Why do we need 'parent care' leave more than ever?

The bill proposed by Uttar Pradesh MP Sumitra Balmik seeks 45 days of mandatory 'parent care' leave for employees to help them care for their elderly parents.

A bill seeking parental care leave for employees to look after their ailing parents has been recently proposed in the Rajya Sabha.

First of its kind, the Sacred Bond Bill comes in the background of the country undergoing a silent demographic transformation, with the elderly (60 years of age and above) estimated to account for 20 percent of the Indian population by 2050.

The bill proposed by Uttar Pradesh MP Sumitra Balmik seeks 45 days of mandatory 'parent care' leave for both government and private sector workers to help them care for their elderly parents.

The need becomes imperative in a nation which is rapidly aging and bracing to accommodate a new demographic reality.

Why do we need it now?

As per the Longitudinal Ageing Study of India (2021), India is witnessing an exponential growth in the number of elderly people because of reduced fertility and increased life expectancy.

Moreover, multiple health surveys on the elderly reveal an alarming need for increased care from family members and institutions.

The reports show 75 percent of elderly Indians suffer from at least one chronic disease and 40 percent have two or more co-morbidities.

Among the common ailments are: diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, arthritis and respiratory disorders.

Also, about 27 percent of elderly people require assistance in their everyday activities, said the India Ageing Report 2023, including activities like bathing, dental hygiene, incontinence (involuntary urination), skin and foot care. 

These findings push a need to institutionalise care for the elderly by increasing involvement of the caretakers.

Despite the evident need, there exists a glaring legislative vacuum in India's labour and employment framework regarding leave provisions for parent care. While maternity leave, paternity leave, and child care leave have received progressive legislative recognition, care for ageing parents remains conspicuously absent from formal leave entitlements.

THE SACRED BOND (PARENT CARE LEAVE) BILL, 2026

Ageing and financial loss

For the longest, aging was seen as a natural part of life and the elderly were valued for their lived experiences.

However, increased urbanization and economic forces have associated aging with decline and loss of ability.

It is not uncommon to see the elderly being marginalized from the workforce and social life, with their contributions in the family or society having no quantifiable return.

As per the Longitudinal Ageing Study of India, 70 percent of elderly Indians are dependent on everyday maintenance from family members and pension.

Also, about 78 percent are living without pension cover and only 18 percent of the elderly (60 or above) are covered by insurance, the number even less for women, especially widowed and living in rural settings.

This puts India’s aged population at the risk of investing less in healthcare and delaying preventive care.

The disintegration of the traditional family setup into nuclear families or children living away from parental houses is also pushing the aged to be on their own. 

Also, the access to healthcare services can be challenging for older adults living in rural regions with little to no infrastructure for advanced medical care.

Older adults with disabilities have been found to compromise on supportive devices like wheelchair, hearing aid and others.

Much of the financial burden falls on the caretakers, with many of them raising their own families, in places away from their parental home and expected to take absence from work to attend to their parents.

Private sector employees, constituting approximately 90 per cent of India's organized workforce, are even more vulnerable as most employment contracts and establishment policies offer no structured provision for attending to parental health emergencies.

THE SACRED BOND (PARENT CARE LEAVE) BILL, 2026

The sandwich generation

The minister, who proposed the bill, also highlighted the rise of the ‘sandwich generation’, one which finds itself caring for two other generations at the same time.

More people in the middle ages are assuming the roles of caretakers, for both children and the elderly, increasing cases of caretaker burnout.

About 42 percent of India’s working population (between ages 35 and 55 years) are facing these dual caregiving obligations.

The Household Social Consumption on Health Survey (2017-18) reveals that 56 per cent of sandwich generation employees report experiencing burnout, with women bearing a disproportionate burden. Seventy three per cent of female employees in this cohort serve as primary caregivers for both children and parents.

THE SACRED BOND (PARENT CARE LEAVE) BILL, 2026

As per experts, a parent care leave could allow the caregivers to have some respite without income loss.

Speaking to DH, Yash Dilip Jadhav, a psychotherapist based in Mumbai said: “As a mental health professional, I would strongly welcome the proposal for parental care leave. Institutionalising parent care is a progressive step acknowledging the emotional and mental health needs of caregivers and also ensure better care and dignity for the elderly. Such policies are essential for building a more empathetic and mentally resilient society.”

Post-operative care, rehabilitation after falls or fractures, management of terminal illnesses, and end-of life care require sustained physical presence that cannot be adequately substituted by hired caregivers or institutional support alone.

THE SACRED BOND (PARENT CARE LEAVE) BILL, 2026

Changes in living arrangements

Any changes in the living arrangements have a direct impact on the care and support rendered to the elderly.

Multiple studies have found a weakening in the traditional family system with younger adults preferring nuclear setups over joint families.

Globalisation has also been pushing young people to seek work opportunities outside their hometowns.

This has a direct impact on the care of older adults, especially those having physical disability or those unable to care for themselves.

As per a report on aging, around 20 percent of the elderly have unattended mental health issues.

Speaking to DH, Dr. Rahul Chandhok, a senior psychiatrist at the Artemis Lite NFC (Delhi) said: “The proposed parent care leave can be beneficial for older people who feel lonely, anxious, and depressed, especially when families go from living together to living alone. When there aren't as many family members at home, emotional ties get weakened between parents and children. Losing a spouse can further push the grieving parent into loneliness . This policy will allow people to be there for parents when they need it the most. A structured leave will make sure that taking care of someone isn't seen as a burden but as a shared responsibility.”