Social Security
Social Security
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S.No. Topic
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1. Social security Introduction
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2. History of social security
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3. Why do we need social security
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4. Social security in India
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5. Context of social security
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6. How India can improve its social security measures
Social Security: Constitutional Provisions and International Convention 04
7.
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8. The code on Social Security 2019: Introduction
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9. Need for unified Law
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10. Social security organizations
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11. Social security fund
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12. Shram Suvidha Portal
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13. Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-dhan (PM-SYM)
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14. Major Steps Taken By EPFO
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15. Major Steps Taken By ESIC
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16. Pradhan Mantri Rojgar Protsahan Yojana (PMRPY)
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17. Insurance and pension Scheme
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18. Social security schemes for unorganized sector
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19. The National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP)
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20. Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY)
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21. Rajiv Gandhi Shilpi Swasthya Bima Yojana
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22. National Scheme of Welfare of Fishermen
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23. Aam Admi Bima Yojana
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24. Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY)
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25. Atal Pension Yojna (APY)
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26. Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY)
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27. Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY)
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28. Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) Yojana
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29. Pradhan Mantri Kisan Mandhan Yojana
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30. Pradhan Mantri Laghu Vyapari Mandhan Yojana, 2019
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31. PMJDY
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32. Jan Suraksha Bima Yojana
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33. Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Beema
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34. Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana
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The Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights
35. and Full Participation) Act, 1995
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36. Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016
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37. Deendayal Disabled Rehabilitation Scheme (DDRS)
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Swadesh Darshan or PRASAD (National Mission on Pilgrimage
38.
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39. Rejuvenation and Spiritual Augmentation Drive) Schemes
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40. Social Security in Education
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41. Social Security for the Unorganised Sector in India
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42. Domestic Workers in India
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43. Domestic Workers Welfare and Social Security Act
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44. Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY)
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45. Unorganized Workers Social Security Act, 2008
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46. Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace
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47. Pension for all
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48. Health for All
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49. Health Insurance in India
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50. Empowering the Differently Abled
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51. Securing Farmer’s Welfare: Reality to Vision
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52. Social Security: Global Scenario
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53. Protecting the Unprotected i.e. Unorganized sector
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54. Systematic Reforms in MGNREGA
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55. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
Social security: Introduction
Social security is any government system that provides monetary assistance to people
with an inadequate or no income.
It refers to the action programs of an organization intended to promote the welfare of the
population through assistance measures guaranteeing access to sufficient resources for
food and shelter and to promote health and well-being for the population at large and
potentially vulnerable segments such as children, the elderly, the sick and the
unemployed.
Services providing under social security are often called social services.
Social security may provide cash benefits to persons faced with sickness and disability,
unemployment, crop failure, loss of the marital partner, maternity, responsibility for the
care of young children, or retirement from work.
India has a very basic social security system catering to a fairly small percentage of the
country’s workforce.
Traditionally, Indians relied on their extended families for support in the event of illness
or other misfortunes.
However, due to migration, urbanization, and higher social mobility, family bonds are
less tight and family units much smaller than they used to be.
So far, neither the state nor private insurance companies have quite stepped up to fill this
gap.
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Social Security System in India
India’s social security system is composed of a number of schemes and programs spread
throughout a variety of laws and regulations.
Keeping in mind, however, that the government-controlled social security system in India
applies to only a small portion of the population.
Furthermore, the social security system in India includes not just an insurance payment
of premiums into government funds (like in China), but also lump sum employer
obligations.
Generally, India’s social security schemes cover the following types of social insurances:
• Pension
• Health Insurance and Medical Benefit Disability Benefit
• Maternity Benefit Gratuity
Economists Amartya Sen and Jean Dreze distinguish two aspects of social security —
“protection” and “promotion.” While the former denotes protection against a fall in living
standards and living conditions through ill health, accidents, the latter focuses on
enhanced living conditions, helping everyone overcome persistent capabilities
deprivation.
