Indian woman who worked in Australia with a salary of 1.33 crore rupees advises considering expenses

According to a study conducted by the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (Icrier), the number of women in the labor force in India has almost doubled between 2017–18 and 2025. However, this growth is concentrated in unprotected employment sectors, accompanied by a reduction in working hours and an expansion of the wage gap.

The study, titled 'Participation Paradox: Women's Work and Time Use in India from 2017–18 to 2025,' found that women have taken up more paid work, while their unpaid domestic responsibilities have not decreased. This has resulted in them having less time for rest and self-care.

The authors, including Tanu M Goyal, Shravani Prakash, Ketaki Gaikwad, and Arjuna Tandon, based on data from the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), reported that the number of working women increased from 104 million in 2017–18 to 201 million in 2025. Meanwhile, the ratio of female workers rose from 22 percent to 38 percent. It should be noted that the figures for 2025 are based on a revised PLFS with an increased sample size and calendar period, and the authors caution about the need for caution when comparing with 2017–18 data.

The increase in employment was concentrated in rural India and the agricultural sector. The female worker ratio in rural areas increased from 23.7 percent to 44.9 percent, while in urban areas it grew from 18.2 percent to 25.9 percent. The share of men in the primary sector of rural areas decreased from 54.1 percent to 47.2 percent, while the share of women in rural areas increased from 70.7 percent to 73.3 percent. The study noted: 'Structural transformation is visible for men, but it has largely bypassed women in the country.'

Regular wage employment could not keep pace with the growth rate. Among rural women, self-employed workers increased from 13.9 million to 56 million, raising their share in rural female employment from 18.6 percent to 37.2 percent. Meanwhile, regular wage employment increased from 7.9 million to 13.9 million, but its share decreased from 10.5 percent to 9.3 percent. The authors concluded that 'the additional women entering the workforce primarily came through self-employment and unpaid family labor, which are the most unstable and least paid categories.'

The authors suggest that such a sharp rise in rural India is harder to interpret as a reaction to improved opportunities; rather, it indicates that rural women are 'drawn in out of necessity, whether in agricultural activities or home-related enterprises.' The report also mentions an alternative view presented by the Economic Survey for 2023–24 and some researchers, according to which the growth was driven by opportunities.

Average weekly hours decreased for all groups between 2017–18 and 2025, but the working week for rural women decreased the most—by more than six hours. The study notes: 'The increase in participation along with the reduction in hours per worker implies an expansion of the workforce towards increasingly marginal, low-intensity activities.'

The wage gap also widened. The nominal monthly wage of rural men increased by approximately 65 percent over the specified period, while for rural women, this growth was 41 percent. In 2025, rural women earned about 45 percent of the monthly salary of rural men, compared to 53 percent previously. In nominal terms, the monthly gap in rural areas almost doubled, increasing from approximately 4200 rupees to over 8000 rupees.

Unpaid labor of women remained virtually unchanged. Time use surveys for 2019 and 2024 show that the difference in unpaid domestic labor remained generally constant—about 223 minutes per day among participants in 2024, and the difference in caregiving increased from 58 to 63 minutes. In 2024, working women also had less time for self-care than women overall: 18 minutes less in rural areas and 31 minutes less in urban areas, while working men had slightly more time than men overall.

Six out of ten women not in the labor force cited childcare and household obligations as the main reason, whereas men had almost no such reasons. The authors call for a shift from maximizing participation to ensuring structural transformation. They recommend implementing more childcare services, enforcing kindergarten rules, introducing paid paternity leave and shared parental leave, setting employment targets for women in production-related incentive schemes, as well as social protection for women working in the gig economy, and conducting regular time use surveys alongside PLFS.

After losing their jobs in the corporate sector in 2024, Samrat Ulhas Dambe and his wife Varshali Samrat Dambe faced an uncertain future. Both had previously worked in the corporate environment, following a routine schedule. They were both laid off around June of that year, leaving them with several months without a clear plan.

