Kurukshetra Magazine November 2024 | Monthly Yojana & Kurukshetra Magazine (English) - UPSC PDF Download

 Page 2


KURUKSHETRA NOVEMBER 2024- Social Security & Welfare
1
  TOPIC 1: SOCIAL SECURITY - 
VITAL FOR DEVELOPMENT AND 
PROSPERITY
1. Introduction to Social Security in India
•	 India’s 	 social 	 security	 system	 is	 extensive,	
encompassing 	 social	 insurance,	 social	
assistance,	 right 	 to	 education,	 and	 right 	 to	
food.
•	 These	 schemes 	 primarily	 originate 	 at	
the 	 central	 government 	 level,	 with 	 state	
governments 	supplementing 	in	some	ar eas.
•	 Social 	 security	 ensur es 	 dignified 	 and 	 pr oud 	
living 	 by	 covering 	 essential	 aspects 	 of	 life	 for	
individuals.
2. Definition and Scope of Social Protection
• The International Labour Organization 
(ILO) 	 defines 	 social	 pr otection 	 as	 a	 set	 of	
policies 	 to	 r educe	 poverty , 	 vulnerability ,	 and 	
social 	exclusion	acr oss	the	life	cycle.
• Components of Social Protection:
	 i.	 Child	and 	Family	Benefits
	 ii.	 Maternity	Pr otection
	 iii.	 Unemployment 	Support
	 iv .	 Employment	Injury	Benefits
	 v.	 Sickness 	Benefits
	 vi.	 Health 	Pr otection
	 vii.	 Old-age 	Benefits
	 viii.	 Invalidity/Disability 	Benefits
	 ix.	 Survivor ’s 	Benefits
3. Global Perspectives on Social Security
•	 W orld 	Bank	Perspective:
	 ¾ V iews	 well-designed	 social	 pr otection 	
pr ograms	as 	high-r eturn 	investments.
	 ¾ A 	 dollar 	 invested	 in	 poor 	 families	 yields 	
a	 multiplier 	 ef fect	 of 	 $2.49	 in 	 the	 local 	
economy .
	 ¾ Recognizes 	 social	 security 	 as	 a	 powerful 	
tool	 for	 meeting 	 human	 rights, 	 basic 	
needs,	 and	 supporting 	 active	 societal 	
engagement.
• Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) :
	 ¾ SDG 	 Goal	 1	 emphasizes	 “ending 	 poverty 	
in	 all	 its	 forms” 	 and 	 advocates	 for	 r obust 	
social	pr otection 	systems 	globally .
• Universal Declaration of Human Rights :
	 ¾ Article 	 22	 af firms 	 the 	 right 	 to	 social	 security 	
for 	dignity 	and 	personal	development.
	 ¾ Reaf firmed 	 by	 the	 2012	 International 	
Labour 	 Confer ence	 commitment 	 to 	
universal	social	pr otection 	floors.
4. Need for Universal Social Protection
• UN’s 56th Commission on Social 
Development :
	 ¾ Highlights 	 that 	 71%	 of	 the 	 global	
population 	 lacks	 adequate	 pr otection, 	
with	over	750	million 	in 	extr eme 	poverty .
	 ¾ Only 	 29%	 of	 the	 global	 workfor ce	 has	
compr ehensive	social	pr otection.
• World Social Protection Report 2024-26 
(ILO) :
	 ¾ Coverage 	 has	 gr own 	 to 	 52.4%,	 but 	
significant 	 gaps 	 persist,	 especially	 for	
childr en	and 	women.
	 ¾ Social	 pr otection 	 enhances	 economic	
gr owth, 	 social 	 inclusion, 	 and	 political 	
stability	 by	 r educing	 inequalities	 and 	
fostering	social	cohesion.
5. Social Security Measures in India
A. Right to Education
•	 Education 	 is	 a	 fundamental	 right 	 (Article 	
21A).
