Homemaker too small a word: SC says women running households are nation builders

The Supreme Court said homemakers' domestic work and caregiving must be recognised in accident compensation cases. It said unpaid labour sustains families, shapes future generations and cannot be erased by marriage.

In Short

• Supreme Court says 'homemaker' term understates women's role
• Marriage not a reason for women to sacrifice careers
• Homemakers deserve equal share in family assets

In a significant ruling, the Supreme Court has said that describing women who run households merely as "homemakers" understates their contribution, noting that their role extends far beyond domestic chores to shaping families, nurturing future generations and contributing to nation-building.

A bench led by Justice Sanjay Karol said the domestic work and caregiving services performed by homemakers carry undeniable economic value and play a critical role in raising future generations, strengthening families and contributing to human development.

"Instead of calling her a homemaker, she should be called a nation builder," the court said, underlining that the impact of a woman's work at home reaches well beyond the four walls of a household.

The observations came while the court was laying down principles for calculating compensation in cases involving the accidental death of homemakers.

MARRIAGE DOESN'T MEAN HIRING A MAID

The judgment also carried broader observations on gender roles within marriage. The court clarified that marriage should not be viewed as an arrangement where a woman assumes sole responsibility for household work.

"Marriage does not mean hiring a maid," the bench observed, stressing that domestic responsibilities are shared obligations of both spouses.

The court further said that a woman's aspirations and professional ambitions cannot be sacrificed merely because she is married.

If a woman wishes to pursue a career as a doctor, professional or in any other field while ensuring a stable environment for her children, such choices cannot be construed as cruelty towards her husband or in-laws, it said.

"A woman's identity does not end after marriage," the court added.

RECOGNITION BEYOND THE KITCHEN

The Supreme Court also acknowledged that homemakers make significant personal sacrifices that often go unrecognised.

The bench observed that women who devote their time and energy to running households contribute substantially to family wealth and stability, and their efforts should be appropriately recognised both socially and economically.

It further said that homemakers deserve equal consideration in jointly acquired family assets, given the invaluable contribution they make through years of unpaid labour and caregiving.

HOMEMAKERS' WORK HAS ECONOMIC VALUE

The Supreme Court noted that unpaid domestic labour has long remained invisible in conventional economic calculations despite being essential to the functioning of families and society.

The bench said a homemaker's contribution is not limited to cooking, cleaning or managing household affairs.

She also plays a central role in raising children, nurturing values, supporting family members and shaping the next generation.

Such work, the court observed, contributes directly to human resource development and, by extension, national development.

"The domestic work and caregiving services provided by homemakers have an economic value that cannot be ignored," the court said.

NEW RULE FOR ACCIDENT COMPENSATION

In a major move, the court also issued fresh guidelines for determining compensation in motor accident cases involving homemakers.

It held that compensation should not be restricted to a narrow assessment of financial loss and must also account for the value of domestic care and services lost by the family.

To address this, the court fixed the value of "loss of domestic care" at Rs 30,000 per month.

The bench said this principle would serve as an additional guideline alongside existing standards used by courts while assessing compensation claims.

The court also said that calculations relating to the future contribution of homemakers should be factored into compensation awards, recognising that their role in family welfare and social development continues to grow over time.

QUICKER JUSTICE

Alongside the substantive observations, the Supreme Court directed Chief Justices of all High Courts to monitor motor accident compensation cases to ensure timely disposal.

The court said the "summary procedure" prescribed under Section 169 of the Motor Vehicles Act must be strictly followed so that victims and their families are not forced to endure prolonged legal battles.

Legal experts say the ruling is one of the strongest judicial recognitions of unpaid domestic labour in recent years, reinforcing the idea that household work is productive labour with measurable economic and social value.

For millions of women whose work often goes uncounted and uncompensated, the court's message was clear: the person running a home is not merely a homemaker, but a nation builder.

- Ends