50 jobs, 30 years: The unseen labour of an Indian female worker

50 jobs, 30 years: The unseen labour of an Indian female worker A new book shines the spotlight on the invisible lives of India’s female home-based workers. In India, the home is often seen as a place of comfort and security. It is where families come together, where meals are prepared, and where memories are made. But for millions of female workers in India, the home is also a place of labor, where they toil day in and day out, often without recognition or fair compensation. A recent book titled "50 Jobs, 30 Years" by author Debdatta Saha seeks to bring attention to the unseen labor of India's female home-based workers. Through interviews and personal stories, Saha sheds light on the reality of these women's lives and the challenges they face. The book highlights the vast range of jobs that these women take on within the confines of their homes. From stitching clothes to rolling beedis (hand-rolled cigarettes), from preparing pickles to assembling electronic goods, the list of tasks these women perform is endless. Many of these jobs are low-paying and physically demanding, requiring long hours of repetitive work. One of the key issues discussed in the book is the lack of recognition and value placed on the work done by these women. Often dismissed as "just housewives," their labor is often underappreciated and undervalued. This leads to a cycle of exploitation, as they are paid extremely low wages or not paid at all for their