India needs to develop a care ecosystem

• India's female labour force participation rate (FLFPR) has long been a point of concern, with recent figures from the Economic Survey 2023-24 revealing a rate of 37% in 2022-23 compared to a world average of 47.8% in 2022.
• While this represents an increase from 23.3% in 2017-18, a significant portion (37.5%) of this rate consists of "unpaid helpers in household enterprises"—women who are not compensated for their work.

The Burden of Care and Its Impact:

• The low FLFPR is closely linked to the disproportionately high burden of care that women carry within families.
• This includes responsibilities ranging from childcare to caring for elderly, sick, and disabled family members.
• In India, women aged 15-64 spend approximately three times more daily on unpaid domestic work compared to men.

Focus on Childcare:

• Efforts to increase women's economic participation are now increasingly focusing on addressing childcare needs.
• State governments have been enhancing support services through the Anganwadi network. The 2024-25 Budget includes a 3% increase in funding for the integrated childcare and nutrition program (Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 scheme).
• The Ministry of Women and Child Development is working on a policy framework to address childcare needs, with various models of community-based creches operational in some states.
• However, focusing solely on childcare is a limited approach. Women are primary caregivers throughout the lifecycle of household members.
• For women to fully participate in the workforce, care responsibilities need to be redistributed. Urban and peri-urban areas are seeing a rising demand for external caregivers.
• Yet, there are no standardized processes for employing these workers, leading to issues such as lack of training, minimum wages, and employment standards.

Creating a Comprehensive Care Ecosystem:

• To effectively support women’s participation in the economy, it is crucial to build an ecosystem that addresses household care needs while protecting the rights of care workers.
• This ecosystem should ensure that care is safe, quality, affordable, and delivered by well-trained workers who earn decent wages and are respected for their work.

Mapping Demand and Supply:

• A needs-based assessment of care services required across various demographics and geographies is essential.
• This should be complemented by a mapping of supply-side actors, including public, private, and non-profit sectors. With growing demand for care due to increasing health issues and disabilities, ensuring the availability and quality of care workers is a major policy concern.

Addressing Training and Certification Gaps:

• The gap in training, skilling, and certification of care workers must be addressed. Bodies like the Domestic Workers Sector Skill Council (now the Home Management and Care Givers Sector Skill Council), the Healthcare Sector Skill Council, and the National Skill Development Corporation are involved in this process.

A Comprehensive Policy Approach:

• The World Economic Forum's report on the 'Future of Care Economy' highlights three perspectives: the care economy as an engine for economic productivity, its role from a business perspective as investors and employers, and its significance from a human rights perspective focusing on gender equality and disability inclusion.
• A comprehensive policy should define the care ecosystem from a life course perspective, involving collaboration among the Ministries of Women and Child Development, Health and Family Welfare, Labour and Employment, Social Justice and Empowerment, and Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.