Missing women

A parliamentary standing panel has asked for a policy for women govt employees to work from home

Nature has reserved the posts of mothers for women. And, whatever the working or living conditions, attrition is generally not reported. But in the case of other roles, women aren't so lucky - either no one wants them or they simply can't survive at workplaces.

This is also true of what would seem to be the most secure job in the country - a central government post. As of 2012, just 10.04 per cent of central government workers were women. In 2001, the figure stood at 7.53 per cent, increasing to 9.68 per cent in 2004.

In a report, a parliamentary standing committee on personnel, grievances, law and order has raised this issue. The report didn't seek reservation for women in government jobs; it sought something more important - the right working conditions for women.

In a section titled "separate working conditions for women", the report says, "The committee believes adopting a policy of flexible timings for women/young mothers helps in ensuring better balance between work and home." It said if this factor, a major contributor to attrition, was adequately addressed, it would help retain experienced and skilled staff, ensure commitment and loyalty and reduce the need to train fresh recruits, aiding productivity and profitability.

The committee, chaired by Shantaram Naik, has recommended the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions explore the possibility of framing a policy on staggered working hours, or work from home, for women employees. This, it said, would so away with stagnation in promotions of women employees, too.

The committee also recommended the ministry ensure a uniform maternity leave of 180 days for all departments and organisations under its control. In addition, a paid child-care leave of 730 days should be granted to women employees in all sectors across the board, it said.

And, when women quit jobs, employers should have an informal exit interaction to ascertain the reason for the resignation. Before such applications are processed, employers should also counsel these employees, the panel said, adding such an approach should be followed by every organisation and the government should issue necessary instructions in this regard. It also sought grievance-redressal mechanisms, besides facilities such as transport, creches, rest rooms, health check-ups and educational and skill-development programmes.

One may ask whether allowing such flexibility to women is worth the effort. Women do not choose their gender and, therefore, the discrimination against them. In its report, the committee said, "The role of Indian women in the job sector is somewhat unique in that while they perform their professional responsibilities, they take care of their domestic roles equally." It adds Article 16 (2) prohibits discrimination on the basis of religion, caste, sex, etc, in respect of any employment under the state.

Ironically, these recommendations come from a committee of 30 members, of which just four are women!