Kurukshetra Summary: November, 2024 – Social Security And Welfare

1. Social Security Vital for Development and Prosperity

Introduction

• Social security plays a crucial role in India’s socio-economic framework, providing essential support to vulnerable populations.
• It acts as a safety net against challenges such as poverty, unemployment, and health crises.
• With India experiencing rapid socio-economic changes, a robust social security system is increasingly vital to ensure equitable growth and stability.

Universal Social Protection

• The concept of universal social protection emphasizes providing all individuals with basic social security measures.
• According to the World Bank, well-designed social protection programs deliver significant returns on investment by enhancing human capital and economic productivity.
• Global commitments aim to establish a baseline of social protection for all people, ensuring they live with dignity and actively participate in society.

Social Security in India

• India’s multifaceted social security system addresses various aspects of human development through a combination of:
  • Social Insurance: Programs providing health and financial security.
  • Social Assistance: Welfare schemes targeted at the most vulnerable.
  • Rights-based Schemes: Focused on education and food security.
• The system underscores the need for holistic development, ensuring comprehensive well-being across all sectors.

Education and Food Security

• Right to Education Act (RTE):
  • Mandates free and compulsory education for children aged 6 to 14 years.
  • Promotes inclusivity and literacy among economically disadvantaged groups.
• Mid-Day Meal Scheme:
  • Provides nutritious meals to school-going children, improving enrollment, attendance, and nutrition.
• National Food Security Act (NFSA):
  • Covers approximately 67% of India’s population, ensuring access to subsidized food grains.
  • Addresses malnutrition and hunger among marginalized groups, contributing to food security.

Healthcare and Employment

• Healthcare Initiatives:
  • Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY):
  • Provides health insurance coverage of up to ₹5 lakh per family annually to vulnerable groups.
  • Reduces out-of-pocket healthcare expenses and improves access to quality medical care.
• Employment Schemes:
  • Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA):
  • Guarantees 100 days of wage employment annually for rural households.
  • Enhances livelihood security while creating rural infrastructure and assets.

Senior Citizens and the Unorganized Sector

• Pension and Support for Senior Citizens:
  • Pension schemes provide financial stability to elderly individuals, ensuring their basic needs are met.
  • Healthcare initiatives for senior citizens focus on addressing age-related challenges and ensuring access to medical services.
• Social Security for the Unorganized Sector:
  • Over 90% of India’s workforce is employed in the unorganized sector, facing challenges such as low wages and lack of job security.
  • Government initiatives aim to extend benefits like insurance and pensions to these workers, ensuring their inclusion in the social security framework.

Conclusion

• Effective social protection mechanisms are essential to adapt to changing demographics and societal needs.
• Strengthening India’s social security framework remains pivotal for inclusive development, ensuring prosperity and resilience for all sections of society.

2. Social Security and Welfare of Farmers for Building Viksit Bharat

Introduction

• Social security and welfare programs for farmers are essential for building a developed and inclusive India (‘Viksit Bharat’).
• Ensuring farmers’ well-being is both an economic necessity and a moral commitment, vital for securing the nation’s future.

The Importance of Social Security for Farmers

• Social security provides protection during uncontrollable circumstances, ensuring economic stability and dignity.
• Farmers, as a vulnerable section of society, require robust social safety nets to address uncertainties in agriculture.
• The government bears a significant responsibility to implement effective welfare measures for farmers’ prosperity.

Challenges Faced by Farmers

• Indian farmers face numerous challenges that impact their livelihood, including:
  • Small and fragmented landholdings.
  • Limited access to modern agricultural technologies.
  • Dependence on erratic monsoons, leading to crop failures.
  • Market price fluctuations that reduce profitability.
  • Rising input costs, which increase the financial burden on farmers.
• These challenges underscore the need for strong social security frameworks tailored to address farmers’ specific issues.

Government Initiatives for Farmer Welfare

• Several schemes and programs are in place to ensure farmers’ economic security and welfare:
  • Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN): Provides direct income support of ₹6,000 per year to farmers in three installments.
  • Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY): Offers affordable crop insurance, protecting farmers against crop loss due to natural calamities.
  • Pradhan Mantri Kisan Maandhan Yojana (PM-KMY): Ensures old-age pension for small and marginal farmers, enhancing financial security post-retirement.
  • Atal Pension Yojana (APY): Provides social security for farmers by encouraging savings for retirement.

