Lata. G., a resident of Bengaluru, has long been the primary provider for her family, raising two teenage children while her husband faced employment challenges.

“Food, clothing, shelter, education – I take care of everything,” she says.

Lata works as a tailor from her home in the Vyalikaval neighborhood, supplementing her income by assisting other tailors with tasks like stitching buttons and embroidery.

She earns an average of 7,000 Indian rupees (US$83) per month after working more than 12 hours daily. Though, in August 2023, her income increased by 30% due to a 2,000 rupee (US$23) monthly payment from the Karnataka government. This cash transfer program was a campaign promise by the Congress Party, offering a basic income to women with annual family incomes below 120,000 rupees (US$1,424). Lata qualified for the program.

This initiative is one of many similar cash transfer programs across various Indian states, frequently enough named after Lakshmi, the hindu goddess of wealth, or using affectionate terms like “my dear sister.”

While some community workers believe these programs boost women’s confidence, others express concern that the government may view the cash transfers as a form of patronage.

Paternalism vs. Empowerment

“The attitude of the government is paternalistic,” says rajeshwari Deshpande, a professor at Savitribai Phule University who studies women’s voting patterns in India. “The government might potentially be generous today but may take it away tomorrow.”

“When I walk out of the house with my own money, I feel confident,”

following India’s independence in 1947, the nation adopted universal adult franchise, granting all adult citizens, including women, the right to vote. However, patriarchal norms initially hindered women’s participation in elections, and their votes were often influenced by male family members.

by 2019, after decades of advocacy by feminist organizations and grassroots movements, female voter turnout surpassed male voter turnout, with both nearing 70%.

“Political parties have realized that women are a huge voting bloc and are therefore introducing programs catering to them specifically,” says Sunaina Kumar, a researcher of female voter turnout.

In recent years, political parties have increasingly focused on programs designed to attract women voters. In the 2023 Karnataka Assembly elections, the Congress Party pledged free bus rides for all women residents, in addition to the cash transfers. Similarly, the Janata dal United government in Bihar implemented an alcohol ban in 2015 after women protested for it.

Despite increased female voter turnout, Kumar notes that women remain underrepresented in politics. Only 75 of the 542 seats in the lower house of the Indian Parliament are held by women. This disparity means that policies intended for women are frequently enough not created by women themselves, according to Deshpande.

“But when it comes to treating women as mere beneficiaries,” she says, “no party is left behind.”

Financial Independence and Confidence

Anjali Suresh, 31, a stay-at-home mother of two, says the 2,000 rupees she receives has provided her with a newfound sense of financial independence.

“For every small thing like a sanitary pad, I would have had to ask my husband for money earlier,” she says.

Now, she is able to save a small amount for the future.

“I am grateful I have a good husband and the government is depositing money in my account,” Suresh says. “What would I do otherwise?”

However, she hopes to ensure that her daughters never have to rely on their husbands or the government for financial support.

Lata shares this sentiment.

“When I walk out of the house with my own money, I feel confident,” she says.There is, she says, a strange sense of identity.

Lata is aware that the cash transfers may not be permanent. Like Suresh, she is saving as much as possible and encouraging her daughter to prioritize her education.

“Nothing,” she says, “gives us as much stability as a good job.”