Rukmini S explores the key findings from the first ‘Time Use’ Survey conducted by the government. The survey, a first by the government in 20 years, shows the strong role of gender in determining how people spend their time. According to the survey, just 6% of men participate in cooking in any manner, and just 8% do any house cleaning.
Women spend 84% of their working hours on unpaid activities, while men spend 80% of their working hours on paid work.
Upper caste men and women have the most time for self-care and maintenance activities, including sleep, while Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe men and women have the least time among social groups.
Key highlights of the survey:
- The poorest Indians spend the least time on paid work, and the richest Indians have the least time for sleep.
- Upper castes spend the most time on religious practice, have the most time to watch television and use other media, and have the most leisure time
- In Telangana and Tamil Nadu, women spend over 30% of their working hours on paid work, while in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh fewer than 10% of women’s working hours result in any pay.
- Men aged 15-59 in Haryana do the least housework – just 15 minutes in a day.
Read the full article here: Your caste and class determines how you spend time
The PSW Weblog 