39% of Muslim women in Telangana are employed

A survey in Telangana has found that 39% of Muslim women are now participating in earning roles. This study, conducted by the Helping Hand Foundation, indicates that when a male member of the household is unable to work, women's participation in the workforce rises to nearly 90%. The survey also revealed that 45% of the women surveyed reported receiving encouragement to work. Many of them prefer to work from home. The survey involved responses from 3,000 women as part of an assessment during Ramzan. Most of the men in lower-income households are employed as auto-drivers, plumbers, electricians, and informal workers in hotels and street vending. There is low involvement in construction work, but the number of gig workers is increasing. Mujtaba Hasan Askari, managing trustee of HHF, stated that poor Muslims in Telangana need development to improve their living conditions. According to recent census data, the Muslim population in Telangana is about 4.5 million, with approximately 30% to 35% living in urban Hyderabad. The survey highlighted challenges faced by the bottom 70% of the Muslim population, who earn less than 15,000 rupees per month. Many of these families rely on a single income, have many dependents, and lack dual-income households. Literacy levels among these groups are low. Families in urban areas spend an average of 800 rupees per child on education. Health issues such as diabetes and hypertension are common, leading to healthcare costs between 2,000 and 8,000 rupees monthly for families.