NGOs launch free mental health therapy and legal aid for Saki Naka workers
On July 12, 2026, the non-governmental organisations Aajeevika Bureau and RAAH launched a new initiative called 'Mental Health Tuesdays' in the Saki Naka neighbourhood of Mumbai. This program provides free group therapy sessions and legal aid specifically tailored for domestic workers and daily wage labourers facing severe emotional stress and financial difficulties.
The initiative is designed to support unorganised sector workers who are dealing with mental turmoil, while also offering practical legal assistance. Through this legal aid, organisers hope to help workers recover pending wages and other outstanding financial dues from their employers.
Among those participating in the sessions was Priyanka Raghunath Gaikar, a local cook and domestic worker who works in the vicinity of the Aajeevika Bureau office in Saki Naka. Gaikar, wearing a cream-coloured salwar kameez and a mismatched tie-dye dupatta with her purse on her shoulder, attended the group therapy session alongside other women domestic workers from the local area.
According to the organisers, the need for targeted mental health support became increasingly clear through their existing outreach programs. Aajeevika Bureau previously established a dedicated labour helpline in 2021 to assist workers in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.
While the helpline initially focused on immediate pandemic-related relief, it has recently received a growing number of distraught calls from labourers experiencing intense emotional and mental turmoil. The financial hardships of unpaid wages and job instability have compounded the psychological distress of these unorganised workers.
By launching 'Mental Health Tuesdays', Aajeevika Bureau and RAAH aim to address both the psychological and material challenges faced by the labour community in Saki Naka. The weekly group sessions provide a safe space for domestic workers and daily wage earners to share their experiences and receive professional guidance, while legal experts work to secure their unpaid dues.
