The economic power of caregivers in India represents a crucial yet often overlooked segment of the country’s economy. The International Labour Organization (ILO) defines care work as the activities and relationships required to meet the physical, mental, and emotional needs of individuals—whether children, the elderly, or those with disabilities. Both paid and unpaid care work are integral to human, social, and economic well-being, and are vital for sustainable development.

According to the 2024 Time Use Survey, caregiving in India, especially unpaid caregiving, is predominantly carried out by women. The survey reveals that women spend an average of 7.1 hours daily on caregiving activities, such as childcare, eldercare, and household chores, compared to 2.7 hours for men. Despite this immense time investment, India allocates only about 1% of its GDP to care infrastructure and services, including pre-primary education, maternity benefits, disability support, and long-term care. This underinvestment severely limits women’s ability to join the workforce, exacerbating gender disparities. The monetary equivalent of women’s unpaid care labour is estimated at around $270 billion annually. With women spending an average of seven hours a day on unpaid care work, addressing this imbalance is crucial for India to reach gender parity in the workforce.

The contribution of care work to India’s GDP has been estimated at 15-17%, highlighting the significant economic value of both unpaid and underpaid care labour, though it remains largely invisible in........

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