India’s women want to work but the jobs are missing

When Bengaluru-based Shradha Verma got pregnant, the 34-year-old marketing professional was set on resuming work after her six-month paid maternity leave. Her company had flexible options for her role — but when it came time for her to go back to work, her request for remote work was denied.

“What it boils down to is how accommodating and how flexible your immediate team members are. I'll talk about specifically my case, the manager refused to allow me the flexibility to work from home, although it was possible, given my profile,” she told Devex.

With no extended family in the city, no day care facility at her workplace, and limited organized day care facilities around the city, Verma made the hard choice to quit her job to care for her baby.