NITI Aayog Report on Empowering Caregivers by 2047
Why in the news
NITI Aayog published a report on how India should prepare its caregiving workforce for an ageing society as it works towards Viksit Bharat@2047.
Key facts
- The report uses the WHO idea of a caregiver: someone giving physical, emotional and social help to people who cannot manage daily tasks because of age, chronic illness or disability.
- Formal caregivers are trained and paid; informal caregivers are family, friends or volunteers giving unpaid care.
- Care-services market: USD 29.62 billion (2023) to USD 72.31 billion by 2030, a CAGR of 13.76%.
India’s care landscape
| Indicator | Figure |
|---|---|
| Elderly (60+) | 149 million (10.5%) in 2022; 347 million (20.8%) by 2050 |
| Persons with disabilities | Over 26.8 million (2.21%); 21 categories under the RPwD Act, 2016 |
| Unpaid care per day | Women 299 minutes; men 97 minutes |
The report notes that India’s older share doubles within one generation, so a heavy long-term care load may arrive before the country is rich enough to fund institutional care.
Global models cited
| Country | Practice |
|---|---|
| Japan | Compulsory Long-Term Care Insurance since 2000; Specified Skilled Worker visa for foreign care workers via G2G arrangements |
| Germany | Compulsory LTCI with a choice of cash for family carers or professional care; up to 24 months of protected care leave |
| China | Eight-level competency framework; no mandatory formal education for entry; IEC 63310 standards for eldercare robots |
Concerns
- No apex statutory body, so health, social justice, skills and labour ministries act separately.
- Courses differ in length and quality, with no global recognition.
- Formal carers fall outside laws such as the Unorganised Workers Social Security Act.
- Weak training for Alzheimer’s and dementia care drives burnout and attrition.
- Youth migration to cities leaves elderly parents in villages without family support.
Way forward
- National Caregiver Council to accredit courses and keep a National Caregiver Registry.
- National Policy on Caregiving treating caregiving as an allied health profession.
- Align courses with NSQF and use Recognition of Prior Learning for family carers.
- G2G mobility using the India-Germany Triple Win and India-Israel protocols.
- Care leave, community respite centres, links with Ayushman Arogya Mandirs and CSR funding.
Exam angle
- Proposed apex body: National Caregiver Council (Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment).
- Community models named: Kudumbashree’s K4 Care and Kerala’s Neighbourhood Network in Palliative Care.
- Disability law: RPwD Act, 2016.