DWSSC organized stakeholders meet to discuss skill demand gap in household and caregiving sector

DWSSC is an apex council complementing the government of India’s efforts for skilling over 400 million workforce and creating sustainable livelihoods for one of the largest growing sectors of work – Domestic Household & Caregiving services for households & establishments.

With an estimation of over 20 million workforces, and a demand gap of over 14.5 million till 2025, an Industry Stakeholder Meet was organised on 29th July 2022 at India Habitat Centre to address employability, entrepreneurship and to build industry demand-based skills & jobs, the scope of international migration & mobility amongst others.

Since its inception in 2016, it is the vision & mission of the organization to provide dignity & aspiration to the segment & enable a pathway of vertical & horizontal progression facilitated by the NEP & Skill Initiatives.

The eminent panellists for the meet were K Ganesh, Serial Entrepreneur and Promoter – Big Basket, Portea Medical, HomeLane, BlueStone and Director, DWSSC; Mr Sunil Gulati, IAS (Retd), Ex-Chief Resident Commissioner, Haryana, Ms Pritha Dutt, Director, Empower Foundation and Ms Gitali Thakur, Founder, MyHelp. The meeting was moderated by Mr Sushil Ramola, Co-Founder & Managing Director, B-ABLE & Chairman, DWSSC and Ms Mona Gupta, CEO, DWSSC represented the Council.

Mr K Ganesh, Serial Entrepreneur and Promoter – Big Basket, Portea Medical, HomeLane, BlueStone & Director, DWSSC stated “India is dealing with an ageing crisis hence home care professionals who are qualified, trained, and ambitious are in demand.

He added that this presents an opportunity similar to how the global IT services industry dominated employment opportunities for Indians. We have the population so we can establish ourselves as the centre
from which the world can receive elder care support and caregiving assistance.

Mr Sushil Ramola, Co-Founder & Managing Director, B-ABLE & Chairman, DWSSC highlighted that there is a distinct transition pathway from local to regional to national to international for this sector.

Ms Pritha Dutt, Director, Empower Foundation mentioned that this sector could be made aspirational by incorporating technology & techniques.

Ms Mona Gupta, Chief Executive Officer, DWSSC said as we are leapfrogging into a new era of education & skills, this meet is being held to get our Industry Stakeholders & Partners on the same page with regard to employability and entrepreneurship, as well as to build demand-based skills for jobs. The skill ecosystem is at the right landmark where we are required to have transforming standards and to be able to create sustainable livelihoods, which is one of DWSSC’s mission.

Chief Guest Shri Ved Mani Tiwari, COO and Officiating CEO, NSDC, said “There is a demand in this industry and we have to figure out how to formalize this sector. Our guiding principle should be to seize all opportunities for the formalization of domestic workers that come our way. For Instance, there are advantages of insurance via UAN & Social Security for formalizing of domestic work segment on E-Shram Portal.

Mr Ved Mani Tiwari also added that all workers have a basic understanding of their jobs, and since many of them have smartphones, YouTube can be thought of as one of the opportunities to teach them soft skills and via Jio TV for Employability Skills by NSDC to help in teaching domestic workers in this sector.”

To make this sector aspirational, a chain of trust needs to be built. The dignity of labour and taking pride in one’s work are on the agenda of this sector meeting so that this industry can emerge.

At the end of the event, Mr Sushil Ramola, Co-Founder & Managing Director, B-ABLE & Chairman, DWSSC and Ms Mona Gupta, Chief Executive Officer, DWSSC thanked all the guests, panellists, industry partners and stakeholders and participants who attended the meeting for their active participation in the program.