Formal Organization - Veera Pengal Munnetra Sangam

ECTE has been a strong supporter of the formation of Veera Pengal Munnetra Sangam (VPMS), an all-women trade organization established in Chennai in October 2023. Our primary mission is to advocate for the empowerment and well-being of women working in non-traditional sectors. Through this initiative, ECTE is partnering with workers and the organization's leadership committee, including Mohana Sundari, president of VPMS, to provide vital information, tools, and resources that enable women to explore alternative opportunities, leading to improved wages, living conditions, benefits, and an enhanced quality of life.

Recent Updates

• Transportation Sector:

  • We have successfully helped establish a formal organization for workers in the transportation sector. 

  • Based on our research into the potential for a cooperative ecosystem in Chennai, we have helped register these workers into a cooperative, securing contracts for guaranteed income. Our efforts in collaborating with VPMS and organizing women workers have led to the city's decision to introduce dedicated women-only pick-up spots at three metro stations, with plans for expansion.

• Research Collaboration:

  • In collaboration with IFMR/LEAD and VPMS, we conducted a research study on transportation workers to enhance worker empowerment in Chennai.

• Expansion into Other Sectors:

  • Our efforts have extended to six additional trades, including home nursing, conservancy, sanitation, rag pickers, and gig economy workers (such as Swiggy, Zomato, Dunzo, Porter, etc.), alongside continued support for already organized domestic workers. We are working with VPMS to integrate these sectors into their existing formal organization, providing structural support and exploring cooperative models, particularly for the most exploited workers in conservancy, sanitation, and rag picking.

• Media Engagement: We are collaborating with various stakeholders, including media, to amplify our impact. 

  • This includes organizing a 5-day capacity-building workshop with Storiculture, training 60 women workers in skills such as storytelling, financial literacy, and understanding unions, collectives, and cooperatives.

  • Additionally, we are planning a follow-up session with 15 women workers to focus on using media for advocacy, helping them frame issues to attract attention from local decision-makers. 

  • We are also partnering with the University of California, Los Angeles’ Labor Center to produce a podcast series highlighting the challenges and efforts of these workers.

• Achievements and Recognition:

  • The efforts of VPMS members, with support from ECTE, led a group of women workers to win a prestigious pitch competition hosted by India’s leading business school. This achievement was covered in The Hindu, one of the country's most respected newspapers.

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