P.Viji: stitching up rights for women

In the midst of the bustling lanes of the Sweet Meat Street (S.M. Street) in the coastal city of Kozhikode, Kerala, lies a narrow bylane that leads to an array of tailoring shops.

A woman clad in a nondescript kurti greeted everyone with an infectious smile as she climbed the stairs to her tailoring shop, which has been in business for 15 years. Meet P.Viji, a name synonymous with activism, who has been working towards the welfare of women in the unorganised sector for more than two decades. What began as a journey to fight for basic facilities for women has become a powerful movement for gender equality.

Right to basic facilities

In the mid-2000s, women working in textile shops in SM Street — a 500-year-old commercial hub — faced immense struggles, including the absence of toilet facilities. “Since I was a tailor already involved with activism, these women approached me believing that I would be able to help them,” Viji recalls as she sips her tea.

Back in those days, toilet facilities were uncommon, and women had to control their bladders for 12 hours before relieving themselves after reaching home. This eventually led to many women suffering from urinary tract infections and gynaecological issues.

“When we approached the shop owners, they refused to listen to our grievances. Some even asked us to drink less water or relieve ourselves behind the buildings,” she adds.

The beginning of Penkoottu

When no one was ready to address their challenges, Viji took it upon herself to set up a women’s collective called Penkoottu (Women for each other) in 2009. She eventually adopted that as her surname. Later, Viji and her fellow workers’ struggle for public toilets in the buildings paid off. Since then, the building owners have constructed toilets for women.

The woes for women employees, however, did not end there — women working in textile showrooms had to stand all day, even if there were no customers. “Since we had no support from the labour unions, we approached the labour office for their intervention, but they asked us to form a separate union for the unorganised sector,” she says.

“In 2014, we launched Asanghatitha Mekhala Thozhilali Union (AMTU), or Unorganised Sector Workers’ Union. But the registration as a labour union did not happen until 2016 due to many delays from the labour office.” 

Her shop doubled up as the AMTU office, where men are also very much involved, but women hold key positions in the collective. 

Soon, the union started the Irikkal samaram (the fight to sit) in front of shops, demanding longer breaks and seating arrangements for workers. This paved the way for the Kerala government amending the Kerala Shops and Commercial Establishments Act in 2018, making it mandatory for shops to provide adequate toilet facilities and allowing them to sit during breaks. 

It was also a memorable year for Viji, as she was named in the BBC’s list of 100 inspiring and influential women.  

The 2022 Malayalam short film segment from the anthology film Freedom Fight, which also stars Viji, draws inspiration from the real-life Penkoottu movement and highlights the hardships faced by the women employees.   

At one of the organised events in S.M. Street, Kozhikode.
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

Deluge of challenges 

Although the public is yet to be sensitised about the basic needs of women, the struggle, according to Viji, is far from over, as the collective continues to fight for basic pay and gender equality in the workplace.  

Another crisis Penkoottu faces is not having sufficient funds to support the aggrieved lot.  

“We can offer only moral support to the women. Even medical treatments end up being expensive for them,” Viji points out. 

“Yes, we do get the Employees’ State Insurance (ESI) benefits, but if there are 100 employees in a workplace, there’s a possibility that only 20 might get registered under the scheme,” she adds. 

New labour codes are a threat 

When the much-delayed four labour reforms — Code on Wages, Industrial Relations, Social Security, and Occupational Safety — were notified on November 21, 2025, to overhaul the existing 29 labour laws, trade unions across India denounced them, labelling them ‘anti-worker codes.’ The unions argued that the codes were exploitative in nature, that they would corrode the freedom of workers, diminish job security and legalise hire and fire.  

Viji’s thoughts echo the same view. She explains that the new labour codes require a workplace with more than 300 employees (previously 100) to follow strict orders and regulations. Now, those with less than 300 employees do not require permission from the government to fire workers or wind up the business.  

“This is alarming for the workers in the unorganised sector, especially for women who continue to earn less.” 

“The new labour codes stress providing minimum wages and regulated working hours, but who pays attention to them?” asks Viji. 

Change begins with empathy 

When asked about the youth’s involvement in social movements, Viji says that more initiative from students is required in such causes. 

“One of the biggest issues is that many educational institutions do not have active student unions for them to be able to take part and raise their voices,” Viji says.  

She also pointed out how schools should inculcate a sense of awareness of surroundings among students. 

“Schools should promote genuine friendships between students. Let them become aware of the status of their classmates’ families and enquire whether their classmates have sufficient food at home and other facilities. This level of empathy is lacking today,” she explains.  

“My kids have seen our struggles since they were born. Through my children, their friends and acquaintances became aware of our issues. But I don’t blame them if they don’t show interest because today’s generation is varied and more keen to follow what their heart truly desires.” 

Viji still believes that real change begins with empathy and that the younger generation should not only aspire to succeed but also become the voice for the voiceless.