Empowering the Care Economy: Women-Led Cooperatives in South Asia

From a policy perspective, this model aligns with the broader goals of community-led development and gender equality. By formalizing care work, these cooperatives contribute to the 'Care Economy,' which is increasingly recognized as a critical pillar for sustainable development. Governments and stakeholders can leverage this model to design better social protection frameworks, ensuring that care workers receive fair wages, social security, and recognition. This bottom-up approach not only empowers individual women but also strengthens the social fabric by fostering community resilience and shared responsibility. For India, where the female labor force participation rate (FLFPR) remains a critical policy concern, the cooperative model offers a scalable solution. It bridges the gap between domestic responsibilities and professional aspirations, providing a pathway for women to transition from informal, precarious work to stable, organized employment. UPSC Relevance: This topic is highly relevant for GS Paper I (Role of women) and GS Paper II (Development processes and the role of SHGs). Aspirants can use this as a case study in answers related to women's empowerment, the formalization of the informal economy, and the role of collective action in addressing social sector challenges. It provides a practical example of how institutionalizing community-led initiatives can drive inclusive growth.