Why does India need a trained workforce for elderly care?, Pg9

Key Highlights:

• India's elderly population, estimated at 149 million in 2022, is projected to reach 347 million by 2050, constituting approximately 20.8% of the total population.
• The Budget 2026-27 announced plans to train 1.5 lakh caregivers, aligning the program with the National Skills Qualifications Framework (NSQF).
• A NITI Aayog report, "Reimagining Care: Strategies for Empowering Caregivers in Viksit Bharat@2047," redefines caregiving as an economic activity rather than solely welfare work.
• An estimated 146 million informal caregivers currently operate in India, largely untrained and unpaid.
• Women spend an average of 299 minutes per day on unpaid domestic work and caregiving, significantly more than men's 97 minutes.

Care Economy.jpg

Detailed Insights:

• The growing elderly population and the shift from joint to nuclear families necessitate a formal, trained caregiving system.
• The NITI Aayog report proposes establishing a National Caregiver Council (NCC) to regulate, standardize, and professionalize caregiving services across the country.
• The proposed NCC would set minimum standards, develop comprehensive curricula, and manage a National Caregiver Registry and digital platform.
• Existing initiatives include Kerala's Kudumbashree's K4 Care training programme, which certifies women as geriatric/patient/disability care executives.
• The NHSRC has developed a Training Manual on Elderly Care for ASHA workers, with training delivered through Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centres.
• A national caregiving curriculum must integrate geriatric mental health and behavioral management alongside physical care protocols.
• Formalizing the care economy is seen as a strategic move to unlock economic value and provide dignity to caregivers.
• The Indian care services market, valued at $29.62 billion in 2023, is projected to grow to $72.31 billion by 2030.

Key Concepts Involved:

• National Skills Qualifications Framework (NSQF): A competency-based framework that organizes qualifications according to levels of knowledge, skills, and aptitude.
• Viksit Bharat@2047: The Government of India's vision to transform India into a developed nation by 2047, focusing on economic growth, social development, and global influence.
• NITI Aayog: The primary policy 'Think Tank' of the Government of India, responsible for providing directional and policy inputs.
• Kudumbashree: A poverty eradication and women empowerment program implemented by the State Poverty Eradication Mission of the Government of Kerala.
• ASHA workers: Accredited Social Health Activists, who are community health volunteers working under the National Health Mission.
• Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centres: Initiatives under Ayushman Bharat aimed at delivering comprehensive primary healthcare services closer to communities.