Women’s work, never done, now paid: Assessing Tamil Nadu’s Urimai Thogai scheme

• Offers an analysis of Tamil Nadu’s unconditional cash transfer scheme for women, Kalaignar Mahalir Urimai Thogai. • Uses qualitative research to show women’s understandings of and access to KMUT and control over and use of KMUT monies. • KMUT does not reinforce the gendered division of labour or reduce investments in women’s education or paid employment. • Women’s access to cash can reconfigure the marital relationship bringing respect and dignity to women. • With messaging, decent work and care infrastructure, KMUT can change the gendered division of labour and the women’s relationship with the state. Since 2021, a radical new social experiment is underway in India. Political parties across the ideological spectrum have rolled out unconditional cash transfers targeting nearly 90 million women ostensibly for female empowerment but with an eye on electoral success. This article seeks to understand one such scheme in the state of Tamil Nadu, namely, the Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thogai scheme rolled out in 2023. This scheme promises women satisfying certain criteria an unconditional cash transfer of Rs. 1000 per month in recognition of their unpaid domestic and care work. There has been a robust debate amongst feminists and scholars of the welfare state alike on whether such schemes operationalised through direct bank transfers are truly empowering. A preliminary qualitative study of the scheme shows that the transfer did not disincentivise women from pursuing education or entering paid employment. While women could not readily associate the scheme with a recognition of their unpaid work, they felt being seen by the state and were in turn appreciative of what they perceived as the state’s role in furthering gender equality. They also demonstrated a keen awareness of the gendered division of labour and a desire to change it. The scheme contributed to their financial well-being, dignity and peace of mind where they often relied on men for even small amounts of money. With adequate messaging on the value of women’s unpaid work and the creation of jobs that women desire, the scheme has the potential to not only realise the goals of SDG 5.4 (recognise, reduce and redistribute women’s unpaid domestic and care work) but also to reconfigure the marital bargain and the social contract between women and the state.