Social Security: A Situational Analysis of Social Pensions in Madhya Pradesh
| Author | Shyam Singh,Yogesh Kumar |
| Date | 01 October 2015 |
| DOI | 10.1177/0019556120150407 |
| Published date | 01 October 2015 |
| Subject Matter | Article |
SOCIAL
SECURITY:
A SITUATIONAL ANALYSIS
OF
SOCIAL PENSIONS
IN
MADHYA
PRADESH
YOGESH
KUMAR
AND SHYAM SINGH
Delivery mechanism
of
basic social services has been one
of
the fandamental issues
in
determining the success
or
failure
of
poverty alleviation programmes, including social safety
programmes
in
the country. Instead
of
problems
of
ineffective
delivery
of
services being implicated at the level
of
macro policies,
much
of
such problems rest at lower level
of
administration.
This article looks
at
the problems related to the delivery
of
social security pensions
in
eight towns
in
MP.
The article
concludes that the responsibility
of
delivery
of
social security
pensions should be given
to
local and decentralised structures
with fundamental changes
in
the system
of
sanctioning
and
disbursement
of
pensions.
THE CONTEXT
INITIAL LITERATURE on social security recognises it as means
of
protection
of
people who work in organised sector under the aegis
of
the state. But this view could not stand steady in the later part
of
the
201
h Century, especially after World War II. After World War II, newly
emerged countries needed a system through which they could protect
vulnerability and poverty created by brutal consequences
of
internal and
cross-border insurgencies and colonialism. Social configuration
of
such
countries presented gigantic challenges before the policy makers to deal not
only with the persistent poverty but also deeply rooted social inequalities
which further contribute to economic dependencies and helplessness.
Considering this context, the scope
of
state-sponsored social security was
to be expanded beyond the organised sector. Scholars adopted a broader
view
of
social security referring to it as use
of
social means to prevent
deprivation and vulnerability (Dreze & Sen, 1999: 15). This kind
of
broad
approach provides space for extensive policy interventions. Therefore,
social security is not limited to merely organised sector workers but
also includes unorganised workers, helpless, vulnerable and poor. Social
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INDIAN
JOURNAL
OF
PUBLIC
ADMINISTRATION
VOL.
LXI.
NO.
4,
OCTOBER-DECEMBER
2015
security is not provided only to those who have suffered or are suffering
through any kinds
of
economic or social shocks but it is also provided to
those who are likely to face such shocks. Therefore, in the modern policy
framework, social security interventions are also understood as measures
of
risk management (Dev et
al.
200 l
).
Looking at the prevalent social and economic vulnerabilities, social
security measures remain relevant in the Indian context. Considering
the fact that increasing economic growth and development has not been
successful in addressing poverty and other vulnerabilities in the country,
social security measures have become·
of
great importance. A large
chunk
of
population lives in poor conditions. According to the World
Bank's estimate done in 2005, 41.6 percent
of
the total Indian population
falls below the international poverty line
of
US
Dollar 1.25 per
day.
1
According to another estimate, in 2009-10, around 32.2 per cent2
of
total
population live under the poverty line (Ahluwalia,
2011
:89). The volume
of
poverty can be understood by observing the conclusions
of
a recent
study done by the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiatives.
According to this study, eight Indian states including Uttar Pradesh, Madhya
Pradesh, Bihar, and West Bengal account for more poor people than those
combined in the 26 poorest African countries.3
Policy responses to poverty and other vulnerabilities are observed
in
terms
of
promotional and protectoral means
of
social security.
Promotional means are those which are provided to pull poor people
out
of
the poverty trap such as reservations in jobs and educational
institutions, free or subsidised health coverage and fellowships and
other educational subsidies. Protectoral means
of
social security are
insurance, contingencies and cash transfers. Social pensions are one
of
such important protectoral social security means that aim to prevent
poor and disadvantaged people from vulnerabilities through regular cash
transfer. These pensions are provided to old aged, disabled and widows.
In 2001, 7.4 per cent
of
total population in India was elderly, i.e. more
than 60 years, including 7
.1
per cent male and 7
.8
per cent female.
It
is
expected that by 2021, elderly population in the country will
be
10
per
cent
of
the total population. The importance
of
social pensions can be
understood by underlining the fact that dependency ratio (number
of
60
or 60+ old person per 100 persons in the age-group
of
15-59)
is
increasing.
In 1961, this ratio was 10.9 per cent and climbed up to
13.
I per cent in
20014• According to National Sample Survey, 601
h Round 2004, 65 per
cent persons who are 60 years old or more have to depend on others for
their every day subsistence. Since life expectancy has increased in elderly
people (13.8 per cent in 1970-75 to 17.9 per cent in 2002-06)5, need
of
social pensions also increases.
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