Toward improving the welfare of women in India’s unorganized sector, Sumita Dawra, Secretary of the Ministry of Labour and Employment, chaired a Roundtable Discussion focused on Enhancing Social Security Coverage and Care Support for Women.
The event, held in New Delhi, brought together key stakeholders, including government officials, industry experts, and representatives from various organizations working to uplift women in the unorganized sector.
Objective of the Roundtable: Welfare of Women
The roundtable aimed to discuss ways to strengthen the social security systems for women working in India’s unorganized sector, which constitutes a large portion of the country’s workforce.
Women in this sector often face significant challenges, including limited access to healthcare, financial security, and paid leave, making it critical to address these gaps.
The discussion also centered around enhancing care support for these women, particularly those involved in domestic work, agriculture, and informal labor.
During the session, Sumita emphasized the importance of social protection for women working in informal, unregulated jobs.
She highlighted that improving access to essential services such as healthcare, pension schemes, and maternity benefits would not only protect women’s rights but also enhance their economic security and participation in the workforce.
Key Topics Discussed
The roundtable addressed a variety of issues crucial to improving the welfare of women in the unorganized sector. Among the key topics discussed were:
- Strengthening Health and Maternity Benefits: Ensuring access to affordable healthcare and maternity benefits for women workers in unorganized sectors.
- Expanding Social Security Schemes: Identifying ways to extend existing social security schemes like Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-Dhan Yojana and Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana to include more women in the unorganized sector.
- Improving Childcare and Care Support: Providing more accessible and affordable childcare services to support women’s participation in the workforce, particularly in rural areas.
- Incentivizing Formalization of Work: Exploring ways to incentivize the transition of informal workers to formal employment, ensuring that they benefit from formal social security protections.
The Need for Comprehensive Policy Action for Women
In her address, Sumita underscored the need for a comprehensive policy that addresses both social security and care work in tandem.
She acknowledged that while government schemes like the E-Shram portal and PM Gati Shakti were steps in the right direction, a more holistic approach was necessary to ensure that women in the unorganized sector were not left behind in India’s growing economy.
The discussions also stressed the importance of gender-sensitive policies that take into account the unique challenges faced by females, particularly those who juggle both work and caregiving responsibilities.
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