Enhancing India's Care Ecosystem Budget

Summary of Key Facts and Data

Union Budget 2026-27

• Focus: Introducing a ‘strong care ecosystem’.
• Training Target: 1.5 lakh multiskilled caregivers in geriatric and allied skills aligned with the National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF).

Care Workforce Insights

• Current Workforce: Over 5 million women, including ASHAs, Anganwadi workers, and mid-day meal workers, classified as ‘volunteers’ yet essential in providing health and childcare services.
• Financial Status: These workers often receive low monthly honorariums, lack formal contracts, paid leave, and maternity benefits.
• State Response: Piecemeal support from states (honorarium hikes, national schemes like Ayushman Bharat, and Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maandhan) insufficient to address core issues of recognition and compensation.

Economic Data

• Time Use Survey 2024:
  • 41% of women aged 15-59 spend an average of 140 minutes daily on household caregiving.
  • Only 21.4% of males dedicate an average of 74 minutes to similar tasks.

Judicial Ruling

• Supreme Court Judgment (2025) in Dharam Singh & Anr. vs State of U.P. & Anr.:
  • Established that essential and recurrent work within institutions should not be labeled as temporary indefinitely, supporting claims for transitioning volunteer roles to permanent positions.

Need for Structural Change

• The persistence of the ‘volunteer’ classification reflects societal norms that trivialize care work as an extension of domestic duties rather than skilled labor warranting fair compensation.
• A shift in public perception and recognition of care work is necessary to ensure proper remuneration and security for female workers.

International Obligations

• Demand for alignment with the International Labour Organisation’s 5R Framework for Decent Care Work, focusing on:
  • Recognition: Acknowledging the work and contributions of care workers.
  • Representation: Ensuring that care workers have a voice in employment and policy decisions.

Recommendations

• Extend proposed NSQF-aligned training programs for caregivers to existing ASHA and Anganwadi workers.
• Develop clear frameworks for transitioning from honorariums to formal wages and employment contracts to improve working conditions and recognition.

Conclusion

The emphasis on developing a formalized care workforce in the 2026-27 Union Budget spotlights critical gaps in the welfare system that need addressing. Recognizing and converting ‘volunteer’ roles into sustainable employment is essential not just for improving the livelihoods of millions of women but also for enhancing the overall effectiveness of India’s care economy.