Sustainable Farming and Environmental Security

• Sustainable farming is crucial for ensuring long-term agricultural productivity and environmental security.
• Key initiatives promoting sustainable practices include:
  • Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY): Encourages organic farming to reduce environmental degradation and enhance soil fertility.
  • Per Drop More Crop (PDMC): Focuses on micro-irrigation techniques, increasing water-use efficiency in agriculture.
  • Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY): Promotes efficient irrigation and better resource utilization for sustainable farming.

Digital Platform for Farm Mechanization and Technology

• Technology adoption is a cornerstone of modernizing agriculture and enhancing productivity.
• The government has introduced a Digital Platform for Farm Mechanization and Technology, which includes:
  • Direct benefit transfer of subsidies for farm machinery.
  • A centralized farm machinery performance testing portal to ensure equipment quality.
  • The FARMS mobile app, enabling farmers to access mechanization-related services seamlessly.

Farmers’ Collectives and Marketing of Farm Produce

• Strengthening farmers’ collectives and improving marketing systems are key to increasing farmers’ incomes.
• Notable initiatives include:
  • Formation and Promotion of 10,000 Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs): Facilitates collective farming and bargaining power for better market access.
  • National Agriculture Market (e-NAM): A pan-India platform for transparent price discovery and efficient online trading of agricultural commodities.
  • These initiatives empower farmers by reducing exploitation by intermediaries and enhancing profitability.

Conclusion

• Social security and welfare measures for farmers are pivotal to achieving an inclusive and prosperous India.
• The government’s focus on uplifting marginalized farmers through targeted policies demonstrates its commitment to ensuring agricultural sustainability and economic equity.
• By addressing challenges and promoting comprehensive welfare schemes, India can build a resilient agricultural sector that drives national development.

3. Government Schemes Making the Path Easier for Divyangjan

Introduction

• Empowering ‘Divyangjan’ (persons with disabilities) and ensuring their inclusion in society are key priorities for the government.
• Various schemes and initiatives aim to improve the personal, social, and economic conditions of Divyangjan, enabling them to lead dignified and fulfilling lives.

Improving Prospects for Divyangjan

• Divyangjan face significant challenges in accessing opportunities for social and economic development, particularly in rural areas.
• The government is addressing these challenges by providing employment and self-employment opportunities.
• Vocational skill training initiatives are central to equipping Divyangjan with the skills required to participate in the workforce.

Divyangjan Empowerment Schemes

• Several government schemes focus on the empowerment of Divyangjan in areas such as education, health, social security, and self-esteem.
• Reservation in government jobs and other affirmative action measures are pivotal in ensuring their inclusion.
• These initiatives aim to bridge the gap in access to opportunities and promote social and economic integration.

Empowerment with Dignity

• Addressing Divyangjan with respect and dignity is crucial for their empowerment.
• The Prime Minister’s initiative to use the term ‘Divyangjan’ reflects an effort to highlight their special abilities.
• Various initiatives by government and non-governmental organizations aim to recognize these abilities and facilitate their inclusion in mainstream society.

Self-Reliant Divyangjans

• Numerous examples of Divyangjan achieving self-reliance and success in diverse fields highlight the impact of government support and social inclusion.
• Such achievements emphasize the importance of enabling environments and targeted schemes in helping Divyangjan realize their potential.

Government Schemes for Individual Empowerment

• Several schemes focus on education, health, social security, and rehabilitation for Divyangjan:
  • Disability Certificates: Enable access to benefits such as concessions in school and college fees, scholarships, and various government schemes.
  • Education Initiatives: Aim to provide scholarships and financial assistance for pursuing education.
  • Health and Rehabilitation: Focus on medical support and rehabilitation services to improve the quality of life.
• These schemes collectively enhance the social and economic inclusion of Divyangjan.

Assistance in Assistive Devices and Social Respect

• The Assistance to Disabled Persons for Purchase/Fitting of Aids and Appliances (ADIP) Scheme provides assistive devices and equipment to Divyangjan.
• This scheme supports physical, social, and psychological rehabilitation, enabling greater mobility and independence.
• Promoting social respect for Divyangjan is equally important, with various initiatives recognizing their achievements and contributions.

Schemes for Economic Empowerment

• Economic empowerment is a critical aspect of the government’s efforts for Divyangjan:
  • Reservation in government jobs ensures representation and access to employment opportunities.
  • Financial assistance for self-employment supports entrepreneurial aspirations.
  • National Divyangjan Finance and Development Corporation (NDFDC): Plays a key role in providing financial assistance and promoting self-reliance among Divyangjan.
• These measures collectively aim to enhance the economic stability and independence of Divyangjan.

