Anger over the in-house authorities’ improper response to the discovery of a watch camera (allegedly placed by a co-worker) in the bathroom of a company-provided accommodation led women workers of TATA Electronics in Hosur to protest on Tuesday night. They alleged the authorities were attempting a “cover-up” and also made insensitive comments.
Reflecting the viewpoint of the workers, an employee said, “All the wardens should have done was to tell us to be vigilant and careful, instead of cover-up. The camera was found two days ago, but we got to know of it only on Tuesday afternoon.”
Around 6,300 women workforce engaged in the manufacture of i-Phone components were housed at the Vidiyal Residency, a sprawling 12 block campus.
Some of the angry workers had on Tuesday night attacked the warden of Block 4, where the camera was found. “She (warden) tells the security in front of us, ‘these women are okay with ‘outing’ and ‘doing things with their boyfriends’, but this (camera) is being made into an issue,” a worker alleged. “This angered us, and protesters charged at her and hit her.”
“We are all varyingly qualified, but the disrespectful treatment by the wardens even for not standing in a file to get into the bus is humiliating,” she added.
According to the workers, the workplace at TATA Electronics is good. But the stay in the hostel is oppressive. “They come, wake us up in the middle of sleep if the doormat outside the room is missing; check for electrical appliances (ban on use of hair dryers, iron boxes, any appliance), disallowed to dry clothes on windows. When they can come and check for electrical appliances, they couldn’t tell us about finding a camera,” said another enraged young woman. “Adding insult to the injury, during our protest, the security tells a policeman, it is a mistake to give permission for their ‘outings’. Look how it is affecting the production, as if we are protesting during our production hours,” said the girl.
The lack of transparency had fuelled the simmering anger. In one of the messages to Block 12 residents, a warden said, “if you’re asking why you were not informed, you will have to ask your managing HR incharge of Vidiyal Residency, who has asked not to inform you all.”
“The police teams combing the blocks made us leave the room. Who knows how many cameras were found inside,” said a girl who was asked to leave her own room when the search was happening. “Why exactly should I believe there was only one camera,” she asked.
Police on Wednesday morning insisted only one camera was found even as the blocks were still being combed.
Published – November 05, 2025 09:58 pm IST
