On one hand, India’s economy is growing with an increasing GDP, on the other hand, the labour force participation rate for women is declining. Currently, women account for only 19.9% of the total labour force in India. This low participation is on account of the restrictions imposed on women, the wage gap due to gender difference and also lack of safety and hygiene at the workplaces. The fall in women workforce in the unorganised sector was steeper during and post the pandemic. High unemployment kept women out of work. It is estimated that an increase in the women’s labour force participation by 10% could add $770 billion to India’s GDP by 2025.
The point to note here is that women do not feel encouraged to come and work. Construction sites, is one such place, that witnesses a high number of women. At Sneh Shilp Foundation, we have been working hard to make women feel comfortable at these sites. We understand how much women sacrifice when they come out of their homes and perform the role of earning, which, traditionally, is only that of a man. When women step out, their traditional role of a home-maker, a care-giver, does not lessen. They take care of multiple things at varied fronts.
Understanding the multiple battles that a woman fights each day, volunteers of Sneh Shilp Foundation decided to do their bit to ease these women and give them some solace. We organised a hygiene drive for more than 100 women at a construction site, where we distributed sanitary napkins for their monthly needs. Not only did we take care of their hygiene needs, but also their daily struggles at home. Our volunteers provided these women a set casserole to ensure the food they make at odd hours, remains healthy and edible. We also distributed sweets and _ to these deserving women and their families.
Our hearts go out to see a community like women, who are so capable emotionally and mentally, under utilising their potential. If God has made women such strong and resolute creatures, who are we o question them?