Artha Vijnana: Journal of The Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics

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Equal Risk, Unequal Burden: Female Care Workers in the Time of COVID-19 and Policy Intervention


Affiliations
1 Faculty of Management Studies, Marwadi University, Rajkot- Morbi Road, Rajkot 360003, Gujarat, India
2 Department of Economics, Indira Gandhi National Tribal University, Amarkantak 484886, Madhya Pradesh, India
3 GNIOT MBA Institute, Knowledge Park-2, Greater Noida 201310, Uttar Pradesh, India
     

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Among other various inequalities, division of work is seen as a potential powerful equalizer. The formulation of policies supporting equality in work should be considered when there is a motive for holistic development amid the socio-economic downturn. Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) in India suggests that females are at a greater disadvantage than males in sharing crisis distress and securing jobs. A direct effect of the shift in the institutional provisions on the household is like an increasing care burden, eventually decreasing the time autonomy. Preventive measures of social distancing during lockdown have curtailed the demand for such labour and services. This study discusses the challenges of female care workers-paid and unpaid, in COVID-19 and the need for policy interventions as pandemic relief measures.
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  • Equal Risk, Unequal Burden: Female Care Workers in the Time of COVID-19 and Policy Intervention

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Authors

Hema Prakash
Faculty of Management Studies, Marwadi University, Rajkot- Morbi Road, Rajkot 360003, Gujarat, India
Vinod Sen
Department of Economics, Indira Gandhi National Tribal University, Amarkantak 484886, Madhya Pradesh, India
Ankur Yadav
GNIOT MBA Institute, Knowledge Park-2, Greater Noida 201310, Uttar Pradesh, India

Abstract


Among other various inequalities, division of work is seen as a potential powerful equalizer. The formulation of policies supporting equality in work should be considered when there is a motive for holistic development amid the socio-economic downturn. Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) in India suggests that females are at a greater disadvantage than males in sharing crisis distress and securing jobs. A direct effect of the shift in the institutional provisions on the household is like an increasing care burden, eventually decreasing the time autonomy. Preventive measures of social distancing during lockdown have curtailed the demand for such labour and services. This study discusses the challenges of female care workers-paid and unpaid, in COVID-19 and the need for policy interventions as pandemic relief measures.

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.21648/arthavij%2F2022%2Fv64%2Fi2%2F215270