Overview of India's Care Ecosystem

In the Union Budget 2026-27, the Indian government aims to develop a 'strong care ecosystem' by training 1.5 lakh multiskilled caregivers. This initiative highlights the growing need for structured care services in India. However, there's a paradox as the plan overlooks the existing workforce of over five million women who are already part of the health, nutrition, and childcare systems, including ASHAs and Anganwadi workers.

Challenges Faced by Current Care Workers

• These workers are essential to the public service infrastructure, yet they are classified as 'volunteers', thus excluded from formal employment benefits.
• They earn meager honorariums without formal contracts, paid leave, or maternity benefits.
• Support comes through fragmented state responses like honorarium hikes and national schemes, but these measures are insufficient.

Structural Issues in the Care Economy

• The 'care penalty' reflects social norms that view caregiving as an extension of a woman's domestic role.
• According to the 2024 Time Use Survey, 41% of Indian women aged 15-59 spend significantly more time on caregiving than men.
• Care work is undervalued, leading to insecure employment for a predominantly female workforce.

The Need for Reform

The state needs to acknowledge the indispensable role of current care workers and upgrade their roles from honorary to formal positions, as supported by a 2025 Supreme Court ruling.

Steps for Transforming the Care Workforce

• Integrate the existing workforce into NSQF-aligned training programmes.
• Shift from honorariums to fair wages and formal contracts.
• Implement the International Labour Organisation’s 5R Framework: Reward and Represent care workers.