22/02/2026
Empowering Women Through Childcare: The West Bengal FORCES Initiative for Informal Sector Workers
In India, nearly 82–94% of working women are employed in the informal sector—over 150 million women engaged in unorganized, insecure jobs like domestic work, home-based tasks, and street vending, often without social security or workplace protection. The lack of affordable and quality crèche or childcare facilities deeply impacts their livelihoods, forcing many to drop out of work, accept lower-paying roles, or reduce working hours, while their children face risks of malnutrition, developmental delays, and unsafe conditions. To address this, the Forum for Crèches and Child Care Services (FORCES) network advocates for universal access to child care, especially for children of informal workers. During the recent West Bengal FORCES State Consultation held on 19th February 2026 in Kolkata, a collective Charter of Demands was formulated with on Ground participation from diverse groups—Tea Garden Workers, Brick Kiln Workers, Domestic Workers, Agri-Labourers, S*x Workers, NGOs, Trade Unions, and media representatives. This Charter will soon be presented to political parties and candidates ahead of the upcoming state assembly elections, urging them to prioritize childcare as a key issue for women’s empowerment and inclusive development.
SPAN as the Convener of West Bengal Forces spearheading this process in the state.
