Budget Paradox: Training Caregivers, Taxing Diapers

India's Union Budget presents a conflicting approach to elder care, announcing the training of numerous caregivers while increasing the basic customs duty on adult diapers. This dual action highlights a significant policy gap in addressing the needs of India's rapidly aging population, projected to constitute one in six citizens by 2036.

The government's focus on caregiver training acknowledges the growing demand for skilled elder care professionals. However, the simultaneous tax hike on adult diapers, essential for maintaining the dignity of individuals with incontinence, suggests a disconnect from the daily realities faced by the elderly and their families. These products are vital for autonomy and preventing humiliation.

Experts advocate for treating assistive products like adult diapers as essential infrastructure, similar to spectacles or hearing aids. Countries like Japan and Germany subsidize such items. India's current fragmented approach, separating caregiver training from taxation and healthcare, needs reform. A coherent strategy recognizing elder care as economic infrastructure is crucial for ensuring dignity.

The decision to tax adult diapers disproportionately affects those with dementia, where incontinence is common. Without these aids, caregivers face increased burdens, and elders experience shame, leading to household friction and burnout. This policy contradicts the goal of enabling older adults to live with dignity and minimal dependence.