Centre working on national policy document on female labour force participation
- The Centre will soon bring out a national policy document on female labour force participation with a focus on providing an enabling atmosphere like a viable care economy structure.
Highlights:
- The Indian government is set to unveil a comprehensive policy aimed at increasing female labour force participation by creating a supportive ecosystem, including a robust care economy structure. This initiative involves collaboration across key ministries such as Skill Development, Labour, Rural Development, and Women and Child Development.
Key Challenges for Women’s Employment
Post-Marriage Employment Drop
- A recent World Bank report highlights a 12-percentage point drop in female employment post-marriage, equivalent to one-third of pre-marital employment rates.
- This decline occurs even in the absence of children, reflecting societal and structural barriers.
Rural-Urban Disparities
- Data from the Union Labour Ministry (2021-22) reveal higher female labour force participation in rural areas (36.6%) compared to urban areas (23.8%).
Focus Areas of the Upcoming Policy
- Building a Care Economy
- Definition: The care economy encompasses paid and unpaid activities related to caregiving, including child care, cooking, cleaning, healthcare, and education.
- The policy aims to strengthen care infrastructure to enable women to balance caregiving responsibilities with workforce participation.
- Core Skilling for Caregivers
- Introduction of a skilling package for caregivers, equipping them to support children and families.
- Targeted support for women in informal sectors, including workers under schemes like the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS).
- Childcare Facilities and the ‘Palna’ Scheme:
- Expansion of the Palna scheme (National Programme on Anganwadi-cum-Crèche), providing daycare facilities for children aged 6 months to 6 years.
- Services include nutrition, health, cognitive development, growth monitoring, immunisation, and early education.
- 1,000 Anganwadi creches have been operationalized under this initiative, aimed at creating a safe and nurturing environment for children of working parents.
Intersectional Approach:
- The policy will also address the intersectionality of gender and caste, recognizing the compounded challenges faced by women from marginalized communities.
Prelims Takeaways
- ‘Palna’ scheme
- National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme