PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun
Social Welfare minister Khajan Das said that due to the rise in nuclear families and both men and women being employed, the need for professional care services is growing. He said that in this scenario, the care economy can play an important role in creating new job opportunities for youth.
Das said this on Wednesday during a workshop held here on the care economy for senior citizens and persons with disabilities. The workshop was organised jointly by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and the department of Social Welfare.
The workshop aimed to systematically develop care services in the State, connect them to the mainstream economy and create new employment opportunities.
The care economy includes economic activities and services that cater to people’s needs for care, health, education and daily living.
Das said that in Uttarakhand, family members have traditionally cared for senior citizens and the disabled. However, changing social circumstances are rapidly increasing the need for a care economy. He pointed out that due to the migration of youth from Uttarakhand, many senior citizens in the mountainous villages are left relatively isolated. Therefore, it is crucial to develop effective systems to address their social, emotional and daily needs. The government is committed to taking the necessary steps in this direction and believes that strengthening the care economy requires collaboration among the government, non-governmental organisations, experts and civil society.
Officials said that the workshop highlighted that according to the 2011 census, the number of people over the age of 60 in India was 103.8 million, making up approximately 8.6 per cent of the total population. It is estimated that by 2050, one in five people will be over the age of 60, with the total number of senior citizens potentially reaching around 350 million. Consequently, the demand for quality and accessible care services is expected to increase significantly in the future.
The workshop was attended by officials from the Health, Education, Skill Development, Rural Development and Finance departments, among others.
