Family caregiving and public policy in India: creating new opportunities for recognition and support

About the project

Many carers, far from feeling supported as they give help to loved ones in need, are at a disadvantage: deterioration in their own health, financial strain and social stigma and isolation.

With support from the Commonwealth Foundation, Carers Worldwide conducted a three-year project to help India’s carers at the local government level (2014-17). The project enabled their inclusion into local authority welfare schemes, provided carers with greater access to medical care, and improved their ability to earn an income outside of their caring responsibilities. An external evaluation of the work confirmed its success and recommended that it be replicated on a national and international level and take place for a greater length of time

This new project will continue this work and create a stronger civic voice that will advocate for the rights of family carers at every level in Indian society. This will be achieved by setting up four state level carers forums and an Indian national alliance of carers and equipping these and existing carers organisations to engage policy makers at district, state and national levels. This will ensure that significant and sustainable change is made possible through the strengthening of the social provisions and protection carers need to continue on in their caring role.

At the end of the project it is expected that carers will be better placed to enjoy the rights and the services due to them, leading to an improvement in their social and economic well-being. It is anticipated that the concerns of carers will continue to be mainstreamed in government plans and policies at the local, state and national level.