National Sample Survey Organization (NSSO) recently published a very interesting report. The report highlights how an average Indian uses his time. Based on a survey conducted between January and December 2019, the report describes how Indian household uses their time especially on unpaid caregiving activities, volunteer work, unpaid domestic service producing activities of the household members, learning, socializing, leisure activities, self-care activities, etc.
The key finding of the survey (conducted for persons aged 6yrs
and above) could be listed as follows:
Engagement of people in various activities
·
The percentage of women engaged in employment
and related activities is very low (18.4%) as compared to male (57.3%). The
percentage of rural women in employment is higher (19.2%) than the urban women
(16.7%).
·
More rural women (25%) produce goods for own use
than the urban women (8.3%).
·
About 81% women provide unpaid domestic services
for household members. This ratio is almost similar for rural (82.1%) and urban
(79.2%) women.
·
The culture of volunteering for social work is
very poor in the country. Only 2.4% people were found to be engaged in unpaid
volunteer, trainee and other unpaid work. The rtio is very similar for rural
and urban population; and also for male and female members.
·
Only 21.9% of people are found to be engaged in
any learning activity. This is worrisome for a young country who aspires to be
technology leader of the world.
·
Over 91% people engage in socializing, community
participation and religious practices. About 87% people engage in cultural
activities, leisure, mass media and sports activities. The proportion of people
engaged in these activities is similar in rural and urban areas; and also for
male and female members. This explains the poor productivity, massive disguised
unemployment & underemployment. It must be a cause of worry for the policy
makers; but a strong indications for the corporate planner trying to sell goods
and services to these people.
Time spent on various activities
·
On average Indian household spend 11.4% of their
time on employment and related activities. For male this ratio is 18.3% while
for female it is just 4.2%.
·
About 9% of time is spent on unpaid domestic
services. Male members spend just 1.7% of their time on unpaid domestic
services, while for women this ratio is 16.9%.
·
A miniscule 0.1% of time is spent on volunteer
work.
·
Indian household in rural and urban areas spend
less than 7% of their time on learning; while almost 19% time is spent on
socializing, leisure, mass media and religious practices etc.
·
Over 50% time is spent on “self-care and
maintenance” activities. For a lower income country like India this sounds
rather ostentatious.
