Supreme Court recognises homemakers as 'nation builders', sets Rs 30,000 monthly compensation for domestic work

In an important ruling, the Supreme Court of India has recognised homemakers as ‘nation builders' and held that loss of domestic and caregiving services should be considered a separate category while awarding monthly compensation. The court set a notional monthly amount to Rs. 30,000.

The bench comprising Justice Sanjay Karol and Justice NK Singh noted the economic value of unpaid house work and hoped that the word homemaker would now be synonymous with ‘nation-builders.’

“Housewives contribute to the household. They are nation builders. They build the nation. How do you assess that contribution and monetise it? The word ‘homemaker’ would now acquire the acronym of ‘nation builder’”, it observed.


The court also noted that it had issued directions and hoped that all Chief Justices of all High Courts would keep an eye on the matter.

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Further, the bench ruled that the loss of domestic care services should be acknowledged as an independent category for compensation, recognising immense yet unnoticed contributions homemakers make to the family and society at large.

In a previous judgement in 2024, the Supreme Court also said that the notion that homemakers don't work is wrong and they are eligible for income no less than minimum wages.

With inputs from ANI