BACKGROUND MATTERS

Designer Esha Hindocha says, “It depends upon men’s upbringing. It’s not just about the ‘ babychores’, but in general should not they shoulder daily work too? Men have always been taught that ‘ household jobs, bringing up babies’ are “women’s jobs”. In fact, if some men do show up on the wives’ call, they are mocked by terming them as “joru ka ghulam”. A house and a baby are joint responsibilities of a couple. But times are changing, especially in the urban areas. Men and women realise that taking care of children is a tough job. Also, literacy plays a major role. In the rural areas, if a man helps his wife; his mother and brother often mock him. But in cities, it’s different. I actually agree with her quote. Paternity leaves would be allowed only in companies and cities where the rural crowd doesn’t work.”

that the whole system is geared towards men staying in the office. Take the case of the senior government officer who was denied a half- day’s leave when his son reached out to him on the brink of a suicide. The attitude of officialdom is that the man should be in the office and the wife/ grandparents will take of home and family matters. Why doesn’t Maneka Gandhi put the cart before the horse and see if it makes a difference, instead of waiting to see enough numbers till they take a decision. Our leaders have stopped being visionaries and can only respond in knee- jerk reactions,” says Piyush Jha, film director, screenwriter and novelist.

Men in India do not utilise their existing leaves in order to take care of their child