Vidya Lead Academy

At Vidya Lead Academy, we believe caregiving is more than a duty or an invisible responsibility—it is the foundation of family well-being and a cornerstone of social development. Yet, society continues to debate whether caregiving is a matter of virtue and joy or merely an economic activity contributing to GDP. There is a big difference between cooking for one’s family out of love and cooking in a commercial kitchen for pay. Similarly, caring for a sick parent, child, or partner at home carries a personal connection that no commercial service can replace. However, when this role is undervalued and unpaid, it often leads to what experts call “ time poverty ,” especially among women. The Unpaid vs. Paid Care Work Dilemma In India, women spend an average of 137 minutes a day on unpaid caregiving, compared to just 75 minutes for men ( MoSPI Time Use Survey 2024 ). This disproportionate burden not only affects women’s mental and physical health but also keeps them away from formal e...

Khadi is not just a fabric — it is a fabric of resilience, community, and empowerment. By strengthening women’s entrepreneurship through khadi and village industries, Delhi can reduce the social costs of work, empower women, and nurture families that are both  swasth  (healthy) and  shashakt  (empowered). India’s labour trends present a paradox. While the overall unemployment rate is falling, female youth joblessness remains high. In Delhi, the participation of women in the service sector is shrinking, and average earnings show little improvement. At the same time, the growth of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) has been remarkable—rising from 1.78 lakh in 2022–23 to 4.19 lakh in 2023–24. The story behind this growth highlights both a challenge and a solution. The social costs of going to work —safety, commuting, and the burden of unpaid care—still restrict women’s participation in the workforce. Yet, Khadi and Village Industries in Delhi are demonstrati...