Kislay

Kislay Since 1992, strengthening Delhi’s informal workers-domestic, construction & beyond—through support, awareness & collective action.

For the past five years, we have been working to raise gender awareness in Delhi’s slum and resettlement colonies. In Se...
23/12/2025

For the past five years, we have been working to raise gender awareness in Delhi’s slum and resettlement colonies.

In September 2025, we took a step forward by preparing community members themselves as trainers through Training of Trainers (ToT).

📍 23 Mentees | 10 Bastis | Age Group 16–50
📚 Topics: Gender, Mental Health & Domestic Violence

We are witnessing that 4 Bastis are showing readiness towards running awareness sessions—a sign of community ownership.

Building on this momentum, a second ToT in December 2025 focused on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), Cyber Crime, and Sexual Harassment in Public Spaces, along with reflections from the field from those who conducted sessions in Bastis.

This process marks the emergence of community leaders volunteering as trainers—a positive sign of growing strength in community-led action.



27/09/2025

When construction workers understand the importance of their safety and health:

On big construction sites, workers are usually given safety kits.

But for Delhi’s daily-wage construction workers, who wait at labour chowks to be hired for a day or two, safety gear is still a distant dream.

This gap not only puts their lives at risk in case of accidents, but also harms their health in the long run.

Here we share the voice of a woman construction worker (a helper) who had to undergo eye surgery after years of working without protective equipment.

Her message is simple: “Don’t wait for contractors or employers to provide safety kits. Protect your own health first.”

Through Kislay’s continuous awareness and education efforts, more workers now understand their rights and the importance of safety. Step by step, this strengthens their wish for safer workplaces and moves us closer to decent working conditions for all construction workers.



On a construction site, workers spend long days lifting bricks, mixing cement, and climbing scaffolds. Many have worked ...
11/09/2025

On a construction site, workers spend long days lifting bricks, mixing cement, and climbing scaffolds.

Many have worked for years without fully understanding their rights and entitlements.

Helmets and gloves are often overlooked, wage delays are common, and questions about safety or benefits rarely arise.

Kislay has been continuously working with construction workers, organizing workshops, discussions, and awareness sessions.

In a recent three-day Leadership Capacity Development Workshop in Rishikesh, workers learned about laws and protections such as the Minimum Wages Act, Workmen’s Compensation, EPF, ESI, and Occupational Safety and health.

The process is ongoing — through regular engagement, Kislay helps workers gradually understand, apply, and stand for themselves, building confidence and safer working conditions over time.

Real change is gradual, continuous, and requires persistent awareness and education, but each step contributes to a safer, fairer, and more dignified work environment for construction workers.


Domestic workers are the backbone of many households, yet they often face unfair wages, no weekly leave, unpaid work, an...
03/09/2025

Domestic workers are the backbone of many households, yet they often face unfair wages, no weekly leave, unpaid work, and no festival incentives.

On 21 August 2025, Kislay organised a seminar to address these challenges and empower workers to know their rights.

🌟 What made this seminar truly special was that the stage was led by domestic workers who have been associated with Kislay over the years. These women shared their experiences of negotiating with employers using awareness, logical reasoning, and polite dialogue.

They are now mentoring fellow workers who are hesitant to speak up, turning knowledge into action and creating a strong community of informed, confident workers.

It was a moment of pride for us to witness these aware domestic workers becoming torchbearers for others, showing that change begins with education and collective effort. ✊

From an early age, boys begin to absorb the meanings of masculinity from the world around them—whether through family dy...
13/08/2025

From an early age, boys begin to absorb the meanings of masculinity from the world around them—whether through family dynamics, peer interactions, media portrayals, or cultural narratives.

These influences often promote a narrow and harmful version of manhood: one that discourages emotional expression, glorifies aggression, endorses control over girls, encourages habits like smoking, and distances boys from caregiving roles or household responsibilities.

Such gendered expectations not only limit boys emotionally and socially but also contribute to sustaining inequality and violence in our society.

At Kislay, we believe that change begins with awareness and education. Through our gender sensitization sessions, community discussions, and residential workshops, we engage young boys in critical conversations around identity, emotions, and respect.

By offering them alternative, healthier models of masculinity, we are helping to build a future where boys grow into men who value empathy, consent, and equality—and where gender roles are not imposed but chosen freely.












