lavish ceremony, I felt the weight of embarrassment. But my husband and his family accepted me with open hands,” Lakshmi said.

On International Women’s Day, Lakshmi said, "While recognition may come once a year, it should reverberate throughout." 

I was once a banker and Kannada teacher

K Selvi, Vegetable Seller

In the heart of Vasanth Nagar's bustling 10th cross, amidst the sweltering heat, stands K Selvi, a 60-year-old vegetable vendor, her resilience shining through the beads of sweat glistening on her brow.

For Selvi, who has been working as a vendor for over 40 years, Women’s Day does not hold any particular importance. It is just another normal day for her who spends almost 10 hours at work.

She used to earn Rs 800-Rs 1,000 per day before the pandemic, but currently, is earning only Rs 400 a day. “Since the outbreak of Covid, the business has dwindled with people buying grocery online,” she says.

Selvi started selling veggies when she was 12 years old. Having completed her pre-university course, she worked briefly as an intern for 3 months at Canara Bank in Vasanth Nagar. Later she donned the role of a Kannada teacher at BNR School on Williamson Road.

Driven by poverty and with no family support, Selvi could not secure a permanent job, which drove her back to selling vegetables. “My biggest misery was when I couldn't afford proper medical treatment for my husband during the pandemic,” Selvi, whose husband died four years ago. Adding to the misery, she lost her only son soon after.

Living a life alone, Selvi is wholly dependent on her daily wages which is used to repay that loan she took for her husband’s treatment. She is fluent in Kannada, Tamil, Hindi, English and Urdu, thus giving her the edge in the business. -Salar News

Rain or heat, we keep working

Amalu, Pourakarmika

“Rain or heat, nothing matters to us, we have to keep working,” says Amalu, a pourakarmika (civic worker) in Bengaluru. Hailing from Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh, this 48-year-old woman has dedicated 24 years of her life to serving the City.

Amalu was married off to a BBMP worker and they have three kids — two sons and a daughter. “Despite our poverty, we made sure our kids are educated. We took loans for it but I do not regret it. My eldest son has completed LLB, my youngest son is a software engineer and my daughter has a double degree and is now married,” Amalu said. 

Though her children are doing well, Amalu is working hard every day to not depend on anyone, earning about Rs 24,000 per month. “Other pourakarmikas and I would be happy if our jobs were made permanent,” she said.

Amalu said she has no complaints about life whatsoever. About Women’s Day, Amalu said every woman should be celebrated and more employment opportunities should be created for women so that they are not dependent on anyone.

They said I would not make it, but I did

Kavitha S, Maintenance Staff

This International Women's Day, we celebrate not just the achievements of women in boardrooms and corner offices, but also the vital contributions of those who strive to keep the world running smoothly – women in maintenance service.

Kavita S is one such example. Moving from Chikkamagaluru to the busy city of Bengaluru, she landed a job as a maintenance staff at Forum Mall, Kanakapura road. “I am a mother of a single daughter. I moved to the City to work and take care of my child. I have never seen my job in a negative way. I have always adored my profession. I will work till I am sure that my child can survive without me.”

Kavitha was driven by her desire to build a secure future for her daughter. "People assumed I wouldn't be strong enough, that it wasn't 'appropriate' work for a woman. But I never cared about what society had to say. I only had my daughter's thoughts in my head and worked. Now that she is settled, I have nothing to worry about. ”

Kavitha's story is just one of many. While women remain underappreciated in the field, their presence is growing. She juggled childcare, and faced down microaggressions head-on.

I had to contend with unfounded gossip

Champakavathi, former bus conductor

Champakavathi, a 55-year-old former bus conductor with KSRTC, overcame numerous challengers to succeed in a male-dominated profession for 15 years.

Navigating the bustling highways of Bengaluru, Chennai, and Tirupati, Champakavathi spent eight hours a day collecting tickets and ensuring passengers' safety. Starting her career at just 20 years old, with three children to support, she embarked on this journey despite her limited qualifications.

Initially intimidated by the complexities of the job and the demanding long-distance routes, she sought treatment at NIMHANS in the City for her migraines, which took six months to subside. Despite the initial hardships, she managed to provide for her children and afford them an education and settle them in jobs.

Amid her triumphs, Champakavathi encountered adversity in the form of workplace gossip and unfounded accusations. A spinal cord injury altered her career trajectory, leading her to transition into an administrative role within the organisation.

Reflecting on the significance of International Women's Day, Champakavathi said the importance of self-belief and resilience in the face of adversity. For her, this day serves as a reminder to bravely share one's story, standing firm in values and priorities despite external challenges. She firmly believes that true strength lies in prioritizing family, peace, and personal integrity above fleeting circumstances or societal judgments.

I work for 13 hours a day so that my daughters can study

Abeeda, Domestic Help

Working as a domestic helper isn't a walk in the park, but for 46-year-old Abeeda, it's the lifeline for providing sustenance and education to her two young daughters. Every morning, she embarks on her daily routine, weaving through the streets of Thimmaiah Road, starting her work at 7 am, and concluding it by 8 pm after tending to six households, juggling cleaning and cooking duties along the way.

“I was just 19 when I entered into marriage with hopes of a better life. Unfortunately, my husband's battle with alcoholism turned my life upside down. Domestic work became my only refuge,” she said.

Abeeda is the sole breadwinner in the house and earns up to Rs 20,000 per month. “Every day by the time I reach the last home, my hands feel like they would fall off. Yet I push on, to fulfil my eldest daughter's dream of being a doctor,” she said.

Abeeda says the dreams she'd harboured as a young girl — of becoming a teacher — felt like a distant memory now. Now her daughters’ education and future were her only priorities.

Abeeda was surprised to know about International Women’s Day. “For us, women, every day is a battle for survival. Just one day is not enough to celebrate a woman’s strength,” she said.