Conclusion

• Significant progress has been made in empowering Divyangjan through a wide range of government schemes and initiatives.
• Continuous improvement in the implementation of these programs is necessary to ensure their effectiveness.
• Easy access to information and resources remains crucial for achieving full inclusion and empowerment of Divyangjan in society.

4. Ensuring Dignity in Old Age: A Pathway to Social Security for Senior Citizens

Introduction

• Social security is crucial to ensuring a dignified life for senior citizens in India.
• Rapid urbanization, changing family structures, and evolving social norms necessitate formal state intervention for elderly welfare.

The Growing Elderly Population in India

• India is experiencing a demographic shift with a rapid increase in the elderly population.
• This transition calls for robust social security, healthcare, and economic policies to address the challenges faced by senior citizens.
• Ensuring a comfortable and dignified life for the elderly is essential to managing this demographic change.

Social Security Programs for Senior Citizens

• Various government initiatives aim to provide financial, healthcare, housing, and legal security to senior citizens.
• These programs ensure economic stability, access to healthcare, safe housing, and legal rights.

Pension and Insurance Schemes

• National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP): Provides financial assistance to elderly individuals below the poverty line.
• Atal Pension Yojana (APY): Ensures a fixed monthly pension for unorganized sector workers after retirement.
• Pradhan Mantri Vaya Vandana Yojana (PMVVY): Offers assured returns to senior citizens through pension schemes managed by LIC.
• Employees’ Pension Scheme (EPS): Provides retirement and family pensions to eligible employees in the organized sector.
• Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY): Offers accidental insurance coverage to senior citizens.

Healthcare Initiatives for Senior Citizens

• Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY): Provides health insurance coverage to the elderly in low-income groups.
• National Programme for Health Care of the Elderly (NPHCE): Focuses on preventive and curative care tailored to elderly health needs.
• Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana (RVY): Provides physical aids and assisted-living devices to senior citizens.
• Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY): Offers cashless treatment at empaneled hospitals for the elderly under the Ayushman Bharat scheme.
• Senior Citizens’ Welfare Fund (SCWF): Supports healthcare and welfare activities for senior citizens.

Livelihood and Skilling Initiatives

• Senior Able Citizens for Re-employment in Dignity (SACRED): Provides a platform for re-employment opportunities for senior citizens.
• Action Groups Aimed at Social Reconstruction (AGRASR Groups): Facilitates engagement in productive activities, enhancing earnings and self-respect for the elderly.

Housing and Welfare Schemes

• Integrated Programme for Senior Citizens (IPSrC): Offers support for senior citizen care services, including housing.
• Reverse Mortgage Scheme: Enables senior citizens to avail loans against their homes to ensure financial independence during old age.

Legal Protection and Rights for Senior Citizens

• Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007: Mandates financial support and care for senior citizens by their children or legal heirs.
• National Policy for Senior Citizens, 2011: Focuses on the welfare and rights of elderly individuals, ensuring their integration into society.
• Helplines and Awareness Programs: Provide support to protect seniors from abuse, neglect, and exploitation.

Challenges and the Way Forward

• Key challenges include inadequate infrastructure, low awareness about available schemes, insufficient pension amounts, and limited healthcare access.
• A comprehensive approach is needed to improve social security for the elderly, focusing on:
  • Expanding pension coverage and increasing pension amounts.
  • Enhancing healthcare facilities and making services easily accessible.
  • Simplifying application processes for various schemes.
  • Raising awareness about rights and available support systems.

Conclusion

• A multi-faceted approach is essential to enhance the quality of life for senior citizens in India.
• Addressing challenges and implementing robust social security programs will ensure that the elderly are respected, cared for, and empowered to live with dignity and security in their later years.

5.Social Security of Scheduled Tribes & Scheduled Castes in North-Eastern Region

Introduction

• The unique context of social security for Scheduled Tribes (ST) and Scheduled Castes (SC) in the North-Eastern Region of India is shaped by its distinct demographic composition.
• This discussion explores challenges and opportunities in ensuring social security and sustainable development for these communities.

Unique Demographic Composition

• The North-Eastern Region has a significant proportion of ST communities, with four states having a tribal majority.
• The region is home to a diverse range of ST communities, each characterized by unique cultural and traditional practices.

Inter-relationship between Ecology and Communities

• Indigenous economic systems in tribal areas are deeply tied to ecological parameters such as land, forest, and water.
• Challenges include:
  • Land Alienation: Loss of traditional land ownership due to external interventions.
  • Displacement: Development projects causing the relocation of ST communities.
  • Ecological Balance: Ensuring that development initiatives preserve traditional livelihoods and ecological sustainability.

