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Friday, January 8, 2021

A Homemaker Holds Equal Status in Economy

The Pivotal Role of a Homemaker

In an unprecedented and historic verdict by the Supreme Court of India, on Tuesday, Jan 5, 2021 the judgment says, “There can be no exact calculation or formula that can magically ascertain the true value provided by an individual gratuitously for those that they are near and dear to. The attempt of the Court in such matters should therefore be towards determining, in the best manner possible, the truest approximation of the value added by a homemaker for the purpose of granting monetary compensation.”

The conception that house makers do not “work” or that they do not add economic value to the household is a problematic idea that has persisted for many years and must be overcome, Honourable Justice NV Ramana observed in a judgment delivered in this case.

The honourable court was disposing an appeal arising out of Motor Accident Compensation Claim filed by two toddler daughters and the elderly father of a man, in Delhi who died along with his wife following a bike collision with a car. The deceased wife was a home maker. The Motor Accidents Claim Tribunal (MACT) had ordered a compensation of Rs. 40.71 lakhs, which was reduced to Rs. 22 lakhs by the Delhi High Court. The claimants challenged the High court ruling before the Supreme Court, which came up before a Bench of Justices NV Ramana, Abdul Nazeer and Surya Kant. The bench enhanced the total compensation as 33.20 lakhs. 

The judgment, as well as the opinion, is praiseworthy and significant enough to encapsulate the pivotal role of a homemaker in supporting a family's economy leading to an added value to a nation's but the reality is an illusion for millions of homemakers across the globe who are actually privy to their own economic value and all the productivity which attain by each and every task they are doing for their children and their families.

Economic Value of Household Work?


How repugnant it seems! Not just India but in many other countries women, specially homemakers are considered of lesser or no economic value as they don’t earn and contribute (monetary) to the expenses required to run a house and feed a family. The status of women is still unchanged and least respected in many parts of the world. They take care of the house, cook, clean, raise the children, and do other activities in plethora which nurture a family. A homemaker is indeed a pillar of strength and leaves no stone unturned in making the family members grow and achieve they deserve and aspire for but her place is never incorporated in the economic analysis; neither by the family nor by the country saying she doesn't add to the monetary gains but what about saving all the expenses which would be made to take care of a family in her absence. Is GDP a true indicator of welfare of a nation? Her services help the nation achieve better health, nutrition, Education and human capital formation; surprisingly she does all these important jobs gratis. Women, in villages, contribute to the cottage industry, cattle rearing, farming and other repair works without being counted.  

Interesting Read:  Women-Warriors-Demand-Gender-Neutrality

Gandhiji once said, “Woman is the noblest of God’s creation, supreme in her own sphere of activity.” How women can talk of supremacy when most of the times they struggle to achieve the status of equality both at home and at workplace. In 2017, a study showed the overall gender pay gap in India was 20%. While men with 0-2 years of experience earned 7.8 % higher median wages than women, in the experience group of 6-10 years, the pay gap was 15.3 %. The pay gap becomes wider at senior-level positions which really put a question mark on the ethos of our culture and society.

Despite the struggle and the grind that a homemaker goes through, she continues to be categorized as a non-economic entity she is never referred as an asset in a nation’s economy. Granted that a housewife’s activities are diverse as well as multi-tasking, and are not easy to calculate in monetary terms, but to underestimate her worth and unconditional support is not fair. She holds equal status in the economy indirectly if not directly. Hitting out the chauvinistic approach, the Supreme Court of India had said, “Such categorization of about 36 crore women in India by the authorities betrays a totally insensitive and callous approach towards the dignity of labour and …also indicative of gender bias.”

With such judgments and quotes, we hope that someday economists will be able to set an economic value to household services of women to arrive at a correct estimate of the country’s GDP, and we are anticipating the scenario when a housewife will be given her due worth and win this highly debatable economic analysis to be in their favour.

Being a housewife is one of the noblest professions. Be proud of yourself if you are committed to your duties of a housewife!!     

23 comments:

  1. Women are not just equal but they are n'th times superior if we talk about multitasking , relationship management, home managment,office management.. besides being hormonally more sensitive and sensible, women are more sensitive and sensible emotionally, monetarily, spatiality, kinetically aesthetically, the list doesn't end here .. so not able to count or monetise her efforts at home 100 percent and at work places to a great extent is a major loophole for any economy's growth panorama..