•	 Right	 to 	 Education 	 (R TE) 	 Act,	 2009:	 Ensur es	
fr ee 	 and	 compulsory	 education 	 for	 childr en 	
aged	6-14.
•	 Key	Initiatives:
 ¾ Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan :	 T ar gets 	 education	
for 	 192	 million 	 childr en	 in 	 1.1	 million 	
habitations.
 ¾ Samagra Shiksha Scheme :	 Covers 	
education	 fr om	 pr e-school 	 to	 class	 XII, 	
ensuring	quality	and 	inclusive	education.
 ¾ State-level Initiatives :	 States	 like	
Karnataka, 	 Uttar	 Pradesh,	 and	 Maharashtra 	
have	extended	fr ee 	education 	to	girls.
Page 3


KURUKSHETRA NOVEMBER 2024- Social Security & Welfare
1
  TOPIC 1: SOCIAL SECURITY - 
VITAL FOR DEVELOPMENT AND 
PROSPERITY
1. Introduction to Social Security in India
•	 India’s 	 social 	 security	 system	 is	 extensive,	
encompassing 	 social	 insurance,	 social	
assistance,	 right 	 to	 education,	 and	 right 	 to	
food.
•	 These	 schemes 	 primarily	 originate 	 at	
the 	 central	 government 	 level,	 with 	 state	
governments 	supplementing 	in	some	ar eas.
•	 Social 	 security	 ensur es 	 dignified 	 and 	 pr oud 	
living 	 by	 covering 	 essential	 aspects 	 of	 life	 for	
individuals.
2. Definition and Scope of Social Protection
• The International Labour Organization 
(ILO) 	 defines 	 social	 pr otection 	 as	 a	 set	 of	
policies 	 to	 r educe	 poverty , 	 vulnerability ,	 and 	
social 	exclusion	acr oss	the	life	cycle.
• Components of Social Protection:
	 i.	 Child	and 	Family	Benefits
	 ii.	 Maternity	Pr otection
	 iii.	 Unemployment 	Support
	 iv .	 Employment	Injury	Benefits
	 v.	 Sickness 	Benefits
	 vi.	 Health 	Pr otection
	 vii.	 Old-age 	Benefits
	 viii.	 Invalidity/Disability 	Benefits
	 ix.	 Survivor ’s 	Benefits
3. Global Perspectives on Social Security
•	 W orld 	Bank	Perspective:
	 ¾ V iews	 well-designed	 social	 pr otection 	
pr ograms	as 	high-r eturn 	investments.
	 ¾ A 	 dollar 	 invested	 in	 poor 	 families	 yields 	
a	 multiplier 	 ef fect	 of 	 $2.49	 in 	 the	 local 	
economy .
	 ¾ Recognizes 	 social	 security 	 as	 a	 powerful 	
tool	 for	 meeting 	 human	 rights, 	 basic 	
needs,	 and	 supporting 	 active	 societal 	
engagement.
• Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) :
	 ¾ SDG 	 Goal	 1	 emphasizes	 “ending 	 poverty 	
in	 all	 its	 forms” 	 and 	 advocates	 for	 r obust 	
social	pr otection 	systems 	globally .
• Universal Declaration of Human Rights :
	 ¾ Article 	 22	 af firms 	 the 	 right 	 to	 social	 security 	
for 	dignity 	and 	personal	development.
	 ¾ Reaf firmed 	 by	 the	 2012	 International 	
Labour 	 Confer ence	 commitment 	 to 	
universal	social	pr otection 	floors.
4. Need for Universal Social Protection
• UN’s 56th Commission on Social 
Development :
	 ¾ Highlights 	 that 	 71%	 of	 the 	 global	
population 	 lacks	 adequate	 pr otection, 	
with	over	750	million 	in 	extr eme 	poverty .
	 ¾ Only 	 29%	 of	 the	 global	 workfor ce	 has	
compr ehensive	social	pr otection.
