Hindu Editorial Analysis : 15-June-2024
Social protection is a fundamental human right, as highlighted by the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights. According to the International Labour Organization (ILO) World Social Protection Report 2022, India is falling short in its spending on social protection. This essay explores what social security means, its importance, current welfare schemes in India, and the challenges facing social protection efforts.
What is Social Security?
Social security refers to the support that a society provides to individuals and families. This support includes:
- Access to health care
- Income security during various life situations, such as:
- Old age
- Unemployment
- Sickness
- Maternity
- Loss of a breadwinner
The ILO has urged all countries to establish a “social protection floor” to ensure that everyone has access to these basic supports.
Importance of Social Security
Social security plays a crucial role in society. Its benefits include:
- Healthcare Access: It helps families afford medical care.
- Income Protection: It safeguards against loss of income due to sickness, unemployment, or disability.
- Support for the Elderly: It provides financial security during retirement.
- Educational Assistance for Children: Programs help families manage education costs.
- Stable Work Environment: It helps maintain good relationships between employers and workers.
- Social Cohesion: It promotes social unity and contributes to national development.
By enhancing living standards, social security can cushion the impacts of change in society and support a positive approach to globalization.
Social Security Welfare Schemes in India
India has introduced several welfare schemes to support its citizens:
- Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-Dhan Yojana: A voluntary pension scheme for old age protection, where the government matches contributions.
- Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana: Provides health coverage of up to ₹5 lakhs per family for certain vulnerable groups.
- Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana – Gramin: Aims to construct pucca houses for rural households by 2024.
- Public Distribution System (PDS): Supplies essential food grains to below-poverty-line families.
- Atal Pension Yojana: Offers pension options based on individual contributions.
- Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana: Provides accidental death and disability coverage.
- Mahatma Gandhi NREGA: Ensures wage employment for unskilled manual workers.
Issues and Concerns
Despite these efforts, India’s social protection system faces significant challenges:
- Low Spending: The ILO reports that India spends too little on social protection.
- Informal Workforce: Approximately 91% of workers are in the informal sector, lacking access to social security.
- Ageing Population: In two decades, India will have a growing number of elderly with limited savings and inadequate protection.
- Implementation Gaps: The Code on Social Security (2020) mainly addresses formal enterprises, leaving informal workers vulnerable.
- Complex Framework: The social security system has become complicated, with overlapping responsibilities and unclear definitions.
- Impact of COVID-19: The pandemic has severely affected the poor, exposing weaknesses in the social protection system.
Why In News
According to the ILO’s World Social Protection Report 2022, India spends too little on social protection, which raises concerns about the well-being of its most vulnerable populations. Social security is a human right, as outlined in the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights, and the ILO’s Recommendation of 2012 has urged all nations to establish a “social protection floor” to ensure that everyone has access to essential support systems. This lack of adequate funding can hinder progress toward achieving these fundamental rights for all citizens.
MCQs about The Importance of Social Protection in India
- What is the primary focus of social security as defined in the essay?
A. Economic growth
B. Access to education
C. Support for individuals and families during life challenges
D. Environmental protection
- According to the ILO’s World Social Protection Report 2022, what issue does India face regarding social protection spending?
A. It spends excessively on social protection.
B. It has the highest spending globally.
C. It spends too little on social protection.
D. It has a well-distributed social protection budget.
- Which of the following welfare schemes provides health coverage of up to ₹5 lakhs per family for vulnerable groups?
A. Atal Pension Yojana
B. Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana
C. Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana
D. Mahatma Gandhi NREGA
- What challenge does the essay highlight regarding India’s informal workforce?
A. It has high access to social security.
B. It is fully covered by the Code on Social Security (2020).
C. It lacks adequate social security protections.
D. It is well-defined and understood in policy.
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