A social security investment plan for next 15 or 20 years needs to be developed with clear
understanding of the resource requirement, giving due consideration to changing
demographics
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List/propose innovative and assured mechanisms for financial allocation to these
schemes to ensure sustainability
A key principle in social security system, where people commit to help those who are
underprivileged and less fortunate. It can be brought through involvement of community
through awareness generation efforts
Lack of universal health coverage and health related expenditure is undoing all social
security efforts including efforts targeted for poverty reduction
It is time that Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY) and National Health protection
Scheme (NHPS) are financed sufficiently with a vision for incremental government
investment on health to advance towards Universal Health Coverage.
In a federal country, States have to play a major role in social security measures. It will
provide flexibility and window for innovations to make social security initiatives a
success.
The social security schemes need to have legislative and legal support for sustainability,
if need be should also be supported by constitutional amendments
Also, tax-based financing has to be replaced with mandatory contributions from those
who can afford to pay
Required for scale, speed and creating best practices for others to emulate. The CSR
ecosystem is getting a boost as the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by
the UN in 2015 are becoming pivotal areas for the corporate sector to act upon through
CSR activities. Corporate Social Innovation should go hand in hand with Corporate Social
Responsibility - Creating shared value through innovative models will have deep rooted
societal impacts that will mainstream the marginalized.
While a great deal of the Indian population is in the unorganized sector and may not have
an opportunity to participate in each of these schemes, Indian citizens in the organized
sector (which include those employed by foreign investors) and their employers are
entitled to coverage under the above schemes.
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Its loopholes
With about 22 percent of India’s population living below the poverty line, the
“unorganized” sector, i.e. enterprises — mainly in agriculture, which are not legally
covered by any form of social security, is disproportionately large.
Social Security is more than just a retirement program. It provides important life
insurance and disability insurance protection as well.
Retirement benefits aren’t much progressive to keeps up with increasing cost of living.
Everyone, as a member of society, has the right to social security and is entitled to
realization, through national effort and international co-operation and in accordance with
the organization and resources of each State, of the economic, social and cultural rights
indispensable for his dignity and the free development of his personality.
Right to Work
Everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favorable
conditions of work and to protection against unemployment.
Everyone, without any discrimination, has the right to equal pay for equal work.
Everyone who works has the right to just and favorable remuneration ensuring for himself
and his family an existence worthy of human dignity, and supplemented, if necessary, by
other means of social protection.
Everyone has the right to form and to join trade unions for the protection of his interests.
Article 41: Within the limits of its economic capacity and development, make effective
provision for securing the right to work, to education and to public assistance in cases of
unemployment, old age, sickness and disablement, and in other cases of undeserved want
Article 42: Provisions for just and humane conditions of work and maternity relief
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Item No. 23
Item No. 24
The code has 163 clauses, divided into 14 chapters in addition to six schedules on the
procedural aspects. It replaces the existing nine laws on social security.
They are-
1. Employee’s Compensation Act, 1923;
2. Employee’s State Insurance Act, 1948;
3. Employees’ Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952;
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4. Maternity Benefit Act, 1961;
5. The Employment Exchanges (Compulsory Notification of Vacancies) Act, 1959;
6. Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972;
7. Cine Workers Welfare Fund Act, 1981;
8. Building and Other Construction Workers Cess Act, 1996;
9. Unorganized Workers’ Social Security Act, 2008.
• All remuneration expressed in monetary terms is wage and includes basic pay, dearness
allowance and retaining allowance.
• Specific exclusions are statutory bonuses, PF, pension and gratuity, house rent and
conveyance allowances etc. which cannot exceed 50 per cent of total remuneration.
• Remuneration provided in-kind will be included to the extent of 15 per cent of total
wages.
• Overall, this will ensure that wages for social security benefits will be at least 50 per cent
of overall compensation.
These include:
1. Central Board of Trustees, headed by the Central Provident Fund Commissioner,
to administer the EPF, EPS and EDLI Schemes,
3. National and state-level Social Security Boards, headed by the central and state
Ministers for Labour and Employment, respectively, to administer schemes for
unorganized workers.