• World Social Protection Report 2024-26 
(ILO) :
	 ¾ Coverage 	 has	 gr own 	 to 	 52.4%,	 but 	
significant 	 gaps 	 persist,	 especially	 for	
childr en	and 	women.
	 ¾ Social	 pr otection 	 enhances	 economic	
gr owth, 	 social 	 inclusion, 	 and	 political 	
stability	 by	 r educing	 inequalities	 and 	
fostering	social	cohesion.
5. Social Security Measures in India
A. Right to Education
•	 Education 	 is	 a	 fundamental	 right 	 (Article 	
21A).
•	 Right	 to 	 Education 	 (R TE) 	 Act,	 2009:	 Ensur es	
fr ee 	 and	 compulsory	 education 	 for	 childr en 	
aged	6-14.
•	 Key	Initiatives:
 ¾ Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan :	 T ar gets 	 education	
for 	 192	 million 	 childr en	 in 	 1.1	 million 	
habitations.
 ¾ Samagra Shiksha Scheme :	 Covers 	
education	 fr om	 pr e-school 	 to	 class	 XII, 	
ensuring	quality	and 	inclusive	education.
 ¾ State-level Initiatives :	 States	 like	
Karnataka, 	 Uttar	 Pradesh,	 and	 Maharashtra 	
have	extended	fr ee 	education 	to	girls.
2
KURUKSHETRA NOVEMBER 2024- Social Security & Welfare
B. Right to Food
• National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013 :	
Entitles 	 up 	 to 	 75%	 of	 r ural	 and 	 50%	 of 	 urban 	
populations 	to	subsidized	food.
• Key Programs :
 ¾ PM Gareeb Kalyan Ann Yojana :	 Pr ovided 	
additional 	food	grains 	during	COVID-19.
 ¾ Antyodaya Anna Yojana :	 Focuses 	 on 	 food	
security 	for	the	most	vulnerable 	sections.
 ¾ Mid-Day Meal Scheme (PM POSHAN) :	
Ensur es	 nutrition 	 for 	 childr en, 	 impacting 	
1 1.8	cr or e	students	in	1 1.2 	lakh 	schools.
• State Initiatives :	 States	 like 	 T amil	 Nadu,	
Rajasthan, 	 and 	 Karnataka 	 pr ovide 	 subsidized	
cooked 	meals.
C. Health Insurance for the Poor
• Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan 
Aarogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) :
	 ¾ W orld’s 	 lar gest	 health 	 insurance	 scheme	
covering	 12	 cr or e 	 families,	 pr oviding 	
benefits 	 of	 up	 to	 Rs	 5	 lakh 	 per	 family	
annually .
	 ¾ Recently	 expanded 	 to 	 cover	 all 	 senior 	
citizens	aged	70	and	above.
D. Right to Work and Employment
• Mahatma Gandhi National Rural 
Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) :
	 ¾ Pr ovides	 100	 days	 of	 wage 	 employment 	
per	year	to	r ural 	households.
• Code on Social Security 2020 :
	 ¾ Intr oduces	 pr otection 	 for	 unor ganized, 	 gig,	
and	 platform	 workers,	 covering	 healthcar e, 	
income	 security , 	 maternity 	 benefits,	 and 	
other	social	security	measur es.
6. Social Security for Senior Citizens
• Global Aging Trend 	(WHO):
	 ¾ The 	 population 	 aged 	 60+	 is	 pr ojected	 to 	
r each	1.4	billion 	by 	2030.
• Pensions :
	 ¾ 79.6%	 of	 the 	 global	 elderly	 population 	
r eceives 	pensions.
	 ¾ India’s	 central	 and 	 state	 governments 	
allocate	 substantial 	 budgets	 for	 pensions, 	
with	 numer ous 	 schemes 	 supporting 	 non-
government	workers.
• Senior Citizen Schemes in India :
 ¾ Atal Vayo Abhyudaya Yojana (A VYAY) :	
Covers 	healthcar e,	nutrition, 	and	welfar e.
