Promoting the recognition of carers in India

About the project

Carers Worldwide UK is supporting carers in India, who are mostly women, to advocate for the social provisions and protection needed to reduce their vulnerability to impacts such as reduced earnings, poor health and loss of education. Carers Worldwide is partnering with socially-focused CSOs in Jharkand, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, to build on the lessons of an earlier advocacy pilot project, which highlighted the importance of helping carers through participatory processes such as group-led actions. The pilot has already achieved a number of important outcomes – including establishing self-help groups that have allowed carers to come together for the first time, participation in a government-run livelihood scheme and raising their profile with local government officials – and this project aims to help take that work even further.

The carers most affected by poverty in each of the three districts will receive livelihood and training options compatible with caring and will learn engagement and advocacy skills, to allow them to participate in their own development. The project will also support district level Carers’ Associations, allowing people to communicate with peers and giving them a platform through which they can make their issues known to development and district government agendas.

“This project is creating the first opportunity for carers to come together, be seen and make their voices heard,” explained Anil Patil, the founder and executive director of Carers Worldwide. “This is a huge step forward for this vulnerable group who, until now, have been unrecognised by their communities and the wider society. In partnership with NBJK, SACRED and Samuha, we believe we will achieve significant change for marginalised carers over the next three years, transforming the lives of them and their families as well as laying firm foundations for a carers’ movement across India.”