• The Bill proposes setting up a social security fund using corpus available under
corporate social responsibility.
• This fund will provide welfare benefits such as a pension, medical cover, death and
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disablement benefits to all workers, including gig workers. Reducing employee PF
contribution
• The bill provides for an option of reducing provident fund contribution (currently at 12%
of basic salary) and therefore increases workers take-home pay.
• The rationale for allowing lower employee PF contribution is that higher take-home pay
may boost consumption. The Bill, however, retains employers’ PF contribution at 12%.
Gratuity for fixed-term contract workers
• Currently, workers are not entitled to gratuity before completing five years of continuous
service. The bill says that fixed-term contract workers will be eligible for gratuity on a pro-
rata basis.
• It proposes to offer gratuity to fixed term employees after one year of service on a pro-
rata basis as against the current practice of five years.
Exemption
• It will empower the central government to exempt select establishments from all or any
of the provisions of the code and makes Aadhaar mandatory for availing benefits under
various social security schemes.
Insurance, PF, life cover for unorganized sector employees:
• Central Government shall formulate and notify suitable welfare schemes for
unorganized workers on matter relating to life and disability cover; health and maternity
benefits; old age protection; and any other benefit as may be determined by the central
government.
Gig Workers
• In addition, the central or state government may notify specific schemes for gig workers,
platform workers, and unorganized workers to provide various benefits, such as life and
disability cover.
• Gig workers refer to workers outside of the traditional employer-employee relationship
(e.g., freelancers).
• Platform workers are workers who access other organizations or individuals using online
platforms and earn money by providing them with specific services.
• Unorganized workers include home-based and self- employed workers.
Contributions
• The EPF, EPS, EDLI, and ESI Schemes will be financed through a combination of
contributions from the employer and employee.
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• For example, in the case of the EPF Scheme, the employer and employee will each make
matching contributions of 10% of wages, or such other rate as notified by the government.
• All contributions towards payment of gratuity, maternity benefit, cess for building
workers, and employee compensation will be borne by the employer.
• Schemes for gig workers, platform workers, and unorganized workers may be financed
through a combination of contributions from the employer, employee, and the
appropriate government.
Criticisms
• There is no uniform definition of “social security”, nor is there a central fund. The corpus
is proposed to be split into numerous small funds creating a multiplicity of authorities
and confusion.
• It is not clear how the proposed dismantling of the existing and functional structures,
such as the Employees’ Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) with its corpus of ₹10 lakh
crore — which will be handed over to a government-appointed central board — is a better
alternative.
• Crucial categories such as “workers”; “wages”; “principal- agent” in a contractual
situation; and “organised-unorganised” sectors have not been clearly defined.
• This will continue to impede the extension of key social security benefits such as PF,
gratuity, maternity benefits, and healthcare to all sections of workers.
• The Bill welcomes aboard large sections of the workforce
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— “gig workers” such as those working in taxi aggregate companies like Uber and Ola.
• But how exactly the government proposes to facilitate their access to PF or medical care
is not clear.
Conclusion
Social Security protects people against a variety of risks to ensure them a basic floor of
income in old age and to enable many people who have struggled all their lives to look
forward to a decent standard of comfort and dignity when they retire.
• Though it needs to be passed in the parliament, the Code on Social Security, 2019 is a
robust arrangement to effect economy, efficiency, and effectiveness in the working of the
social security regime.
• The inclusion of unorganized sector is a welcome step as the economy right now is
service sector dominated.
• Further positive changes too must be looked forward as they are in the long run are
helpful to the wide sections.
Way Forward
• The Code on Social Security is clearly a move in the right direction to rationalize and
consolidate social security related labour laws.
• It is critical for employers to analyses the impact of the Code and the compliances
thereunder in order to be able to undertake a smooth transition as and when the Code
becomes a law.
• The code is giving a robust and efficient coverage of social security to each and every
worker of the country.
• The code gives lot of respite to the employer from the rigidity of laws and whims and
wishes from the law enforcement agencies.
