The need to recognise ‘volunteer’ care work, Pg7

Key Highlights:

• The Union Budget 2026-27 proposes training 1.5 lakh caregivers in geriatric and core care skills via the National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF).
• Over 5 million women, including ASHAs and Anganwadi workers, form the backbone of India's health and childcare systems but are classified as 'volunteers'.
• These 'volunteer' care workers receive meager honorariums without formal contracts, paid leaves, or maternity benefits.
• The 2024 Time Use Survey highlights that Indian women spend significantly more time on household caregiving than men.

Detailed Insights:

• The state's reliance on women labeled as 'volunteers' to deliver essential public services stems from societal norms that view care work as an extension of domestic duty.
• The Supreme Court's 2025 ruling in Dharam Singh & Anr. vs State of U.P. & Anr. supports the demand for converting honorary roles into permanent posts for recurrent and essential work.
• Extending the proposed NSQF-aligned programmes to ASHA and Anganwadi workers could be a crucial step toward formalizing their employment.
• The International Labour Organisation’s 5R Framework for Decent Care Work emphasizes the need to reward and represent care workers through proper compensation and a voice in policy decisions.
• Integrating the existing workforce of care workers is essential, as they already possess complex skills and community knowledge.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs): Community health workers facilitating access to healthcare.
• Anganwadi Workers: Frontline workers providing childcare, nutrition, and health services at the community level.
• National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF): A competency-based framework that organizes all qualifications according to a series of levels of knowledge, skills, and aptitude.