She Fought a 9-Year Battle So Saleswomen Could Sit. Today, Thousands Thank Her.

7 May 2025

For years, saleswomen in Tamil Nadu stood for 10–12 hours a day. No breaks. No chairs. Because employers believed sitting meant shirking.

It wasn’t just tiring — it was exploitative. Swollen legs, chronic pain, and no space to rest during long shifts.

Viji Penkoottu, a women's rights activist from Kozhikode, saw this injustice and decided to fight back.

he began organising women under the group Penkoottu (meaning "women for each other") and raised a demand: “Give them a chair.”

The demand was mocked. Employers pushed back. But Viji and her collective didn’t back down. Because this was never just about furniture, it was about dignity at work.

In 2018, after years of pressure, Tamil Nadu passed a law mandating seats for shop workers. A basic right — finally recognised.

Her movement inspired similar laws in Kerala, Karnataka, and Maharashtra. Thousands of workers now stand less and live more — because one woman chose to stand up.

Viji's story serves as a reminder that rights aren’t handed down — they’re won. Through organising, resistance, and relentless courage.

Because no one should suffer for doing their job. Not for standing. Not for sitting. Not for asking to be treated like a human.