 ¾ Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension 
Scheme :	 Pr ovides	 Rs.	 200	 per	 month, 	 with 	
additional 	state	top-ups	for	beneficiaries.
7. Protection for Workers in the Unorganized 
Sector
• Economic Survey 2023-24 :	 India’s	 workfor ce 	
is	 ar ound	 565	 million, 	 with	 45%	 in 	 agricultur e.
• Key Schemes :
 ¾ Employees State Insurance (ESI) :	 Covers 	
health 	 pr otection, 	 unemployment,	 and 	
sickness 	benefits.
 ¾ Employees Provident Fund Organization 
(EPFO) :	Pr ovides 	old-age	income	security .
 ¾ Unorganized Workers Social Security Act, 
2008 :	 Of fers 	 benefits 	 like 	 life	 and	 disability 	
cover ,	health, 	and	old-age	pr otection.
 ¾ Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bhima 
Yojana (PM JJBY) :	 Pr ovides	 Rs.	 2	 lakh 	
risk	 coverage	 for	 people	 aged	 18-50	 at	 an	
annual	pr emium 	of	Rs. 	436.
8. Future Directions and Challenges
• Global Comparisons :
	 ¾ Some 	 countries,	 like 	 Ur uguay , 	 have	
achieved	 compr ehensive	 social	 pr otection, 	
leading 	 to	 high 	 per	 capita 	 income	 and	 low	
poverty .
• ILO’s 2024-26 Report :
	 ¾ An	 additional 	 $1.4	 trillion 	 per	 annum	
is	 needed	 for 	 low-	 and 	 middle-income	
countries	to	ensur e 	basic	social	pr otection.
• Key Insight :
	 ¾ Social	 pr otection 	 schemes 	 ar e	 vital	 for	
sustainable 	 economic	 gr owth, 	 as 	 noted 	
by 	 former 	 Fr ench 	 Pr esident 	 Nicolas 	
Sarkozy ,	 highlighting 	 their 	 r ole	 in	 worker	
pr oductivity 	and 	balanced	development.
Conclusion:
•	 Social	 security	 systems	 ar e 	 essential 	 not 	 only 	 for	
poverty	alleviation 	but	also	for 	fostering 	social	
inclusion, 	stability ,	and 	economic	gr owth.
•	 India’s	 expansive	 social	 pr otection 	
pr ograms,	 while	 impactful, 	 r equir e	 ongoing 	
development	 and	 adaptation 	 to 	 demographic 	
and	socio-economic	changes.
Page 4


KURUKSHETRA NOVEMBER 2024- Social Security & Welfare
1
  TOPIC 1: SOCIAL SECURITY - 
VITAL FOR DEVELOPMENT AND 
PROSPERITY
1. Introduction to Social Security in India
•	 India’s 	 social 	 security	 system	 is	 extensive,	
encompassing 	 social	 insurance,	 social	
assistance,	 right 	 to	 education,	 and	 right 	 to	
food.
•	 These	 schemes 	 primarily	 originate 	 at	
the 	 central	 government 	 level,	 with 	 state	
governments 	supplementing 	in	some	ar eas.
•	 Social 	 security	 ensur es 	 dignified 	 and 	 pr oud 	
living 	 by	 covering 	 essential	 aspects 	 of	 life	 for	
individuals.
2. Definition and Scope of Social Protection
• The International Labour Organization 
(ILO) 	 defines 	 social	 pr otection 	 as	 a	 set	 of	
policies 	 to	 r educe	 poverty , 	 vulnerability ,	 and 	
social 	exclusion	acr oss	the	life	cycle.
