Subarna Ghosh’s Petition Urges PM Modi To Tell Indian Men To Do Equal Share Of Household Chores

Subarna Ghosh, a Mumbai woman has filed a petition on Change.org urging Prime Minister Modi to address the issue of equality in sharing of household chores in his next speech. The petition is titled “PM Modi: Tell Indian men to do equal share of household chores in your next speech.” Ghosh's petition has garnered nearly 70,000 signatures.

Ghosh runs a charity which works on reproductive justice. She stated that the expectation that she would compromise on work during the lockdown was much higher in contrast to her banker husband. The distribution of domestic labour in India is still highly gendered. Furthermore, the COVID-19 pandemic-induced lockdown has exposed the wide chasm of disparity in the sharing of housework.

"Does the handle of a jhadu come printed with the words: 'to be operated by women only? What about the manual of the washing machine or gas stove? Then why is it that most men are not doing their share of housework,” Subarna’s petition asks.

What You Should Know

• Subarna Ghosh, a Mumbai woman has filed a petition on Change.org urging Prime Minister Modi to address the issue of equality in sharing of household chores in his next speech.
• Ghosh runs a charity which works on reproductive justice. She stated that the expectation that she would compromise on work during the lockdown was much higher in contrast to her banker husband.
• “Why is it that most men are not doing their share of housework,” Subarna’s petition asks.

Also Read: Not All Men Contribute To Household Chores, So Stop The Glorification

According to an International Labour Organisation report, in 2018 women in urban India devoted 312 minutes to unpaid care work. Men performed 29 minutes of such tasks. In villages, it was 291 minutes for women in contrast to 32 minutes for men.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has also stated that men should assist women in household chores. Subarna’s petition to the PM stemmed from the desire to change the mindset of people. She wishes to teach the younger generations to be responsible regardless of gender.

“I feel teaching kids to clean their surroundings and do their own basic works would help them become responsible citizens as they grow up,” Ghosh told the Deccan Chronicle.

Also Read: It Is 2020, So What Is Keeping Men From Doing Household Chores

Ria Chakraborty is an intern with SheThePeople.TV