• This code takes the labour reforms from the manufacturing sector space to the services
sector and this transition will cater to the large section of workers contributing to the
share of GDP.
• The Ministry of Labour & Employment has developed a unified Web Portal ‘Shram
Suvidha Portal’, to bring transparency and accountability in enforcement of labour laws
and ease complexity of compliance.
• Unique labour identification number (LIN) will be allotted to Units to facilitate online
registration.
• Filing of self-certified and simplified Single Online Return by the industry instead of
filing separate Returns.
• Computerized inspection Reports within 72 hours by the Labour inspectors.
• Timely and effective redressal of grievance.
• Integrating Shram Suvidha Portal with States
• Integration of States with Shram Suvidha Portal is under way. Data is being shared and
LIN is being allotted to the establishments covered by the state labour enforcement
agencies.
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Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-dhan (PM- SYM):
• It is a voluntary and contributory pension scheme for the benefit of unorganized
workers.
• It is a central sector scheme open to unorganized workers, whose monthly income is
Rs.15000/- or below and who has an Aadhar number as well as savings bank/ jan-dhan
account.
• The minimum age for joining the scheme is 18 years and the maximum is 40 years.
Under the scheme, minimum assured monthly pension of Rs.3000/- will be provided to
the beneficiaries from the age of 60 years onwards.
• National Pension Scheme for Traders, Shopkeepers and Self-Employed Persons: It is a
voluntary and contributory pension scheme. Enrolment to the Scheme is done through
the Common Service Centres.
• The traders in the age group of 18-40 years with an annual turnover, not exceeding Rs.1.5
crore and who are not members of EPFO/ESIC/NPS/PM-SYM or an income tax payer
can join the scheme.
• Under the scheme, 50% monthly contribution is payable by the beneficiary and equal
matching contribution is paid by the Central Government. Subscribers, after attaining the
age of 60 years, are eligible for a monthly minimum assured pension of Rs.3,000.
• Pension Week was celebrated in all the States/UTs from 30th November to 06th
December, 2019 in coordination with Common Service Centres, to increase the
enrolments under both the Schemes, i.e. PM-SYM and NPS-Traders.
• Rate reduction in ESI Contribution: This reduction of contribution rates, will ensures
financial relief to employers and employees.
• ESIC – Chinta Se Mukti app launched - The Corporation has also launched the ESIC
“Chinta Se Mukti” app available on the UMANG platform to facilitate stakeholders to view
contribution details, eligibility for benefits, claim status, etc. in their Mobile Handset.
• National Career Service Project-(NCS): This project is being implemented by the
Directorate General of Employment, Ministry of Labour & Employment. National Career
Service (NCS) is a one-stop solution that provides a wide array of employment and career
related services to the citizens of India. It works towards bridging the gap between
jobseekers and employers, candidates seeking training and career guidance, agencies
providing training and career counselling.
• Various National Career Service Centres for Differently Abled (NCSC-Das) and SC/STs
are in operation.
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Pradhan Mantri Rojgar Protsahan Yojana (PMRPY)
• Under the scheme, Government of India is paying Employer’s full contribution i.e. 12%
towards EPF and EPS both (as admissible from time to time) for a period of three years
to the new employees through EPFO.
• This scheme has a dual benefit, where, on the one hand, the employer is incentivised for
increasing the employment base of workers in the establishment, and on the other hand,
a large number of workers will find jobs in such establishments.
Static dimensions:
• Status of Social security in india
• Social security schemes for unorganized sector
Current dimensions:
• New schemes launched
• Need for such schemes
Content:
India’s social security schemes cover the following types of social insurances:
• Pension
• Health Insurance and Medical Benefit
• Disability Benefit
• Maternity Benefit
• Gratuity
While a great deal of the Indian population is in the unorganized sector and may not have
an opportunity to participate in each of these schemes, Indian citizens in the organized
sector and their employers are entitled to coverage under the above schemes.
