The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) has presented the Time Use Survey 2024, which captures time distribution for unpaid work, that is, household chores and caregiving activities, by men and women in India. The survey shows that women continue to suffer a much more unequal distribution of unpaid domestic and caregiving responsibilities, with over 200 minutes spent each day more than men. This data not only highlights persistent gender disparities in the division of labor at home but also underscores the need for policies that address these inequalities, while recognizing the value of unpaid work in national economic indicators.

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What is the Time Use Survey?

The Time Use Survey (TUS) is a survey that helps us understand how people in India spend their time each day. It looks at different activities, like working, studying, taking care of the home, helping family members, resting, and enjoying leisure activities. The survey is special because it looks at both paid and unpaid work. This means it shows how much time people spend on things like jobs where they get paid, as well as chores at home that they do without payment.

The government of India conducts this survey to learn about how men and women spend their time differently. It also helps the government plan better policies to make life fairer for everyone. The Time Use Survey in India started in 2019, and the second round was done in 2024.

Key Highlights of the Time Use Survey 2024

• More Unpaid Work for Women: Women spend much more time on unpaid work at home than men. In 2024, women spent 289 minutes every day doing household chores, while men spent only 88 minutes. That’s a difference of 201 minutes!
• Caregiving Work: Women also spend a lot of time taking care of family members, like children, the elderly, and sick people. On average, women spent 137 minutes a day on caregiving, while men spent 75 minutes.
• Paid Work: Men spent more time on paid jobs than women. In 2024, men worked 473 minutes a day, while women worked only 341 minutes.
• Changes in Learning: Both men and women spent less time learning in 2024 compared to 2019. Children aged 6-14 years spent 413 minutes every day on learning activities.
• Leisure Activities: Men spent more time on leisure activities like sports, media, and socializing. Men spent 177 minutes a day on these activities, while women spent only 164 minutes.

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Salient Features of the Time Use Survey

The Time Use Survey is different from other surveys because it gives detailed information about how people spend their time. Here are some key features of the survey:

• Wide Range of Activities: The survey looks at many different activities, like work, caregiving, studying, resting, and enjoying free time.
• Gender-Specific Data: One of the most important things the survey does is show the difference between men and women. It helps us understand why women spend more time on household chores and caregiving compared to men.
• Large-Scale Data Collection: In 2024, the survey collected data from over 4 lakh people across India. This large sample size helps the government understand the time use patterns in both rural and urban areas.
• Real-Time Data: The survey tracks what people actually do on a typical day, not just their opinions. It gives a true picture of how people spend their time.

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Necessity of Incorporating Unpaid Work into National Economic Indicators

The Time Use Survey shows that unpaid work, especially household chores and caregiving, is mostly done by women. However, this work is not counted in India’s economic measurements, like GDP (Gross Domestic Product). This means that the hard work women do at home is not recognized in the country’s economy.

• Recognizing Women’s Contributions: Women do a lot of work at home, and it should be counted as part of the economy. By including unpaid work, we can see how much women help the country’s economy even when they are not paid for their efforts.
• Better Policies: By recognizing unpaid work, the government can create policies that support women. For example, they might offer better maternity leave or create more affordable childcare options.
• Shifting Gender Roles: When unpaid work is recognized, it can help change traditional ideas that women should do all the household work. It can encourage men to share these responsibilities more equally.

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Indian Government Initiatives to Reduce the Gender Gap

The Indian government has introduced several programs to help reduce the gender gap and make sure both men and women have equal opportunities. Some important initiatives include:

• Maternity Benefits: The government has made rules that give women more time off from work when they have a baby. This helps women take care of their babies without losing their income.
• Skill Development Programs: There are programs like the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana, which provide training to women so they can get jobs or start their own businesses.
• Support for Women Entrepreneurs: The Stand Up India scheme gives women financial help to start their own businesses.
• Childcare Support: The government is working to make childcare more affordable so that women can continue working while taking care of their children.
• Education Programs: The Beti Bachao Beti Padhao scheme helps improve the education of girls and supports them in their studies.

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Way Forward

The Time Use Survey shows us that women still do most of the unpaid work at home. To make life fairer for both men and women, we need to take several steps:

• Sharing Household Responsibilities: Men and women should share household chores more equally. Schools and media can encourage men to help more with caregiving and household work.
• Better Government Policies: The government should continue making policies that support both men and women. For example, it should improve childcare services and make it easier for women to work while raising children.
• Recognizing Unpaid Work: Unpaid work should be counted in national economic statistics. This will show how important this work is and help bring more attention to it.
• Empowering Women: Women need more opportunities to learn, work, and take care of their families. The government should continue its programs to support women in education and jobs.
• Cultural Change: We need to change old ideas about gender roles. Both men and women should be encouraged to help with caregiving and household work.

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In conclusion, the Time Use Survey 2024 gives us valuable information about how time is spent in India, especially when it comes to unpaid work done by women. If we recognize this work and create policies to support women, we can move towards a fairer and more equal society for all.

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UPSC Practice Questions

‘The Time Use Survey 2024 highlights a stark gender disparity in unpaid household work’— Discuss the socio-economic implications of this disparity on women’s workforce participation in India.