It was reported in September 2020 that the National Sample Survey (NSS), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation conducted a first-of-its-kind survey, ‘Time Use in India 2019,’ between January 2019 and December 2019 with an objective to measure participation of men and women in paid and unpaid activities as well as measure the time dispositions on different activities. In this activity, about 1.39 lakh households comprising 4.47 lakh persons over the age of six were enumerated across the country.
The survey shows that only 38.2 per cent of the population participates in ‘employment and other related activities’, spending 429 minutes (7 hours and 9 minutes) each day on an average. However, there is a wide gender disparity, with only 18.4 per cent women participating in employment activities compared with 57.3 per cent men; also, while men spend on an average 459 minutes (7 hours and 39 minutes), women spend only 333 minutes (5 hours and 33 minutes).
As per the report, women’s participation in unpaid domestic services for household members, such as cooking, cleaning, and household management, etc. is as high as 81.2 per cent each day compared with 26.1 per cent for men. Women spend 299 minutes (almost 5 hours) in household activities, thrice as much as men (97 minutes or 1 hour 37 minutes).
As for care-giving activities, there is a big difference. On the one hand, only 14 per cent of men participate in unpaid care-giving services for household members, spending on an average 76 minutes a day (1 hour and 16 minutes). On the other hand, 27.6 per cent of women participate in care-giving activities, spending more than two hours (2 hours 14 minutes).
Another important revelation by the survey is that Indians do not like to be unpaid volunteers or trainees or to take part in community or organisation-based unpaid voluntary activities. The rate of such persons is only 2.4 per cent, who spend around 101 minutes a day.
But most of the Indians participate in socialising and communication through chatting, conversing, community participation by taking part in gatherings and religious participation, which is as high as almost 91.3 per cent, who spend on an average around 143 minutes each day. Besides, participation in culture, leisure, mass-media, and sports practices through reading or watching television is also high with 86.9 per cent, who spend on an average 165 minutes per day.