Women in bonded labour are doubly oppressed – they are discriminated against along lines of gender as well as caste. This is a compilation of stories of women in domestic work in the rural areas of Punjab. The conceptualisation of this study was done based on programme implementation reports from ActionAid-supported interventions in Mansa district, Punjab. The reports highlighted the condition of women domestic workers, with issues ranging from exploitation of labour to bondage and marginalisation.

These stories bring forth the ingrained feudalism and bondage faced by Dalit families in the rural hinterland of Punjab. It has become imperative to record the stories of these silent sufferers. They warrant the attention of all stakeholders, including civil society organisations and the administration of the Punjab government.

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