There are two major social security plans in India, the Employees’ Provident Fund
Organization (EPFO) and the Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC).
The EPFO runs a pension scheme and an insurance scheme. All of these are supposed to
grant EPFO members and their family’s benefits for old age, disability, and support in
case the primary breadwinner dies.
The ESIC covers low-earning employees providing them with basic healthcare and social
security schemes. Originally aimed at factory workers, the coverage was extended to
include greater parts of the population, e.g. employees in hospitals or educational
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institutions. The ESI scheme has been implemented in all states excluding Manipur and
Arunachal Pradesh.
In order to provide social security benefits to the workers in the unorganized sector, the
Government has enacted the Unorganised Workers Social Security Act, 2008. Some of
the welfare schemes for unorganized workers stipulated under this act are:
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Recently launched schemes
• Under the APY, subscribers would receive a fixed minimum pension at the age of 60
years, depending on their contributions, which itself would vary on the age of joining the
APY.
• The Central Government would also co-contribute 50 percent of the total contribution
or Rs. 1000 per annum, whichever is lower, for a period of 5 years, who are not members
of any statutory social security scheme and who are not Income Tax payers.
• The pension would also be available to the spouse on the death of the subscriber and
thereafter, the pension corpus would be returned to the nominee.
• The minimum age of joining APY is 18 years and maximum age is 40 years.
• Under PMJJBY, life insurance of Rs. 2 lakhs would be available on the payment of
premium of Rs. 330 per annum by the subscribers.
• The PMJJBY will be made available to people in the age group of 18 to 50 years having
a bank account from where the premium would be collected through the facility of “auto-
debit”.
• Under PMSBY, the risk coverage will be Rs. 2 lakhs for accidental death and full
disability and Rs. 1 lakh for partial disability on the payment of premium of Rs. 12 per
annum.
• The Scheme will be available to people in the age group 18 to 70 years with a bank
account, from where the premium would be collected through the facility of “auto-debit”.
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to 40 years can apply for the scheme.
• Registration for the farmers’ pension scheme was started on August 9,2019.
• Life Insurance of India (LIC) has been appointed insurer for this scheme.
• The farmers will have to make a monthly contribution of Rs 55-200, depending on the
age of entry, in the pension fund till they reach the retirement date.
• This is an optional scheme.
• The government started registrations for the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Maan-Dhan Yojana
(PM-KMY) on August 9,2019.
• The enrolment for the voluntary scheme is being done through the Common Service
Centres (CSCs) located across the country.
• No fee is charged for registration under the scheme.
• The Centre pays Rs 30 to CSC for every enrolment to ensure that the scheme witnesses
maximum coverage.
PMJDY - To provide 'universal access to banking facilities' starting with "Basic Saving
Bank Account" with an overdraft up to Rs.5000 subject to satisfactory operation in the
account for six months and Repays Debit card with inbuilt accident insurance cover of Rs.
1 lakh
Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Beema – Provides a life insurance policy which gives
a sum of Rs. 2 lakhs to the family fot he policy holder after his/her death.
Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana – To provide physical aids and assisted living devices to
the elderly
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The Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection
of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995, (PWDA) and Rights
of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016
has provisions of preventive social security measures –
• Pre-natal and post-natal care for the mother and child
• Unemployment allowance and insurance
• Right of disabled people to lead independent lives
• Protection from all kinds of violence
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rural India. Sufficient financial allocation and strict monitoring of the
PWDA’s implementation can empower the disabled in far-flung areas as well
• Limiting the disabilities to a list shouldn’t be the way ahead and thus, a rights-based
model needs to be worked out and their effective participation should be ensured in the
society
• Academic and anecdotal literature is replete with instances of the failure of benefits
reaching the intended. Many attempts have been undertaken to fix the system and one
such among them is making biometrics mandatory for a child to receive a mid-day meal
in school.
• To access education, children of vulnerable backgrounds, require some forms of social
security, but education itself is also a form of social security against future vulnerabilities.
