You know, what I see most often around me. I see very well-qualified women, who once had flourishing careers all giving them up for the sake of raising children. Most times, it is not a voluntary choice but forced by circumstances. With the cruel working hours of Indian corporates and no help at home to look after a young baby, a mother more often than not quits working and takes a break. After a break of more than 2 or 3 years, your career goes downhill. Why does it feel like the choice is between having a career or having children? Why can’t a woman have both? And, why is the nation losing out on such a huge resource of capable, smart women unable to contribute?
I really feel that it is required for more Corporates to be sensitized to the needs of working mothers. Allow sabbaticals, be a little generous with leaves in the initial years of the child, have a creche as well as a day-care center for older kids at work, allow flexible timings and work-from-home options for some days in a week. Among these having a creche and another center for older kids could really help a lot. Why don’t all companies do that? It is way better to carry your child to your workplace than leave him with a nanny at home unsupervised or at some random day-care center. You can come see your baby two or three times in a day at your workplace, you are more relaxed and feel less guilty about leaving a small baby away from you. I remember that in my dad’s office (he worked in the Indian Civil Services with the Income Tax Department), they had a very nice creche even some 20 years back. My own mother-in-law was working and could raise her kids and keep a job because her public sector enterprise had a creche in those days. If the government can offer it then why is it so difficult for our private sector to provide this very basic of needs to their women workforce?
I think we need a culture of sensitivity in the way we work. Corporates and people need to realize that we are real human beings with feelings and responsibilities away from work. Corporates especially must be more fine-tuned to this aspect. Our families and quality of life do not need to suffer for the fact that we want to hold careers. If only, Corporates would be more aware and responsible!
Rachna says 
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