Recognise the critical role of the childcare worker

Source: The post “Recognise the critical role of the childcare worker” has been created, based on “Recognise the critical role of the childcare worker” published in “The Hindu” on 20 November 2025. Recognise the critical role of the childcare worker.

UPSC Syllabus: GS Paper 2- Governance

Context: On July 24, 2023, the UN General Assembly declared October 29 as the International Day of Care and Support, recognising the need to reduce, redistribute and value unpaid care and domestic work. Care work remains overwhelmingly performed by women and adolescent girls, yet it is largely invisible, undervalued, and unaccounted for in policy and national statistics. India has a long history of childcare efforts, from early pioneers like Tarabai Modak and Gijubai Badheka, to modern childcare systems such as the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS).

Evolution of Childcare in India

1. Early childcare institutions emerged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries through progressive educationists.
2. Post-Independence, childcare shifted to private and voluntary sectors, excluding low-income families.
3. The 1972 Study Group report, convened by Mina Swaminathan, set a social justice agenda for holistic development of poor and marginalised children.
4. This led to the launch of the ICDS in 1975, which today runs 1.4 million Anganwadi Centres, serving 23 million children with 2.4 million workers and helpers.
5. By 2030, India will need 2.6 million centres and over five million workers to reach nearly 60 million children.

Key Challenges in India’s Childcare System

1. Underpaid and Undervalued Care Workers:
   1. National and global studies highlight that despite their critical role, care workers remain underpaid, undervalued, and lack recognition as professionals.
   2. Rapid ICDS expansion has diluted pre-service and in-service training, weakening practice-based learning crucial for quality childcare.
   3. Their role is often reduced to providing food, hygiene, and immunisation, rather than being acknowledged as early childhood professionals.
   4. Workers face poor working conditions, limited paid leave, inadequate social security, and very low wages (₹8,000–₹15,000), often below minimum wages for skilled work.
2.  Impact of Climate Change
   1. Poor women and children are disproportionately affected by climate-related disasters such as floods and droughts.
   2. Climate-induced male migration increases women’s care burden, eliminating the possibility of shared responsibilities.
   3. Migrant families in urban areas face high living costs, compelling women to work as domestic workers while having little or no childcare support.
   4. Only 10% of Anganwadi centres function in urban areas, leaving a vast urban care deficit.
3. Feminisation of Unpaid Care
   1. The Time Use in India 2024 survey shows women spend 426 minutes/day on unpaid care work compared to 163 minutes/day by men.
   2. This unpaid work constitutes 15%–17% of GDP, yet remains unrecognised in economic policymaking.
   3. Lack of maternal time for care and feeding is linked to high child undernutrition, with 35% child stunting and only 11% of children receiving a minimum acceptable diet.
4. Inadequate Early Childhood Provision
   1. There is extremely limited care for children under three years, with only 2,500 functional crèches under the Palna Scheme out of 10,000 sanctioned.
   2. Public investment in childcare stands at only 0.4% of GDP, far below Scandinavian levels of 1%–1.5%, which provide universal childcare.

Positive Developments

1. India Childcare Champion Awards 2025 was organised by Mobile Creches and FORCES, these awards honour creche workers, supervisors, NGOs, local leaders, employers, and CSR funders.
2. The awards highlight care workers as skilled professionals and social change-makers, challenging caste, class, and gender norms.
3. Workers build trust with parents, offer emotional support to children, and advocate for health insurance and better care infrastructure.
4. They play multiple roles: nurturing caregivers, educators, monitors of child development, and community leaders.

Way Forward

1. Recognition and Professionalisation
   1. Childcare workers must be recognised as professional workers with respectable wages, job security, and clear career pathways.
   2. Comprehensive investments in training, skill-building, and practice-based learning are essential.
2. Strengthening Childcare Infrastructure: India must expand childcare facilities, especially for children under three and in urban poor settlements. Public investment must increase to 1–1.5% of GDP, aligning with global standards of universal childcare coverage.
3. Reducing and Redistributing Unpaid Care: Policies must encourage men’s participation in domestic and care work through awareness campaigns, paternity benefits, and gender-sensitive programmes.
4. Climate-Responsive Care Policies: Childcare services must be strengthened in climate-vulnerable areas to support migrating households and reduce gendered care burdens.
5. Decentralisation and Convergence: Local governments, communities, and civil society must be involved in planning and monitoring childcare services. Integration of health, nutrition, education, and social protection services can enhance holistic child development.

Conclusion: Care work lies at the heart of human development and gender equality, yet remains invisible and undervalued in India. Recognising, professionalising and adequately funding care services is essential for building a strong, inclusive, and equitable nation. With expanded investment, improved working conditions, decentralised systems, and recognition of care workers’ contributions, India can move closer to universal, high-quality childcare aligned with global best practices.

Question: “Care work in India remains undervalued and underfunded.” Discuss the major challenges in India’s childcare system and suggest measures to strengthen care infrastructure and workers’ rights.