During this period, they began contemplating a long-held dream: to travel across the borders of India by motorcycle. This idea had been with Samrat since he was 12 years old, when he drew the outline of India and imagined riding along its borders. Over time, it became a shared dream for the couple. They had been traveling together since 2018 and acquired a Benelli TRK motorcycle in 2022, hoping for longer adventures.

Deciding to undertake the trip, which they named 'Art India Ride,' they set off on September 19, 2024, from their home in Mhaprale, a village in the Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra state, approximately 150 kilometers from Mumbai. They planned to spend the next 80 days covering a distance of 16,428 kilometers, traversing 22 states and four union territories, passing through deserts, mountain passes, remote border settlements, and unfamiliar roads.

They returned home on December 8, 2024, completing a journey that initially seemed unattainable. In January 2025, their achievement was recognized by the Indian Record Book as an IBR Achiever 2025. However, the record was only part of the story; along the way, the couple faced freezing temperatures, a limited budget, and moments of doubt about whether to continue.

When the time finally felt right

Before the trip, Samrat worked as a digital marketing expert in a multinational company, while Varshali held the position of Digital Marketing Manager at a digital agency. Their lives revolved around work and standard plans for the future. The layoffs in June 2024 brought them uncertainty, but also something they hadn't had before—time.

The man told The Better India: 'Suddenly we had three to four months, and we didn't know what to do next.' He noted that it was an uncertain phase that they began to view as an opportunity to realize a long-held desire.

Samrat's dream of traveling across India's borders never faded. The couple had been traveling together for many years, and the idea of exploring the far corners of the country seemed like a natural next step. By August, they decided to set off, even though their savings were insufficient to guarantee completion of the entire route. Initially, they thought they could only cover half of India, but they did not want to postpone the dream until their financial situation improved.

Varshali added: 'If we waited for the perfect financial moment, we knew life would intervene, and the dream might fade. We decided to start and see how far our resources would take us.' Changes occurred before departure: they initially planned to head south, but heavy rains in South India forced them to change their route. Eight days before the start, they decided to begin in Gujarat and travel clockwise around the country.

Five bags and a stretching budget

The couple understood that completing the journey would require careful spending. The average fuel consumption of their Benelli TRK motorcycle was about 20 km per liter, making fuel a significant expense. They set a daily limit of 3,500 rupees for fuel, food, and accommodation, and tried to keep accommodation costs between 1,000 and 1,500 rupees per night.

They ate at small local eateries and maintained a simple lifestyle during stops. The couple did not have a detailed day-by-day itinerary; instead, they usually decided on the next destination and route only one or two days in advance. Varshali explained that they aimed to maintain flexibility, as weather, road conditions, and accommodation circumstances could change their plans at any moment.

Packing also became an exercise in deciding what could be left behind. Over 80 days, all their belongings fit into five bags. Each had a side pouch for clothing and personal items. The top compartment carried a laptop, cameras, electronic equipment, and a basic tool kit. The trunk held phones, documents, and essentials, while an extra bag contained winter clothes and raincoats. Samrat noted that traveling with such minimal belongings taught them that they didn't need as much as they thought.

Finances were always part of the calculations. Fuel, food, lodging, and motorcycle maintenance had to fit within their means. They also agreed that if their savings dropped to 40,000 rupees, they would return home and start looking for work. This contingency meant that every stretch of road was accompanied by the question: could they continue? Would the weather help? Where would they sleep tonight?

The road tested them before rewarding them

Their route passed through Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Rajasthan, then Haryana and Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, and Himachal Pradesh. They continued through Chandigarh, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar, before reaching West Bengal and Sikkim. From there, they traveled through Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, and Meghalaya, and then along the eastern coast through Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Puducherry. After reaching Kanyakumari, they turned back north through Kerala, Karnataka, and Goa, concluding their journey in Maharashtra.

The first few days were harder than they expected. Near Santalpur, on the border of Gujarat and Rajasthan, they crossed a long isolated stretch without seeing a soul. A storm approached, the power went out, and the area started to feel unfamiliar. The only hotel they could find was surrounded by parked trucks, and only truck drivers stayed there.

