India’s present effort to launch one of the world’s largest social-policy experiments. First, to cover 118 million adult women within the 12 located states of India with unconditional cash transfers. This sweeping initiative aims to provide financial assistance to women, acknowledging the economic value of unpaid domestic and care work, which consumes significant portions of their daily lives. Since its launch in Goa in 2013, the national program has taken off like a wildfire. Luckily, just before the pandemic hit in 2020, enough states improved upon their plans to stay ahead of its momentum.
In Maharashtra, the implementation provides robust economic dividends for 25 million women, an exciting start. In comparison, Odisha’s program resonates with a staggering 71% of its female-likely electorate. The size of the cash transfers are between 1,000 and 2,500 rupees, or approximately $12 to $30 per month. They’re seen as a way to lessen economic dependence and increase the economic empowerment of women who have historically been most economically reliant on their husbands. While this may be a small amount, the equivalent of 1,500 rupees ($16), the difference it makes in women’s lives is substantial.
For women in India, the time spent on unpaid domestic and care work everyday comes close to five hours. This unbelievable number is over 7.6 times the amount of time that men spend doing comparable work. This new Connect the World capital financial pledge honors their contributions. It further aims to address the problems resulting from that inequitable division of labor. As Money Transfers Many women have described using these cash transfers to meet their most basic needs, demonstrating the timely nature of this cash assistance.
The movement soon began to pick up steam across the country, including in Assam, which launched a safety net scheme for at-risk women in early 2020. This action was a watershed moment in India’s commitment to women’s empowerment. According to anecdotal reports, most women in Assam have managed their cash transfers well enough to purchase essentials for the home.
In Tamil Nadu, women receiving these payments have expressed feelings of peace of mind, reduced marital conflict, and newfound confidence. In addition to providing dignity through cash transfers, they speak to the newfound dignity enabling these women to be financial contributors to their households.
“The evidence shows that the cash transfers are tremendously useful for women to meet their own immediate needs and those of their households. They also restore dignity to women who are otherwise financially dependent on their husbands for every minor expense,” – Prof Kotiswaran
And this sentiment is shared among nearly all of the other states participating in the initiative. Women are just starting to understand how these transfers can create opportunities for financial independence. This program provides more than just money. It subverts stereotypical notions of gender and motherhood and provokes necessary conversations about the invisibility of women’s unpaid domestic work.
Experts believe that if these cash transfers are coupled with messaging recognizing women’s unpaid work, they could disrupt the entrenched gendered division of labor when paid employment opportunities arise. The promise of greater financial independence might further embolden women, driving them to join the workforce and defy cultural expectations.
This historic initiative is rolling out at lightning speed. It’s projected to cost about $18 billion this fiscal year nationwide across the twelve states that have chosen to participate. The scale of this investment underscores the Indian government’s commitment to addressing gender inequality and promoting women’s rights.