Who takes responsibility when a construction worker is injured on the job? Mr. Atik, a 45-year-old construction worker i...
05/08/2025

Who takes responsibility when a construction worker is injured on the job?

Mr. Atik, a 45-year-old construction worker in Delhi, suffered a severe spinal injury on his first day at a new site when the scaffolding collapsed during work. There was no safety gear, no orientation, and no accountability. The accident not only cost him his health but also his livelihood.

Like many construction workers, Mr. Atik had not renewed his registration under the Delhi BOCW Welfare Board at the time, making him ineligible for compensation under the Delhi BOCW Act, 1996. Left without support, he reached out to India Labourline run by Kislay, where our team stepped in to mediate. After sustained follow-up, the employer agreed to pay ₹50,000 in compensation.

This case is not just about one construction worker—it’s about thousands of workers across Delhi who risk their lives every day without protection or recourse. It underscores the importance of worker registration under BOCW, occupational safety and health (OSH), legal awareness and employers’ responsibility regarding safety gear, ensuring a safe workspace for all labourers.

Kislay continues to work on the ground to support construction workers in knowing and claiming their rights.

जब काम के दौरान किसी निर्माण मज़दूर की दुर्घटना होती है, तो ज़िम्मेदारी किसकी होती है?

दिल्ली के 45 वर्षीय निर्माण मज़दूर, श्री अतीक, को अपनी नई साइट पर पहले ही दिन गंभीर रीढ़ की हड्डी में चोट आई, जब काम के दौरान मचान (scaffolding) गिर गया। न तो कोई सुरक्षा उपकरण था, न ही कोई ओरिएंटेशन और न ही कोई ज़िम्मेदारी तय की गई थी। यह दुर्घटना केवल उनके स्वास्थ्य को ही नहीं, बल्कि उनके रोज़गार को भी छीन ले गई।

कई अन्य निर्माण मज़दूरों की तरह, श्री अतीक ने भी उस समय दिल्ली भवन एवं अन्य सन्निर्माण कर्मकार कल्याण बोर्ड (BOCW) के तहत अपना पंजीकरण नवीनीकृत नहीं कराया था, जिससे उन्हें दिल्ली BOCW अधिनियम, 1996 के तहत मुआवज़ा पाने का हक़ नहीं मिला।

सहायता से वंचित होने के बाद, उन्होंने किसलय द्वारा क्रियान्वित इंडिया लेबरलाइन से संपर्क किया, जहाँ हमारी टीम ने हस्तक्षेप किया। लगातार अनुवर्ती कार्रवाई के बाद, नियोक्ता ₹50,000 का मुआवज़ा देने पर सहमत हुआ।

यह मामला केवल एक मज़दूर की कहानी नहीं है—यह दिल्ली के उन हज़ारों मज़दूरों की सच्चाई है, जो हर दिन बिना किसी सुरक्षा और सुविधा के जान जोखिम में डालकर काम करते हैं। यह मामला BOCW पंजीकरण, मज़दूरों की सुरक्षा और स्वास्थ्य (OSH), कानूनी जानकारी और नियोक्ताओं की सुरक्षा उपकरण के प्रति ज़िम्मेदारी की ओर इशारा करता है कि कैसे सभी मज़दूरों के लिए एक सुरक्षित कार्यस्थल सुनिश्चित किया जाए।

किसलय ज़मीनी स्तर पर निर्माण मज़दूरों को उनके अधिकारों के प्रति जागरूक करने और उन्हें प्राप्त करने में मदद करने का कार्य लगातार करता आ रहा है।

In a patriarchal society, the concept of consent often remains unfamiliar to those from marginalized communities. Throug...
29/07/2025

In a patriarchal society, the concept of consent often remains unfamiliar to those from marginalized communities.

Through Kislay's work with domestic workers and women in the construction sector, we have created opportunities to introduce and educate them about this crucial concept.

However, the real challenge begins when these women attempt to assert their right to consent within their relationships—often facing resistance, misunderstanding, or backlash from their partners.

This is why Kislay is working with women in slums and resettlemnt colonies of Delhi—to support them as they navigate these challenges.