Samrat began to feel anxious and wondered if they should turn back. Varshali urged him to continue. It was a difficult moment not because the couple suddenly stopped believing in their dream, but because they realized what it meant to pursue it without knowing what lay ahead.

Ladakh presented another set of challenges. They arrived in the high-altitude region in October, as the tourist season was winding down, and many hotels were closed. Near Pangong Lake, the temperature dropped to minus 12 degrees Celsius. They had never traveled to Ladakh before and did not fully anticipate how harsh the conditions could be. Poor network coverage, difficult roads, and the remoteness of some sections increased their anxiety. They also worried about potential motorcycle tire punctures in areas where help might be hard to reach.

In Upshi, the cold became particularly severe for Varshali, who was shivering. Eventually, a local Maharashtrian helped them find a room with a heater. This experience taught them to adapt quickly, care for each other, and accept help when needed. There were no guarantees that the next day would be easier, but they learned to handle one problem at a time.

Strangers who made them feel at home

For the couple, the most memorable moments of the journey were related to the people they met, rather than the places they saw. In Punjab, a family welcomed them into their home and insisted they stay as guests. In Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh, a woman from Maharashtra living there offered them prayers and blessings for the journey ahead, greeting them with a traditional Tibetan white shawl.

In Bhulukpong, they met an elderly couple running a cafe. The two travelers formed a warm bond with the uncle, who treated Samrat with affection he might show to his own son. When the couple returned to see him on their way back, he was upset when they prepared to leave.

Thousands of kilometers from home, they found people willing to give up their place, share what they had, and offer support without expecting anything in return. Their journey also gave them a deeper insight into life in remote border areas and the work of the Indian Army and Border Security Force. They left with a deeper understanding of people living in difficult conditions and those who serve in them.

The man explained: 'Before the trip, India was a map of different states, languages, foods, and cultures. After covering 16,428 kilometers, it felt like one big, caring family. The warmth we received from people remained largely the same, no matter where we went.'

One encounter in North Bengal showed how far the journey can extend beyond the participants themselves. Traveling from Sikkim to Jaigaon in West Bengal, the couple stopped at a small shop for breakfast. A group of people arrived by car and noticed the Maharashtra registration plate on their motorcycle. Curious about how far they had traveled, they invited the couple to sit with them and talk. The conversation lasted almost two hours.

One of the men, Arun Sarkar, a corporate worker from Kolkata, explained the reason for his numerous questions. 'It used to be my dream. I moved to the USA, worked hard, and bought a luxury BMW because I wanted to travel. My wife and I wanted to live a life on the road like you. But somehow life intervened, and we got stuck,' he said. He had traveled across the United States but had never experienced his own country like the couple had. 'You are living my dream, brother. Thanks to your journey, I feel like I am traveling too,' he told them.

These words touched Samrat and Varshali. Their trip started as a personal aspiration, but here was someone who connected with it because it represented a life he once envisioned. Sarkar and his wife invited the couple to their home. His wife cooked a vegetarian feast, although she hadn't cooked vegetarian food before, and they invited friends to hear about the journey. The couple was also provided with a room for the night.

For the traveling friends, this connection served as a reminder that a journey can mean something to people who never rode the same road.

What the road taught them

Kaushal Sethia, a 26-year-old software engineer from Surat, met the couple in Naggar, Himachal Pradesh, where they were neighbors in a guesthouse. They spent almost a month together and became close friends. When the duo began their border expedition, Sethia and his family followed their progress and regularly asked for updates.

He was impressed not only by the distance covered. 'The way they support each other makes the journey special. It tests you physically, mentally, and emotionally. The hardest part of the journey is the beginning, and they didn't just start it. They completed it despite all the problems,' he said.

The 80 days also tested the couple's relationship. Sharing a motorcycle, limited belongings, and constant uncertainty required joint decision-making, managing fatigue, and adapting to changing conditions. They learned to recognize when one of them needed support, rest, or a little personal space. For Samrat, riding also...