<
https://reasonstobecheerful.world/india-childcare-centers-informal-workers/>
"Sonal Bhen was working in a factory that makes Agarbatti (incense sticks), in
Saijpur, Ahmedabad, in the western part of India. Her long hours made it
difficult for her to take care of her young children.
Like many women from low-income households in India, Bhen needed to continue
working to provide for her family, but lacked a support system to help her do
so. Such women are typically forced to take their children along with them to
their workplaces, where the children can be exposed to hazardous conditions,
and the older siblings often have to look after the younger children,
disrupting their education.
Bhen became a member of the Self Employed Women’s Association (SEWA) after
hearing about it from a co-worker. Founded in 1972, SEWA is the largest central
trade union in India. Its members include about 2.5 million poor women workers
from the informal sector spread throughout 18 states in Ahmedabad, India. (The
informal sector, which is neither taxed or regulated by any form of government,
accounts for a sizable share of the economies of emerging countries. Street
hawkers, vendors, construction workers and workers in small industries all fall
under this category.)
Bhen was able to enroll her youngest kid in a local childcare center run by
SEWA and finish her work knowing that he was being cared for and prepared for
school. This also meant that her elder children would be able to attend school.
“Because of proper childcare, our children received a solid foundation, went to
school and now are attending college,” she says.
A lack of childcare facilities is one of the most significant impediments to
gender equality in job markets. According to UN Women, less than one percent of
women living in poverty in 31 countries in the Global South have access to
childcare services."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
