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