• However, teaching on hungry stomachs is unlikely to lead to learning. Therefore, mid-
day meals in schools address the twin objectives of improving nutrition, as well as
enabling children to come to school and remain there throughout the day.
However, a large majority of workforce (most of the poor) in this sector is devoid of any
formal social security protection. Lack of social protection reduces productivity, and is an
important cause of households incurring debt due to out-of- pocket expenses in times of
illness.
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• Domestic workers can be hired and fired at will as the employer has no legally binding
obligations.
• Neither the Maternity Benefits Act nor the Minimum Wages Act or any of the scores of
other labour laws apply to domestic work
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• Calls for promoting awareness of domestic work as a “legitimate labour market activity”
• Recommends amending existing labour laws to ensure that domestic workers enjoy all
the labour rights that other workers do
• Calls for the compulsory registration of the employer and the employee with the District
Board for regulation of domestic workers
• Mandates the collection of cess from the employer for the maintenance of a social
security fund for domestic workers
Moreover, the most important thing is to change the mind-set of the society which is the
root cause of such discriminatory and abusive attitude towards the domestic workers.
What is NPS?
NPS (National Pension System) is a defined contribution-based Pension Scheme
launched by Government of India with the following objectives-
What is required?
In order to improve financial security, the policymakers should focus on three key areas—
• Providing a safety- net pension for all.
• Improving access to retirement plans
• Encouraging initiatives to increase the rate of contribution.
It should be the responsibility of the government to provide a pension income for all
citizens that acts as a ‘safety net’ and prevents those who miss out on other forms of
pension provision from dropping below the poverty line.
Challenges:
• Fiscal constraints. The biggest problem for India is that about 90% of the workforce is
in the unorganized sector and lacks proper access to retirement-saving instruments.
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• The pension challenge in India will be fairly acute. According to the UN Population
Division, the share of population aged 60 or above will rise to 19% by 2050, compared
with 8% in 2010.
• Even those who are investing may not be aware how much money they will need after
retirement and what it takes to attain that goal. People generally lack the ability to make
complex calculations and give more importance to their near-term needs than a longer-
term requirement like retirement saving.
Recent developments:
• A new Rs 5,000-crore pension formula is in process. It is expected to benefit more than
five million central government employees. The new formula will calculate pension based
on the latest drawn salary for a particular post.
• The new method was fixed by an empowered committee of secretaries (Ecos) headed by
secretary (pensions).
• The seventh pay commission recommended that pension could be calculated by two
methods:
• Pension would be 50% of the last salary and multiplied by 2.57.
• An incremental method where pension was fixed at the last salary drawn with
adjustments of increments drawn in that particular pay band.
However, the incremental method was found to have lacunae as 20% of records were
found to be missing in various government departments, and officials felt this could lead
to litigation in future. To avoid legal hurdles, the Ecos came up with the pay fixation
method.
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long-term solution.
Health for All
• India’s health system mirrors the iniquitous nature of development that has taken place
in the country.
• High income and wealth inequality have resulted in a skewed pattern of health care
oriented towards secondary, tertiary level curative services, leading to neglect of the more
basic preventive and primary care services needed for the poor to survive.
• Income and wealth disparities are also reflected in the sharply differing health outcomes
across rural and urban areas, states and social groups.
• Universal health coverage remains an unfinished agenda with basic indicators of health
in India continuing to be below those of low-income countries such as Bangladesh.
• In 2015, health inequality resulted in a loss of 24% of India’s health index value as per
the Inequality adjusted Human Development Index computed by the UNDP.
• Unlike education, Health for All has never been an important electoral issue, though the
potential for electoral gains are evident as in the case of Andhra Pradesh.
• The general political apathy towards the health sector is also reflected in low budgetary
allocations, with public spending accounting for not more than 1.5% of GDP over the last
decade despite impressive economic growth.
• This has meant that 75% of health care costs are financed by out of pocket expenses
which push a large number below the poverty line.
• Countries such as Brazil, Bolivia, Indonesia and Thailand, all characterized earlier by
situations of high inequality and uneven access to health care systems, have revamped
policies since 1980s towards universal health care.
