As the workday begins at Technopark in Thiruvananthapuram, the cheerful prattle of toddlers greets tag-wearing parents bustling in and out of the sprawling IT campus. Adding to this symphony are the voices of working mothers, slinging their laptop bags as they head off for another day at the office. The clock is ticking, leaving only a few minutes for a quick kiss on the cheek before they entrust their young ones to the care of the ‘Chechis’ who run the daycare facility. In Kerala, the Malayalam word for elder sister is often used to address unfamiliar women with respect, but here it carries a special endearment—a bond of maternal warmth and trust among empowered women from different social strata.

The Motherhood Penalty (as opposed to the Fatherhood Bonus) is a term used to summarise the economic disadvantages that women face in the workplace after becoming mothers. Among these are lower pay, perceived incompetence, fewer benefits, and interference with career advancement. They arise as a result of workplace attitudes that stereotype mothers as less motivated or committed to their jobs, compounded by the challenges of balancing work and caregiving responsibilities.

For young working mothers with demanding jobs in the competitive IT sector, a daycare facility is more than a perk; it’s a necessity. As these women return to work after maternity leave, such a service allows them to maintain a healthier work-life balance. But that’s not all—this initiative also creates livelihood opportunities and uplifts women from marginalised communities in the locality. This dual purpose is achieved through a well-conceptualised women’s empowerment programme that benefits everyone involved.

CC Hub (Child Care Hub) is run by the Thiruvananthapuram chapter of Women Inclusive in Technology (WIIT) as a public–private partnership (PPP) program. Supported by Technopark, the IT industry in Kerala, and Kudumbashree (a grassroots women’s empowerment initiative by the Government of Kerala), this project unites women from two strata of society, enabling them to support and uplift one another. In doing so, CC Hub connects the dots of social security, women’s empowerment, child welfare, community development, and progress.

The Radio Azim Premji University team travelled to Thiruvananthapuram to record this episode of Stories of Change. Presented by former award-winning journalist Anuradha Nagaraj, the inspiring story of CC Hub is told through the voices of the women who brought this initiative to life.

🎧 Listen to Stories of Change: Child Care Hub on Radio Azim Premji University.

Credits:

Akshay Ramuhalli, Bijoy Venugopal, Bruce Lee Mani, Narayan Krishnaswamy, Prashant Vasudevan, Sananda Dasgupta, Seema Seth, Shraddha Gautam, Supriya Joshi, and Velu Shankar

For more information and resources, visit our website

The Fakirani Jats live in the Rann of Kutch, where the 2500 sq-km Banni grassland segues into salt marshes and marine mangrove wetlands abutting the Arabian Sea. The livelihood of this pastoralist community is built around their pack animals, particularly the rare and hardy Kharai camel, a breed uniquely adapted to the region’s terrain and climate. As increased salt extraction and industrialisation fragment the fragile mangroves and force the herdsmen away from their traditional livelihood, the Kharai has become an endangered breed. A local organisation, Sahjeevan, has intervened with multiple initiatives to support the Fakirani Jats and sustain their traditional occupation of camel pastoralism. In the third episode of Stories Of Change with Anuradha Nagaraj, we train the spotlight on Sahjeevan’s work among the camel herders of western Gujarat.

For additional notes on this episode and a comprehensive list of acknowledgements and resources for further reading and exploration, please visit our website: https://azimpremjiuniversity.edu.in/stories-of-change-on-radio-azim-premji-university

How often have you heard truck drivers being described as the “backbone of our economy”?

India owes a debt of gratitude to truck drivers, who transport goods, medicines, raw material, and other articles to destinations across the length and breadth of the country. To meet these unlikely heroes of our story of change, join Radio Azim Premji University on the road as we visit the truck parking lots of Kolkata, West Bengal.

A truck parking lot is a busy, crowded yard that smells of diesel fumes and engine oil. The air is filled with the clamor of conversation, loud horns, and the grunt and growl of truck engines. Trucks trundle in for a quick rest stop before shifting gears and heading back to the highway. Drivers work long hours. They are constantly on the move, day and night, driving up to 16 hours at a stretch. These people, mostly men, seldom have time to take care of their needs. How often do they have a health checkup, or get a toothache attended to, or check on their failing eyesight?

Nonprofit Seva Kendra Calcutta, an Azim Premji Foundation philanthropy partner based in the City of Joy, runs the Sambandh programme that provides an outreach avenue for truck drivers to address such needs and, more importantly, create a nurturing and caring community focused on their wellness and security. Join us on the road and listen along.

Stories Of Change is hosted by Anuradha Nagaraj, faculty at the School of Development at Azim Premji University, Bengaluru.

CREDITS:

Akshay Ramuhalli, Bijoy Venugopal, Bruce Lee Mani, Narayan Krishnaswamy, Prashant Vasudevan, Sananda Dasgupta, Seema Seth, Shraddha Gautam, Supriya Joshi and Velu Shankar

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:

Special thanks to the team at Seva Kendra Calcutta and the truck drivers who are the lifeline of this nation.