• Components of Social Protection:
	 i.	 Child	and 	Family	Benefits
	 ii.	 Maternity	Pr otection
	 iii.	 Unemployment 	Support
	 iv .	 Employment	Injury	Benefits
	 v.	 Sickness 	Benefits
	 vi.	 Health 	Pr otection
	 vii.	 Old-age 	Benefits
	 viii.	 Invalidity/Disability 	Benefits
	 ix.	 Survivor ’s 	Benefits
3. Global Perspectives on Social Security
•	 W orld 	Bank	Perspective:
	 ¾ V iews	 well-designed	 social	 pr otection 	
pr ograms	as 	high-r eturn 	investments.
	 ¾ A 	 dollar 	 invested	 in	 poor 	 families	 yields 	
a	 multiplier 	 ef fect	 of 	 $2.49	 in 	 the	 local 	
economy .
	 ¾ Recognizes 	 social	 security 	 as	 a	 powerful 	
tool	 for	 meeting 	 human	 rights, 	 basic 	
needs,	 and	 supporting 	 active	 societal 	
engagement.
• Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) :
	 ¾ SDG 	 Goal	 1	 emphasizes	 “ending 	 poverty 	
in	 all	 its	 forms” 	 and 	 advocates	 for	 r obust 	
social	pr otection 	systems 	globally .
• Universal Declaration of Human Rights :
	 ¾ Article 	 22	 af firms 	 the 	 right 	 to	 social	 security 	
for 	dignity 	and 	personal	development.
	 ¾ Reaf firmed 	 by	 the	 2012	 International 	
Labour 	 Confer ence	 commitment 	 to 	
universal	social	pr otection 	floors.
4. Need for Universal Social Protection
• UN’s 56th Commission on Social 
Development :
	 ¾ Highlights 	 that 	 71%	 of	 the 	 global	
population 	 lacks	 adequate	 pr otection, 	
with	over	750	million 	in 	extr eme 	poverty .
	 ¾ Only 	 29%	 of	 the	 global	 workfor ce	 has	
compr ehensive	social	pr otection.
• World Social Protection Report 2024-26 
(ILO) :
	 ¾ Coverage 	 has	 gr own 	 to 	 52.4%,	 but 	
significant 	 gaps 	 persist,	 especially	 for	
childr en	and 	women.
	 ¾ Social	 pr otection 	 enhances	 economic	
gr owth, 	 social 	 inclusion, 	 and	 political 	
stability	 by	 r educing	 inequalities	 and 	
fostering	social	cohesion.
5. Social Security Measures in India
A. Right to Education
•	 Education 	 is	 a	 fundamental	 right 	 (Article 	
21A).
•	 Right	 to 	 Education 	 (R TE) 	 Act,	 2009:	 Ensur es	
fr ee 	 and	 compulsory	 education 	 for	 childr en 	
aged	6-14.
•	 Key	Initiatives:
 ¾ Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan :	 T ar gets 	 education	
for 	 192	 million 	 childr en	 in 	 1.1	 million 	
habitations.
 ¾ Samagra Shiksha Scheme :	 Covers 	
education	 fr om	 pr e-school 	 to	 class	 XII, 	
ensuring	quality	and 	inclusive	education.
 ¾ State-level Initiatives :	 States	 like	
Karnataka, 	 Uttar	 Pradesh,	 and	 Maharashtra 	
have	extended	fr ee 	education 	to	girls.
2
KURUKSHETRA NOVEMBER 2024- Social Security & Welfare
B. Right to Food
• National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013 :	
Entitles 	 up 	 to 	 75%	 of	 r ural	 and 	 50%	 of 	 urban 	
populations 	to	subsidized	food.
• Key Programs :
 ¾ PM Gareeb Kalyan Ann Yojana :	 Pr ovided 	
additional 	food	grains 	during	COVID-19.
 ¾ Antyodaya Anna Yojana :	 Focuses 	 on 	 food	
security 	for	the	most	vulnerable 	sections.
 ¾ Mid-Day Meal Scheme (PM POSHAN) :	
Ensur es	 nutrition 	 for 	 childr en, 	 impacting 	
1 1.8	cr or e	students	in	1 1.2 	lakh 	schools.