पितृसत्तात्मक समाज में, सहमति (कन्सेंट) की अवधारणा अक्सर मुख्यधारा से दूर रहने वाले समुदायों के लिए अपरिचित होती है।

किसलय द्वारा घरेलू कामगारों और निर्माण क्षेत्र में काम करने वाली महिलाओं के साथ किए गए काम के ज़रिये, हमने उन्हें इस महत्वपूर्ण अवधारणा से परिचित कराने और इसे समझने के लिए जगह बनाई है।

लेकिन असली चुनौती तब शुरू होती है जब ये महिलाएं अपने व्यक्तिगत संबंधों में सहमति का अधिकार जताने की कोशिश करती हैं—जहां उन्हें अकसर विरोध, गलतफहमी या साथी की नाराज़गी का सामना करना पड़ता है।

इसी कारण किसलय इन महिलाओं के साथ काम कर रहा है—ताकि उन्हें इन संघर्षों से जूझने में साथ और सहारा मिल सके।













They care for our homes, yet remain invisible in our stories.In India, over 50 million domestic workers, most of them wo...
21/07/2025

They care for our homes, yet remain invisible in our stories.

In India, over 50 million domestic workers, most of them women, face low wages, no job security, and little recognition.

At Kislay, we’re working to change that, by building community awareness, enabling access to entitlements, and encouraging respect that begins with something as simple as a name.

Dignity isn’t a favour. It’s a right.

Delhi’s skyline rises every day—but who’s holding the foundation?Construction workers are among the city’s most vital co...
17/07/2025

Delhi’s skyline rises every day—but who’s holding the foundation?

Construction workers are among the city’s most vital contributors—and yet the most invisible in its policies.

At Kislay, we’ve supported over 42,000 workers in navigating complex welfare systems, correcting rejections, and building awareness of their rights.

Our camps, community meetings, and leadership trainings are changing more than paperwork—they’re shifting power.

This is what dignity looks like when it’s done right—from the ground up.

Change doesn’t always begin with protest. Sometimes, it starts with a quiet conversation.At Kislay, we’ve seen how simpl...
14/07/2025

Change doesn’t always begin with protest. Sometimes, it starts with a quiet conversation.

At Kislay, we’ve seen how simple questions can reshape entire households, when a girl asks to finish school, when a father listens without judgment, when a boy realizes care is not weakness.

We’re not just creating awareness, we are building relationships where empathy replaces authority, and silence gives way to trust.

This isn’t about quick fixes. It’s about helping families unlearn shame, share decisions, and grow together.

Because when space is made for every voice, even the smallest conversations can echo for generations.

Why does a worker helpline matter? Because for many informal workers, especially migrants, navigating unpaid wages, sudd...
10/07/2025

Why does a worker helpline matter?

Because for many informal workers, especially migrants, navigating unpaid wages, sudden job loss, or unsafe workplaces can feel isolating. Many don’t know where to turn.

That’s why India Labour Line was launched as a national initiative to give workers a trusted space to report concerns, access support, and learn about their rights.

In Delhi, Kislay began facilitating the Worker Facilitation Centre in 2021 to ensure that urban informal workers—across construction, domestic work, factories, transport and more—could also access this vital support.

📞 Call 1800 833 9020 (toll-free) Through this helpline, workers can:

✔️ Get help through mediation
✔️ Access legal advice if needed
✔️ Learn about workplace rights

Whether it’s a wage denial, wage delay or PF issue—if you’re a worker looking for help:
We’re here to listen, support, and act.

Why does Kislay’s work matter?Because the people who build and sustain our cities often go unseen when it comes to right...
07/07/2025

Why does Kislay’s work matter?

Because the people who build and sustain our cities often go unseen when it comes to rights, recognition, and support.

Since 1992, Kislay has worked with Delhi’s informal workers—like construction and domestic workers—to build awareness, enable access to entitlements, and foster collective strength.

We’ve helped over 42,000 workers register for social security, recovered ₹5.4 crore in unpaid wages, and contributed to policy efforts that make dignity and justice more accessible.

Our work goes beyond service delivery—it’s about shifting systems, nurturing solidarity, and ensuring that the voices of the urban working poor are heard where decisions are made.

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311, Plot No 4, Sector 18A, Dwarka
Delhi
110078

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