Analyze how the problems faced by migrant workers in India are exacerbated by the interaction between social and economic alienation.
Model Answer India, a pronatalist society, has historically regarded parenthood as a societal expectation. However, data from the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) reveals that childlessness among Indian women increased from 7% in 2015 to 12% in 2021. This shift reflects evolving priorities, econRead more
Model Answer
India, a pronatalist society, has historically regarded parenthood as a societal expectation. However, data from the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) reveals that childlessness among Indian women increased from 7% in 2015 to 12% in 2021. This shift reflects evolving priorities, economic challenges, and societal changes.
1. Economic Factors
The cost of raising children is a significant deterrent. Rising inflation has increased household expenditures by over 20% between 2017 and 2022 For many dual-income couples, financial stability takes precedence, leading to the growing popularity of “DINK” (Double Income, No Kids) couples.
2. Career Aspirations
Career growth, particularly for women, plays a crucial role. According to Ashoka University research, nearly 48% of women drop out of the workforce within four months of returning from maternity leave. Many couples, therefore, delay or avoid parenthood to maintain professional momentum and financial independence.
3. Personal Freedom
The desire for autonomy and a flexible lifestyle is increasingly prioritized. Couples seek the freedom to pursue hobbies, travel, and spontaneous decisions without the constraints of parenting.
4. Environmental Concerns
Overpopulation and ecological degradation are motivating couples to adopt child-free lifestyles to reduce their carbon footprint. Groups like Childfree India, an anti-natalist movement based in Bengaluru, are gaining traction, reflecting a philosophical stance against procreation.
5. Changing Social Attitudes
The shift from being “childless” to “childfree” underscores a growing emphasis on personal choice over societal expectations. Couples are asserting that marriage and children are not obligatory but voluntary life decisions aligned with their values.
Conclusion
While deeply personal, the increasing trend of childlessness reflects broader societal and economic transformations. Addressing challenges like career impacts, high costs, and environmental concerns through state and industry collaboration can foster a supportive ecosystem for diverse family choices.
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The Covid-19 lockdown has led to an exodus of migrant workers from cities to rural areas and threw the spotlight on the vast number of Indians who live outside their home states. The global pandemic has become the immediate reason for the abrupt palpability of the migrant workers’ deplorable conditiRead more
The Covid-19 lockdown has led to an exodus of migrant workers from cities to rural areas and threw the spotlight on the vast number of Indians who live outside their home states. The global pandemic has become the immediate reason for the abrupt palpability of the migrant workers’ deplorable condition on the national scene. However, the vital reason behind their plight is deeply entrenched not just in the structure of India’s economic system but it is the interplay between social and economic alienation that expounds the issues of migrant workers in India.
The Interplay Between Social And Economic Alienation Expounds The Issues Of Migrant Workers In India
Suggestive Solutions For The Issues Of Migrant Workers In India
The migrant conundrum is thus a culmination of prolonged structural denial of basic economic rights by neo-liberal state machinery in concurrent with the social and moral apathy towards the marginalized sections who constitute the majority of the migrant workers in India. They are dispossessed by both the state and society. The mere transportation facilities to their homes or mere labour reforms are not an all-time panacea for their problems. The change in the discriminatory social behaviour and public attitude towards workers, the inclusion of affirmative policies and a transformation in the nature of state from a neoliberal establishment to a more welfare entity can advance an egalitarian social and economic realm in which rights, dignity and respect of the workers from socially marginalized sections are assured and protected.
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