Constitutional Provisions and Political Representation

• Sixth Schedule to the Constitution:
  • Provides for the administration of tribal areas in the North-Eastern Region.
  • Safeguards tribal rights, ensuring local governance through Autonomous District Councils (ADCs).
• Reservation of Seats:
  • Reserved seats in elected bodies ensure political representation and active participation of ST and SC communities in decision-making processes.

Literacy and Education

• The literacy rate among STs in the North-Eastern Region is above the national average.
• Challenges persist in providing access to quality education, particularly at the secondary and higher secondary levels.
• Addressing these challenges is essential to achieving equitable educational opportunities for ST and SC communities.

Crimes Against ST and SC Communities

• Data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB):
  • Crimes against ST and SC communities in the North-Eastern Region are relatively lower compared to other parts of India.
  • This reflects a relatively harmonious social environment in the region.

Health Indicators and Social Security

• Key Health Indicators:
  • Positive trends observed in sex ratio and Infant Mortality Ratio (IMR).
  • Challenges remain in providing access to quality healthcare services, especially in remote and inaccessible areas.
• Bridging healthcare gaps is critical to enhancing the social security of ST communities in the region.

Housing and Welfare Schemes

• Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G): Aims to provide affordable and safe housing for rural communities, including ST and SC populations.
• Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Unnat Gram Abhiyan: Focuses on improving living conditions and holistic development of tribal villages.
• These schemes play a vital role in uplifting the socio-economic status of ST and SC communities.

Challenges and Opportunities

• Unique challenges faced by ST and SC communities in the North-Eastern Region include:
  • Geographic isolation and difficult terrain hindering access to services.
  • Preservation of cultural identity amidst modernization.
  • Balancing development with ecological and traditional livelihood sustainability.
• Opportunities lie in targeted and inclusive policies, infrastructure development, and preservation of cultural heritage.

Conclusion

• Addressing the unique challenges of ST and SC communities in the North-Eastern Region requires comprehensive social security and welfare programs.
• Key areas of focus include:
  • Enhancing access to education, healthcare, and housing.
  • Promoting sustainable livelihood opportunities.
  • Preserving cultural identity and ensuring ecological sustainability.
• A holistic approach is essential to achieving the overall development and well-being of these communities.

6.Importance of Enhancing Social Security for Unorganized Sector Workers

Introduction

• Ensuring social security for workers in the unorganized sector in India is critical due to their vulnerability.
• This discussion focuses on challenges faced by these workers and highlights the need for coordinated efforts to improve their well-being through social security measures.

The Unorganized Sector in India

• The unorganized sector comprises a significant proportion of India’s workforce, representing around 90% of the total labor force.
• Workers in this sector face challenges such as:
  • Lack of job security.
  • Absence of social security benefits.
  • Limited access to basic amenities.
• These vulnerabilities underscore the need for targeted interventions.

Social Security Code 2020

• The Social Security Code 2020 aims to consolidate and extend social security benefits to unorganized sector workers.
• Key provisions include:
  • Registration of unorganized sector workers.
  • Issuance of identity cards for access to social security schemes.
• This initiative intends to bridge gaps in the social security framework for marginalized workers.

Government Initiatives for Unorganized Sector Workers

Financial Inclusion and Insurance

• Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY):
  • Promotes financial inclusion by providing access to banking services.
• Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY):
  • Offers life insurance coverage to individuals.
• Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY):
  • Provides accidental insurance coverage to unorganized sector workers.

Pension and Retirement Benefits

• Atal Pension Yojana (APY):
  • Ensures old-age pension benefits for workers.
• Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-Dhan (PM-SYM):
  • Offers pension benefits to unorganized sector workers.
• Pradhan Mantri Laghu Vyapari Maandhan Yojana:
  • Targets small shopkeepers with pension benefits.
• National Pension System (NPS):
  • Caters to employees joining government service after 2004, ensuring retirement benefits.

Healthcare Coverage

• Ayushman Bharat:
  • Provides health insurance coverage, aiming for universal healthcare access.
• Employees’ State Insurance Scheme (ESI):
  • Offers health insurance and other benefits to organized sector workers, indirectly supporting unorganized workers through comprehensive coverage goals.

Employment and Rural Welfare

• Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA):
  • Guarantees wage employment in rural areas, providing economic stability to unorganized workers.

