[Answered] Does departmental fragmentation hinder building a holistic care economy? Analyze governance reforms required to integrate care as essential social infrastructure.

Introduction

Care in India is currently split across ministries without a common framework; with 44.4% of women outside the labour force citing childcare and homemaking, departmental fragmentation hinders care as essential social infrastructure.

Care Economy

1. In India, the care economy encompassing childcare, eldercare, and support for persons with disabilities remains split across siloed portfolios including the MWCD, MoSJE,  MoHFW, and MoHUA.
2. As highlighted by the NITI Aayog Strategy for Caregiving Ecosystem (2026) and EAC-PM Framework, shifting from fragmented welfare schemes to a coordinated, outcome-based National Care System is vital to reduce women’s unpaid labor burden, boost Female Labour Force Participation (FLFP), and unlock human capital.

Care Deficit

1. Labour participation: PLFS 2025 shows 44.4% of women outside the labour force cite childcare and homemaking.
2. Unpaid burden: Time Use Survey 2024 found 41% of women aged 15-59 provide unpaid care, averaging 140 minutes daily.
3. Childcare need: UNDP estimates 9-10 million low-income urban women need childcare.
4. Ageing: About 24% of older persons face daily-activity limitations, with limited service data.
5. Constitutional basis: Articles 15(3), 21 and 47 support gender-responsive, dignified care provisioning.

Governance Challenges of Departmental Fragmentation

1. Institutional Silos & Inter-Ministerial Misalignment: Overlapping mandates between MWCD (Palna/Mission Shakti) and MoHUA (Urban Slum Infrastructure) prevent integrated, multi-generational neighborhood care centers.
2. Absence of Uniform Quality & Accreditation Standards: Unregulated private and informal caregiving leads to inconsistent service quality, safety gaps, and lack of recognized skill pathways. Example: Unstandardized caregiver certification.
3. Fiscal Fragmentation & Under-Funding: Non-earmarked budget allocations across separate line ministries restrict large-scale, outcome-linked financing for care infrastructure. Example: Non-earmarked care allocations.
4. Gender-Neutral Policy Gaps: Caregiving is structurally treated as an informal household duty rather than an economic, employment-enabling public asset. Example: Unpaid care disproportion.

Existing Architecture

1. Early Childhood: Anganwadi network, Saksham Anganwadi and POSHAN 2.0 anchor childhood care and nutrition.
2. Crèche Support: Palna under Mission Shakti supports working mothers’ childcare.
3. Child Protection: Mission Vatsalya addresses vulnerable children’s needs.
4. Social Security: Pensions and schemes cater to senior citizens and persons with disabilities.
5. Policy Momentum: NITI Aayog’s caregiving report and MoSJE’s May 2026 workshop discussed a National Care Economy Mission.

Way Forward

1. Establish a Apex National Care Council (NCC): Create an inter-ministerial body under NITI Aayog to coordinate policy, set minimum care standards, and harmonize schemes across MWCD, MoHFW, and MoSJE.
2. Institute an Outcome-Based Funding Mechanism: Launch a dedicated Parivar Seva Kosh (Family Care Fund) under the Ministry of Finance to blend public subsidies with private impact capital for care startups and cooperatives.
3. Formulate a National Caregiver Qualification Framework: Task the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) with standardizing competency training, national registries, and career ladders for professional caregivers.
4. Mandate Care Infrastructure in Urban Planning: Amend national urban building bylaws to require co-located childcare and eldercare spaces in public housing, government offices, and commercial complexes.
5. ILO 5R Framework Alignment: Operationalizing the 5R principles (Recognize, Reduce, Redistribute, Reward, and Represent) converts informal unpaid care into dignified, paid formal employment.
6. Urban & Master Planning Integration: Embedding crèches and eldercare hubs into city master plans transforms care into essential social infrastructure.

Conclusion

Recognizing care work as a foundational public good rather than a private household burden is vital for inclusive growth. Building a centralized, high-quality National Care System will safeguard vulnerable populations, drive gender equality (SDG 5), promote decent work (SDG 8), and advance Viksit Bharat 2047.