India Pays Women for Unpaid Household Work

Indian states are doing something new. They are paying women for work they have always done for free - cooking, cleaning, and caring for families. This started in 2021 after COVID-19 hit. Now 118 million women in 12 states get money each month.

The payments are not huge. Women get 1,000 to 2,500 rupees each month. That is about $12 to $30 in US money. This equals 5 to 12 percent of what their families make. But women say it helps buy medicine, food, and pay for their children's school. Some even buy things for themselves.

The money comes with no strings attached. Women get it no matter what. Other countries make families meet certain rules to get cash help. In India, if women qualify, they get the money. About 300 million Indian women now have bank accounts, which makes sending the money easy.

Early research shows good results. Women feel more confident and have less stress. They argue less with their husbands about money. Men also make fewer decisions alone. Before the program, 28.4% of men made household choices by themselves. After the program started, only 18.8% of men did this.

This program helps women gain more control over their lives. It shows that governments can recognize the value of caring for families. As more places learn from India's example, we might see similar programs help women everywhere.