Exploring Vaccine Hesitancy and Uptake during COVID-19: A Review of PM's Mann Ki Baat Dialogue

Summary: Amidst the media's focus on the migrant crisis, lockdown regulations, and economic fallout during the pandemic in India, the story of accredited social health activist workers demanding fair wages, improved benefits, and better working conditions was overshadowed. The Covid-19 crisis exposed the inadequate health infrastructure and the vulnerable position of frontline workers, particularly women, who play a significant role at the community level. Feminist groups and health-related civil society organizations have emphasized the gender-based inequities, specifically regarding care work, that have surfaced during the pandemic. This study examines the portrayal of care work done by accredited social health activists in the mainstream media, revealing the invisibility of women's labor and the need for recognition at all levels.