• State Initiatives :	 States	 like 	 T amil	 Nadu,	
Rajasthan, 	 and 	 Karnataka 	 pr ovide 	 subsidized	
cooked 	meals.
C. Health Insurance for the Poor
• Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan 
Aarogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) :
	 ¾ W orld’s 	 lar gest	 health 	 insurance	 scheme	
covering	 12	 cr or e 	 families,	 pr oviding 	
benefits 	 of	 up	 to	 Rs	 5	 lakh 	 per	 family	
annually .
	 ¾ Recently	 expanded 	 to 	 cover	 all 	 senior 	
citizens	aged	70	and	above.
D. Right to Work and Employment
• Mahatma Gandhi National Rural 
Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) :
	 ¾ Pr ovides	 100	 days	 of	 wage 	 employment 	
per	year	to	r ural 	households.
• Code on Social Security 2020 :
	 ¾ Intr oduces	 pr otection 	 for	 unor ganized, 	 gig,	
and	 platform	 workers,	 covering	 healthcar e, 	
income	 security , 	 maternity 	 benefits,	 and 	
other	social	security	measur es.
6. Social Security for Senior Citizens
• Global Aging Trend 	(WHO):
	 ¾ The 	 population 	 aged 	 60+	 is	 pr ojected	 to 	
r each	1.4	billion 	by 	2030.
• Pensions :
	 ¾ 79.6%	 of	 the 	 global	 elderly	 population 	
r eceives 	pensions.
	 ¾ India’s	 central	 and 	 state	 governments 	
allocate	 substantial 	 budgets	 for	 pensions, 	
with	 numer ous 	 schemes 	 supporting 	 non-
government	workers.
• Senior Citizen Schemes in India :
 ¾ Atal Vayo Abhyudaya Yojana (A VYAY) :	
Covers 	healthcar e,	nutrition, 	and	welfar e.
 ¾ Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension 
Scheme :	 Pr ovides	 Rs.	 200	 per	 month, 	 with 	
additional 	state	top-ups	for	beneficiaries.
7. Protection for Workers in the Unorganized 
Sector
• Economic Survey 2023-24 :	 India’s	 workfor ce 	
is	 ar ound	 565	 million, 	 with	 45%	 in 	 agricultur e.
• Key Schemes :
 ¾ Employees State Insurance (ESI) :	 Covers 	
health 	 pr otection, 	 unemployment,	 and 	
sickness 	benefits.
 ¾ Employees Provident Fund Organization 
(EPFO) :	Pr ovides 	old-age	income	security .
 ¾ Unorganized Workers Social Security Act, 
2008 :	 Of fers 	 benefits 	 like 	 life	 and	 disability 	
cover ,	health, 	and	old-age	pr otection.
 ¾ Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bhima 
Yojana (PM JJBY) :	 Pr ovides	 Rs.	 2	 lakh 	
risk	 coverage	 for	 people	 aged	 18-50	 at	 an	
annual	pr emium 	of	Rs. 	436.
8. Future Directions and Challenges
• Global Comparisons :
	 ¾ Some 	 countries,	 like 	 Ur uguay , 	 have	
achieved	 compr ehensive	 social	 pr otection, 	
leading 	 to	 high 	 per	 capita 	 income	 and	 low	
poverty .
• ILO’s 2024-26 Report :
	 ¾ An	 additional 	 $1.4	 trillion 	 per	 annum	
is	 needed	 for 	 low-	 and 	 middle-income	
countries	to	ensur e 	basic	social	pr otection.
• Key Insight :
	 ¾ Social	 pr otection 	 schemes 	 ar e	 vital	 for	
sustainable 	 economic	 gr owth, 	 as 	 noted 	
by 	 former 	 Fr ench 	 Pr esident 	 Nicolas 	
Sarkozy ,	 highlighting 	 their 	 r ole	 in	 worker	
pr oductivity 	and 	balanced	development.