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  2. Very beautifully present the work and value of homemaker.

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  3. सारा घर ऋणी वो होती है गृहिणी😍🤗जो मकान को घर बनाती है वह होती है गृहिणी।
    कभी भी गृहिणी को कम नहीं आंकना चाहिए क्योंकि वह परिवार को संस्कारित और व्यवस्थित करती है।उसका योगदान आर्थिक क्षेत्र के साथ ही सामाजिक और राष्ट्रीय दृष्टि से अत्यधिक महत्वपूर्ण है।

    नारी तुम श्रद्धा हो,विश्वास हो
    जिंदगी के हर मोड़ पर खास हो
    तुम्हारा योगदान अतुलनीय है,
    तुम परिवार और समाज की श्वांस हो

    नमन गृहिणी को🙏

    आपके लेखों की माला का खूबसूरत मोती है ये आलेख👌🏼👌🏼
    बधाई स्वीकार कीजिये,रचना जी😊

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  4. If the work of a household lady is compared in terms of hours, she works more hours as compared to the man of the house. But it is a pity that what she does to make a house and raise her children is insignificant even in this 21st century.
    Very well expressed Rachna

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  5. well written article on the topic which is witnessed everyday but the struggles are unheard so far... women are like pillar in a society...if u treat them the way they should only then u get blessings of goddess Lakshmi-according to infian myth..even un lockdown when their jobs are doubled they r seen happily fulfilling all of them without a question raised... though there are people to help but till what extent is the question..daily chores are those to be performed by all members in a family..in winter they have to put hands in cold water which can cause them cold and these days pnemonia...so one should take good care n respect for tge facilities we get🙏❤️

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  6. Supreme court comments that the value of house hold lady is equal to his working husband is a great appreciation . Supreme court also said that a man do the work only 76 minute per day towards house work comparatively working women spend 134 minute. Villege womens mostly do the help in agriculture. So we can say that value of womens can't be less then man.
    Your blog is so nice towards the house hold lady which is a good House maker. She also give good attitude (sanskar )to their children's and look after all the members of the family.
    Thanks

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  7. https://eduemeralds.blogspot.com/2021/01/a-homemaker-holds-equal-status-in.html

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  8. Supreme court comments that the value of house hold lady is equal to his working husband is a great appreciation . Supreme court also said that a man do the work only 76 minute per day towards house work comparatively working women spend 134 minute. Villege womens mostly do the help in agriculture. So we can say that value of womens can't be less then man.
    Your blog is so nice towards the house hold lady which is a good House maker. She also give good attitude (sanskar )to their children's and look after all the members of the family.
    Thanks

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  9. Really though provoking.....Keep up the good work.

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  10. Very aptly written!! You should get it published at more digital and print media platforms. This has to reach to the maximum readers.
    Please keep posting.

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  11. Nice and wonderful article as usual. You have very rightly and meticulously analyzed the judgement of the Supreme Court. I am sure, in this male dominated society, it would certainly change to some extend the mindset of the person who reads it.

    A few lines by way of addenda.

    यत्र नार्यस्तु पूज्यन्ते रमन्ते तत्र देवताः।
    यत्रैतास्तु न पूज्यन्ते सर्वास्तत्राफलाः क्रियाः ।।

    शोचन्ति जामयो यत्र विनश्यत्याशु तत्कुलम् ।
    न शोचन्ति तु यत्रैता वर्धते तद्धि सर्वदा ।।

    These two verses from Manusmriti clearly says that
    Where women are worshiped, there lives the Gods. Wherever they are not worshiped, all actions result in failure.

    The family in which women (such as mother, wife, sister, daughter etc.) are full of sorrows that family meets its destruction very soon; while the family in which they do not grieve is always prosperous.

    The position of women before the advent of Muslim Invaders was at a very high pedestal, but after that it started detoriating. However, 1995 Bijieng Conference, drew the attention of the whole world for improvement of the status of women folk. The Supreme Court has rightly pointed that the payment less and without any expection service of a housewife definitely adds and improves the financial and social status of a family. The all day work, which a housewife does can not be done by a maid, even if you pay Rs.50000/- a month.

    Therefore, we should not only bestow respect to our womenfolk, but recognize their selfless work.

    Blessings to you as always.

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    Replies
    1. Thank you so much Sir for your valuable inputs and blessings.

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