Cash transfers for women: Do they challenge gender norms on unpaid care work?

Cash transfers for women: Do they challenge gender norms on unpaid care work?

Author: The Hindu August 26, 2026 Duration: 49:22
Unconditional cash transfers (UCTs) for women have become extremely popular. So far, more than 14 states have done it, benefiting 120 million women. The monthly payouts range from Rs833 to Rs2,500. State governments spend more than Rs2 lakh crore annually on such schemes. But at the same time, at least six such states projected a revenue deficit for 2025-26, pointing to the growing fiscal pressure due to the rapid expansion of women-centric cash transfers. There is a raging debate on whether unconditional cash transfers are crowding out state expenditure on social infrastructure such as public health and education. A new book by Prabha Kotiswaran, titled ‘Wages for Housework: ’s experiment with Unconditional cash transfers for women’ defends such payouts from a feminist perspective, and argues that they are a form of economic, social and political recognition of women’s unpaid domestic and care work. Prabha Kotiswaran is Professor of Law and Social Justice at King’s College, and she joins us today for a discussion on women-centric UCTs. Host: G Sampath, Social Affairs Editor Producer: Shiksha Jural Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Each week, the journalists at In Focus by The Hindu select one pressing story from the news cycle and slow it down. Rather than a rapid headline, you’ll hear a thoughtful conversation that unpacks the layers behind an event-the historical precedents, the economic forces, the political nuances, and the human impact. This podcast relies on conversations with reporters who have been on the ground and specialists who have spent years, sometimes decades, studying a particular issue. The result is a clearer, more substantive understanding of what’s happening in India and around the world. You might explore the roots of a regional conflict one episode, and dive into the complexities of a new environmental policy the next. It’s designed for anyone who feels that the daily news skim leaves too many questions unanswered. Tune in for a consistent, deep-dive format that prioritizes context over instant reaction, making sense of the week’s most significant developments through careful analysis and expert insight.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

In Focus by The Hindu
Podcast Episodes
Article 370 abrogation: Seven years on, what has changed in Kashmir? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:10
Exactly seven years ago on August 5th, 2019, the Union government abrogated Article 370, and subsequently, Jammu & Kashmir became a Union Territory, ruled directly from New Delhi. Legislative assembly elections were held…
Is India's consumption story powering growth or hiding risks? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:20
What is the driving force of any economy? It is you and me! It’s the money we work so hard to earn and have fun spending. In fact, private consumption accounts for nearly 61.5% of India's GDP. Last year alone, consumer s…
Maharashtra Farm Bill: Does it really empower women farmers? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:16
Maharashtra has become the first state in India to bring about a legislation for the empowerment of women farmers. The Maharashtra Women Farmers Empowerment Bill, 2026, has been passed by both the Houses. It gives a broa…
Why did Houthis join war? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:18
Why did the Houthis enter the conflict now? This video explains the group's motivations, its ties with Iran, why it resumed attacks on Saudi Arabia and Red Sea shipping, and how the escalation could reshape the Yemen war…
VB GRAM G vs MNREGA: Which burdens States more? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:38
The Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (or VB-G RAM G) has replaced the 21-year-old Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (or MGNREGA). The VB-G RAM G Act provides a statuto…