Recognising and formalizing 'volunteer' care work crucial for India's care economy
The Union Budget 2026-27 proposes to train 1.5 lakh multiskilled caregivers, yet it overlooks the five million women already serving as Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs), Anganwadi workers, and mid-day meal workers. These women, classified as 'volunteers', perform essential public services but receive meager honorariums, lack formal contracts, and basic benefits, reflecting a "care penalty" rooted in gendered norms. The article argues that their work, being recurrent and central, should be converted into permanent posts, as supported by the Supreme Court's ruling in Dharam Singh & Anr. vs State of U.P. & Anr. Formalizing their roles and extending NSQF-aligned training to them is essential for India to build a robust care ecosystem and achieve its health ambitions.
Key Points
- India's Budget focuses on training new caregivers but neglects existing 'volunteer' care workers like ASHAs and Anganwadi workers.
- These women perform essential, continuous services but lack formal employment benefits and receive meager honorariums due to gendered perceptions of care work.
- The Supreme Court's ruling in Dharam Singh & Anr. vs State of U.P. & Anr. supports converting recurrent 'volunteer' roles into permanent posts.
- Recognizing, formalizing, and properly compensating these workers is vital for strengthening India's care economy and achieving health goals.
Exam Facts
- Union Budget 2026-27 proposes training 1.5 lakh multiskilled caregivers.
- India has over five million women working as ASHAs, Anganwadi workers, and mid-day meal workers.
- The 2024 Time Use Survey highlighted that females aged 15-59 spend 140 minutes daily on household caregiving.
- Supreme Court's 2025 ruling in Dharam Singh & Anr. vs State of U.P. & Anr. upheld that recurrent work cannot be temporary.
- The International Labour Organisation's 5R Framework for Decent Care Work advocates for Reward and Represent.
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