Childcare key to sustaining India's women workforce participation

In India, many women do not work outside the home because they have to take care of their children.

A big government survey for 2025 found that only 40 out of every 100 women aged 15 and above are working.

The same survey says that about 44 out of every 100 women who are not working say the main reason is looking after children or doing home duties.

The government already has a law that says workplaces with 50 or more workers must provide a crèche, which is a place where children can be looked after.

The law also lets mothers visit the crèche four times a day.

Childcare experts say that good crèches make it easier for mothers to get back to work.

Helpers and organisations are working to make childcare better and easier to find.

The state of Odisha has a plan called KALIKA that wants to set up care centres for children from six months to six years old.

These centres could be near offices, factories, markets and other places where women work.

When safe childcare is available, women get more chances to work, earn money and make their own choices.