(a) Whether the Government propose to evolve a monetary equivalent for domestic chores so that the contribution made by women in their homes is reflected in the Gross Domestic Product of the country;
(b) If so, details thereof; and
(c) If not, reasons therefor?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PLANNING, MINISTER OF STATE
IN THE MINISTRY OF STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION AND
MINISTER OF STATE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATIVE REFORMS AND
PUBLIC GRIEVANCES IN THE MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES
AND PENSIONS.
(SHRI ARUN SHOURIE)
(a): No, Sir.
(b): Does not arise.
(c): The estimates of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) are prepared
following the concepts and principles of the System of
National Accounts (SNA) recommended by the United Nations
Statistical Commission. The SNA does not recommend that
domestic chores whether performed by women or men be
included as economic activity in the production boundary.
The principal reasons are as follows:
(i) production of such services (domestic chores) within
households is a self contained activity with limited
repercussion on the rest of the economy.
(ii) as the services of domestic chores are not produced
for the market, there are typically no prices that can
be satisfactorily used to value such services and the
estimated values would not be equivalent to monetary
values for analytical or policy purpose; and
(iii) if such services by members of households for own
consumption are included as economic activity, all
persons engaged in such activities would become self
employed, making unemployment virtually impossible by
definition.