Care Economy in India: JEEVAN App, SHATAYU Dashboard & Eldercare Reforms

The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment organised a virtual programme on “Creating a Well-Functioning Care Economy” to strengthen India’s care ecosystem.

• The event also marked the launch of  JEEVAN App for Senior Citizens and SHATAYU Dashboard.

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About JEEVAN App

• “JEEVAN” (Joint Elderly Empowerment & Virtual Assistance Network) is a mobile application launched for senior citizens to improve access to care-related services, support systems, and welfare information.
• Objective: To promote dignity, safety, accessibility, and independent living for elderly citizens through technology-enabled support mechanisms.
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Department of Social Justice & Empowerment.
• Key Features
• • Provides information on elderly welfare schemes and support services.
  • Facilitates access to geriatric care and community-based assistance.
  • Promotes digital inclusion and easier grievance redressal for senior citizens.
  • Supports coordination between caregivers, institutions, and beneficiaries.

About SHATAYU Dashboard

• “SHATAYU” (Senior Holistic Care Assistance and Training For Your Utility) is a digital dashboard developed to provide information related to geriatric caregivers and elderly care services.
• Objective: It seeks to strengthen India’s eldercare ecosystem through better data management, monitoring, and coordination of caregivers.
• Key Features
• • Maintains information on trained geriatric caregivers and care institutions.
  • Helps policymakers identify gaps in elderly care infrastructure.
  • Supports monitoring, planning, and expansion of eldercare services.
  • Encourages technology-driven governance in the care sector.

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About Care Economy

The care economy includes all paid and unpaid activities related to childcare, eldercare, disability support, domestic work, and healthcare services.

Parts of the Care Economy

• Unpaid Care Work: Includes cooking, cleaning, caregiving, and household responsibilities performed without monetary compensation, mainly by women within households.
• Paid Care Work: Includes nurses, domestic workers, childcare providers, therapists, and eldercare professionals working in formal and informal sectors.
• Care Infrastructure: Includes day-care centres, old-age homes, assisted living facilities, and early childhood education institutions supporting caregiving services.
• Social Policies: Includes maternity leave, paternity leave, subsidies, welfare schemes, and labour protections that support caregivers and dependents.

Significance of Care Economy in India

• Enhancing Female Labour Force Participation: India’s low female workforce participation is linked to unpaid care burdens.
  • As per MoSPI Time Use Survey Women (aged 15–59) spend an average of 140 minutes daily on caregiving for household members, compared to just 74 minutes by men.
• Addressing India’s Ageing Population: India’s elderly population is projected to reach 20.8% (347 million people) by 2050, increasing demand for organised eldercare and geriatric support services.
• Employment Generation and Economic Growth: According to the ILO, investments in India’s care economy could generate nearly 11 million jobs, especially benefiting women and informal workers.

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Conclusion

A well-functioning care economy can enhance gender equality, generate employment, and build an inclusive social protection framework for India’s changing demographic needs.

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