Recognising reproductive labour: maternity entitlements

Dand, Sejal and Hardikar, Neeta (2026) Recognising reproductive labour: maternity entitlements. In: Realising right: a handbook of welfare in India. UNSPECIFIED, Bengaluru, pp. 74-94.

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Abstract

Article 42 of the Constitution states ‘the State shall make provision for securing just and humane conditions of work and for maternity relief’. Over the years, in fulfilment of this directive, India’s maternity protection regime has taken many steps starting with the Maternity Benefit Act of 1961. While important, it failed to fully realise the goal of maternity protection within the domain of universal citizenship and labour rights as it only applied to a subset of women engaged in formal employment. It was the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013, that finally marked a vital shift by guaranteeing a universal cash transfer of ₹6000 to every pregnant woman as partial compensation for wage loss during pregnancy. However, the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) (notified under NFSA) diluted this recognition of women’s reproductive labour by marring it with conditionalities and digital barriers.

Item Type:	Book Section
Authors:	Dand, Sejal and Hardikar, Neeta
Document Language:	Language English
Subjects:	Social sciences > Economics > Labor economics Social sciences > Law > Laws, regulations & cases Social sciences > Public administration
Divisions:	Azim Premji University - Bengaluru > University Publications > Centre for the Study of the Indian Economy (CSIE)
Full Text Status:	Public
URI:	http://publications.azimpremjiuniversity.edu.in/id/eprint/7631
Publisher URL:	https://azimpremjiuniversity.edu.in/

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