The home-based women workers’ population is expanding and diversifying to include new and technology-based occupations too in its ambit. However, the core skills of this sector rest in the dexterity and nimbleness bestowed in the fingers of women HBW, with their hands they roll out beedis (indigenous cigarette), make kites, roll out agarbattis (incense stick) and do the most intricateand complex of stitches. The book tries to highlight the serious deficits in terms of decent work for these women home-based workers. The presence and work of Self Employed Women’s Association (SEWA) does to some extent give these women hope for a better future. However, many more efforts are needed if decent work is to become a reality for the women home-based workers in India.

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