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Brinda Karat criticized Justice Gavai's comments on "freebies," stating they fail to recognize the struggles of India's working class, facing unemployment, low wages, and precarious work conditions.
Karat urged the judge to reconsider his statement, arguing it could negatively influence public opinion about those receiving social benefits.
Karat emphasized that direct cash transfers, like Maharashtra’s Ladki Bahin Yojana, should be viewed as "social compensation," not "freebies."
She highlighted that Indian women spend over 50 hours weekly on unpaid domestic work, which should be monetarily valued.
Referring to an SBI survey, Karat noted that women’s unpaid labor is worth ₹22 lakh crore annually and should not be dismissed as "women not working."
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