Bandhs /Strikes

Today is another bandh in Kolkata. My mom’s maid Aarti who’s paid by her agency on a daily basis will loose a day’s salary .She travels by local train and comes to the city to work. Her husband is an alcoholic and is a constant nuisance to mother and daughter . Yesterday when she left our house in the night I could see unhappiness written large over her face. Hundreds of women like her come from the suburbs to the city and work on daily wages. Bandhs are like a curse to them . Aarti was complaining bitterly.
Most of them are poor ,illiterate women and are not trained in any trade. They serve as attendants to elderly people , or baby sitters or helps to working women .This is a profession which they can manage and learn easily .The money is reasonable for unskilled people like them and the job is relatively safe and hassle free.
But strikes and closures which put the transport system off gear is a big threat for poor women like these . For them every penny counts . The strikes are usually called by labour leaders or political bosses . I am not sure who benefits from these exercises.