08 Mar Women’s day: The hidden half
Himanshi Dhawan
They are the invisible driving force behind the India Shining story. Behind tall buildings, highways, swank city roads and government programmes, they sweat their way on. Yet, the 43.3 core workers in unorganized sector — of which women make up an overwhelming 95.9% — are the nowhere people, marginalized even in State policy.
The government, as the largest employer, has on its rolls the services of 41.39 lakh women who are supposed to receive an average of Rs 100 per day. These include anganwadi workers, mid-day meal workers and accredited social health activists (ASHAs) who prepare mid-day meals, assist with inoculations and vaccinations, child birth, awareness and capacity building of women and adolescent girls and early child education. In short, they’re the hands and feet of the social sector.