Conclusion:
•	 Social	 security	 systems	 ar e 	 essential 	 not 	 only 	 for	
poverty	alleviation 	but	also	for 	fostering 	social	
inclusion, 	stability ,	and 	economic	gr owth.
•	 India’s	 expansive	 social	 pr otection 	
pr ograms,	 while	 impactful, 	 r equir e	 ongoing 	
development	 and	 adaptation 	 to 	 demographic 	
and	socio-economic	changes.
KURUKSHETRA NOVEMBER 2024- Social Security & Welfare
3
•	 Global	 examples	 underscor e 	 the 	 importance	
of	 r obust	 social 	 security	 frameworks 	 for	
building 	pr osper ous,	r esilient 	societies.
TOPIC 2 : GOVERNMENT SCHEMES 
FOR DIVYANG JAN
1. Inspiring Icons of Divyang Jan
• Global Figures :
 ¾ Albert Einstein:	 Scientist	 with	 dyslexia,	
one	of	history’s	gr eatest	minds.
 ¾ Stephen Hawking:	 Renowned	 theor etical 	
physicist	 with 	 ALS,	 author 	 of	 “A 	 Brief	
History 	of 	T ime.”
 ¾ Helen Keller: Deaf-blind 	 author 	 and 	
activist,	pioneer ed	disability 	awar eness.
 ¾ Tom Cruise:	 Actor	 with	 dyslexia, 	 an	
advocate	for 	learning 	disabilities.
 ¾ Frida Kahlo: 	 Mexican 	 artist,	 used	 her	
work	 to	 expr ess	 r esilience	 amid	 physical 	
challenges.
• Indian Icons :
 ¾ Sudha Chandran:	 Renowned	 classical	
dancer ,	 continued	 performing	 with 	 a	
pr osthetic	leg.
 ¾ Ravindra Jain:	 Noted	 music 	 composer 	
and	 lyricist,	 visually	 impair ed,	 famous 	 in 	
Indian 	cinema.
 ¾Ajit Jogi: First	 Chief 	 Minister 	 of	
Chhattisgar h, 	 over came	 physical 	
challenges.
 ¾ Arunima Sinha:	 First	 female 	 amputee 	 to	
scale 	Mount	Ever est.
 ¾ Shekhar Naik:	 Blind 	 cricketer , 	 captain	 of 	
India’s	visually	impair ed	cricket	team.
 ¾ Ira Singhal:	 UPSC 	 topper	 with	 scoliosis,	
a	 civil	 services 	 of ficer	 advocating 	 for 	
inclusivity .
• Impact :	 These	 r ole 	 models	 inspir e 	 millions, 	
showing 	 that 	 disabilities	 don’t	 limit 	 potential, 	
encouraging 	 Divyang 	 Jans	 to	 pursue 	
ambitious	goals.
2 Current Situation and Challenges
• WHO Data :
 ¾ Global Issue:	 400	 million 	 disabled	 persons	
in	 developing 	 nations 	 face 	 barriers	 to	
r esour ces.
 ¾ Access Disparity:	 Lack	 of 	 inclusion 	 in 	
economic,	social,	and 	political 	systems.
• India’s Census 2011 Statistics :
 ¾ Total Divyang Population:	 2.1%	 of	 1.23	
billion, 	 translating 	 to	 r oughly 	 26	 million 	
individuals.
 ¾ State Leaders in Disability Rates:	 Uttar	
Pradesh	 (15.76%) ,	 Bihar , 	 W est 	 Bengal, 	
T amil	Nadu,	Maharashtra.
 ¾ Literacy:	 1.5	 cr or e	 (out	 of 2.7 crore ) 	
Divyang	 Jans	 wer e	 literate, 	 with	 further	
pr ogr ess	in 	r ecent	years.
• Urban vs. Rural Divide :
 ¾ Rural Challenges:	 Limited	 access 	 to	
government	benefits	and	schemes.
