Gender Budget Allocation
The 2025 Union Budget allocates ₹4,49,028.68 crore to the Gender Budget (GB), a 37.3% increase from FY24.
The increase is largely due to the inclusion of the PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana, not new investments in care infrastructure or gender-responsive schemes.
Care infrastructure remains neglected despite global discussions on its importance for women’s empowerment.
The Burden of Unpaid Care and Domestic Work (UCDW)
Indian women bear a disproportionate share of unpaid care work, spending significantly more time than men on tasks like household chores and caregiving.
53% of Indian women are outside the labor force due to care responsibilities.
Poor women face the most severe challenges, often juggling 17–19 hours of work daily, leading to "time poverty" and deteriorating well-being.
Lack of Care Infrastructure and Solutions
Despite some initiatives like the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), the lack of infrastructure such as water, clean energy, and sanitation keeps women burdened with unpaid tasks.
Expanding access to affordable care infrastructure, childcare centers, and eldercare support could significantly ease women’s workload.
Investment in public infrastructure could create millions of jobs and reduce care burdens.
Recommendations for Reform
A “Three R” approach (Recognize, Reduce, Redistribute) is recommended to address the care work issue.
Policies should integrate time-use surveys to better understand unpaid work.
Redistribution of care work, particularly through urban redevelopment and expanding care services, could help women balance work and caregiving.
Greater representation of women in decision-making is crucial for effective gender-sensitive policies.
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