• They also indicate that strengthening of the primary health care system is a prerequisite
for achieving universal health coverage.
• However, in India none of the central or state level insurance schemes cover primary
care in the insurance package, with the exception of Meghalaya that provides partial
coverage. All the schemes focus on secondary and/or tertiary care.
Way Forward
• India’s new National Health Policy 2017 signifies a paradigm shift in government policy
toward comprehensive primary health care and is significant for two reasons:
• It defines health in terms of wellness rather than as absence of disease.
• It brings focus back on primary care and accords a key role to the public sector.
• Public-private partnerships are being relied upon as a way out of the financial crunch.
Unless carefully designed it leads to enriching the private sector at the expense of liberal
public subsidies.
• International experience shows that health insurance can function when the basic health
infrastructure is in place and this is a function that the government alone can perform.
• Strengthening the healthcare delivery system would require 1 to 1.5 percent of GDP as
capital investment to ensure adequate health infrastructure, with another 1% of GDP to
provide free universal access to comprehensive primary care, secondary and select set of
tertiary conditions for 60% of the population.
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• Additionally, at least 2% of GDP would be required for supporting infrastructure like
public sanitation, waste disposal, nutrition and housing.
• Achieving universal health coverage is listed as goal 3.8 in the SDGs agenda for 2030.
India’s performance holds the key to achieving this global aspiration.
• The Government of India’s implementation of the National Health Policy 2017 in letter
and spirit is crucial for ensuring health security for all by 2030.
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to be taken immediately.
• In addition, more resources from local, state, national and international agencies,
government and non-government organizations need to be mobilized in order to reach
the benefits to differently abled people.
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• Many rural development schemes now help to improve the living standards of farmers
through subsidies or investments addressing livelihood (NRLM), price discovery
(eNAM), social assistance (NSAP), housing (IAY), road development (PMGSY) and health
(NRHM).
Conclusion
• State is the natural custodian of farmer’s social security as much as people’s food
security.
• Protecting them against natural risk, creating
infrastructure and social amenities remain government’s onus, but the taxpaying citizens
and private sector need to join as stake holders.
• In the long run ahead, agriculture is envisioned to grow as an enterprise, more integrated
with other growing sectors that help to ease pressure on land for livelihood.
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Protecting the Unprotected i.e. Unorganized sector
• Social security is a prerequisite for a just and equitable society. The right to social
security is a human right and according to Universal Declaration of Human Rights, access
to social security is a basic right.
Capacity Building
• The government has initiated several schemes to impart skills to workers both in
agriculture related activities and other fields.
• Project-LIFE under MGNREGA was mooted by the government to develop skills among
the workers and their families.
• There is significant thrust on Agri related skills and the youth have shown preference for
agriculture related works in comparison to other fields.
Financial Streamlining
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• The DBT platform, combined with the biometric-based UID program Aadhaar,
effectively combats financial leakages through middlemen and also eliminates the
possibility of duplicity in records.
• This is a positive development towards greater transparency as it would ensure that the
payments reach the rightful beneficiaries.
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• E-commerce ventures can provide market linkages to producers and artisans for online
selling of their products.
• Innovative CSR models in skills intervention for SHGs can increase their efficiency and
outcomes.
• Elderly Population:
• The poor civic infrastructure poses a challenge for their healthcare, wellbeing and
housing needs.
• The new CSR amendment suggests setting up old age homes, day care centres and such
other facilities for senior citizens.
• The inclusion of the CSR activities in the Schedule VII
supplements the government’s efforts.
• Slum Development
• Inclusion of slum development in CSR activities is supplementing government’s efforts
to make cities slum free.
Conclusion
• Innovative CSR projects are needed that are economically viable, scalable, and replicable
in demographic context.
• What is required is tapping of enormous resource pool and the organizational capacity
of the corporate sector to design viable and innovative CSR projects.
• Strategic CSR projects for the marginalized sections can assume much significant role
in their social development.
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