Challenges in Implementing Social Security Schemes

• Despite the presence of various schemes, several challenges persist, including:
  • Lack of Awareness: Workers remain unaware of available benefits.
  • Low Enrollment Rates: Limited participation reduces scheme effectiveness.
  • Limited Coverage: Many workers remain outside the purview of social security initiatives.
  • Inadequate Funding: Insufficient financial resources hinder the efficient implementation of schemes.
• These barriers highlight the need for universal social security schemes that are:
  • Inclusive of all unorganized sector workers.
  • Practical and easy to implement.

Conclusion

• Ensuring social security for unorganized sector workers is vital for sustainable development in India.
• Universal social security coverage is not only a necessity for workers’ well-being but also a cornerstone for the country’s overall socio-economic progress.

7. A Safety Net for All: India Scales Healthcare for Social Security

Introduction

• India is making significant efforts to scale healthcare and improve social security, focusing on health equity and universal health coverage.
• Various government initiatives, such as Ayushman Bharat and digital health platforms, aim to ensure affordable and accessible healthcare for all, particularly for vulnerable groups.

Health Equity and Social Justice

• Addressing health equity and social justice is essential for India’s sustainable and inclusive growth.
• While India has progressed economically, prioritizing the healthcare needs of marginalized communities ensures equitable sharing of benefits.

Ayushman Bharat – A Holistic Healthcare Approach

• Ayushman Bharat offers integrated healthcare through two main components:
  1. Health and Wellness Centers (HWCs): Renamed as Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (AAMs), these provide primary healthcare services at the community level.
  2. Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY): Covers secondary and tertiary hospitalization costs for poor and vulnerable families.
• The initiative focuses on population, service, and financial coverage, reducing out-of-pocket expenditures (OOPEs) for healthcare services.

Six Years of Healthcare Transformation

• Over the past six years, Ayushman Bharat has:
  • Improved healthcare access for vulnerable populations.
  • Reduced OOPEs significantly, enhancing financial security for citizens.
  • Achieved milestones in population coverage, healthcare services, and affordability.

Other Health Initiatives

1. Janaushadhi Kendras:
   • Provide affordable essential medicines.
2. National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme:
   • Aims to combat and eradicate tuberculosis.
3. Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY):
   • Offers cash incentives to pregnant women and lactating mothers.
4. Free Dialysis Scheme:
   • Ensures free dialysis services for patients with kidney failure.
5. Ayushman Bhav Campaign:
   • Expands healthcare services to underserved and remote areas.

Focus on Vulnerable Populations

• The government targets healthcare needs of marginalized groups, including women, the elderly, and transgender persons:
  • Free Antenatal Care and Safe Delivery Services: For women.
  • PM-JAY Health Coverage for Citizens Aged 70+: Ensures healthcare access for the elderly.
  • SMILE Scheme: Supports transgender persons with healthcare, skill development, and shelter homes.
  • Ayushman Bharat TG Plus Card: Provides healthcare access for transgender individuals, including sex reassignment surgeries (SRS) and cosmetic treatments.

Addressing Out-of-Pocket Expenditure (OOPE)

• High OOPEs have been a major concern in India’s healthcare system.
• Government measures have reduced OOPEs as a percentage of total health expenditure.
• Social security schemes, such as food security, housing, and sanitation, play a critical role in enhancing financial protection and reducing healthcare costs.

Strengthening Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC)

• ESIC is pivotal in providing social security to workers in the organized sector.
• Recent expansions include:
  • Increased worker coverage under the ESI Scheme.
  • Strengthening ESIC infrastructure to enhance healthcare access.
  • Collaboration between ESIC and PM-JAY for broader healthcare services to ESIC beneficiaries.

Technology as the Great Equalizer

• Technology is transforming India’s healthcare delivery system by democratizing access.
• Key digital initiatives include:
  1. Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM): Digitizes health records for seamless healthcare access.
  2. COWIN App: Facilitates vaccination management and tracking.
  3. Aarogya Setu: Enables contact tracing and health risk assessment.
  4. e-Sanjeevani: Provides teleconsultations to ensure healthcare access in remote areas.
  5. e-Hospital: Streamlines hospital services and administration.

Holistic Healthcare through Social Security

• Health equity is interconnected with social security benefits such as:
  • Food Security: Ensuring nutritional needs are met.
  • Housing and Clean Water: Essential for preventing diseases.
  • Sanitation and Financial Security: Contribute to overall well-being and improved health outcomes.

Conclusion

• India is committed to achieving universal health coverage and ensuring affordable, high-quality healthcare for all citizens.
• A holistic approach integrating modern medicine, traditional healthcare practices, and technology bridges the gap between communities and regions, ensuring equitable healthcare access.