Kamal Haasan, months ahead of the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, has announced that his party, if it forms the government, will transfer cash incentives to homemakers. Housewives and other women running homes don't get paid for their work. As part of its women empowerment agenda, the Makkal Needhi Maiam wants to change it. 

"Homemakers will get their due recognition through payment for their work at home, raising the dignity of our womenfolk," the party has been quoted as saying. 

How much money is going to be paid to each homemaker? As per the party's leaders, a quantum hasn't been arrived at as yet. How much amount per month can be deemed to be decent is a moot question. A government must maintain fiscal discipline, too. 

The debate on paying for a homemaker's work has always been there. There has been a proposal by radical feminists that the earning husband has to be made to part with a certain part of his salary so that his wife gets paid for her household work. However, this is deemed to be undue interference by the state into private aspects of lives. On the other hand, if the government pays for their household work, it can be seen as new welfarism, commentators have suggested over the years.