 ¾ Urban Access:	 Gr eater	 availability	 of	
services 	 but 	 still	 faces 	 bur eaucratic 	
barriers.
• Employment Challenges :
 ¾ Skill Development Council and NDFDC:	
Pr ovides	 skill 	 training, 	 loans, 	 and 	
entr epr eneurship 	 aid	 for 	 economic	
empowerment.
 ¾Unemployment Issues: 	 High 	
unemployment	 rates 	 persist	 despite	 skill 	
development	ef forts.
3. Divyangjan Empowerment Schemes
3.1 Individual Empowerment Schemes
• Focus Areas :	 Ensuring 	 access 	 to 	 education, 	
healthcar e,	 social	 security , 	 and	 fostering 	 self-
esteem.
• Disability Certification :
 ¾ Importance: Mandatory 	 for	 accessing	 most	
government	schemes.
 ¾ Availability: Obtainable	 at	 CMO	 of fices 	
or	 government	 hospitals, 	 str eamlining 	
access.
• Unique Disability ID (UDID) :
 ¾ Benefits: Concessions	 in	 fees, 	 scholarships,	
loans,	 unemployment	 benefits, 	 transport 	
discounts.
 ¾ T ravel Benefits: Discounts 	 for	 trains, 	 buses, 	
and	 some 	 domestic	 flights	 (Air 	 India 	 based 	
on	disability 	type	and 	per centage).
3.2 Assistance in Assistive Devices (ADIP 
Scheme)
• Objective :	 Financial 	 aid 	 for	 pur chasing 	 aids	
to	impr ove 	functionality 	and	independence.
• Eligibility :	 A vailable	 to 	 Divyang 	 Jans	 needing 	
durable, 	scientifically-designed 	equipment.
Page 5


KURUKSHETRA NOVEMBER 2024- Social Security & Welfare
1
  TOPIC 1: SOCIAL SECURITY - 
VITAL FOR DEVELOPMENT AND 
PROSPERITY
1. Introduction to Social Security in India
•	 India’s 	 social 	 security	 system	 is	 extensive,	
encompassing 	 social	 insurance,	 social	
assistance,	 right 	 to	 education,	 and	 right 	 to	
food.
•	 These	 schemes 	 primarily	 originate 	 at	
the 	 central	 government 	 level,	 with 	 state	
governments 	supplementing 	in	some	ar eas.
•	 Social 	 security	 ensur es 	 dignified 	 and 	 pr oud 	
living 	 by	 covering 	 essential	 aspects 	 of	 life	 for	
individuals.
2. Definition and Scope of Social Protection
• The International Labour Organization 
(ILO) 	 defines 	 social	 pr otection 	 as	 a	 set	 of	
policies 	 to	 r educe	 poverty , 	 vulnerability ,	 and 	
social 	exclusion	acr oss	the	life	cycle.
• Components of Social Protection:
	 i.	 Child	and 	Family	Benefits
	 ii.	 Maternity	Pr otection
	 iii.	 Unemployment 	Support
	 iv .	 Employment	Injury	Benefits
	 v.	 Sickness 	Benefits
	 vi.	 Health 	Pr otection
	 vii.	 Old-age 	Benefits
	 viii.	 Invalidity/Disability 	Benefits
	 ix.	 Survivor ’s 	Benefits
3. Global Perspectives on Social Security
•	 W orld 	Bank	Perspective:
	 ¾ V iews	 well-designed	 social	 pr otection 	
pr ograms	as 	high-r eturn 	investments.
	 ¾ A 	 dollar 	 invested	 in	 poor 	 families	 yields 	
a	 multiplier 	 ef fect	 of 	 $2.49	 in 	 the	 local 	
economy .
	 ¾ Recognizes 	 social	 security 	 as	 a	 powerful 	
tool	 for	 meeting 	 human	 rights, 	 basic 	
needs,	 and	 supporting 	 active	 societal 	
engagement.
• Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) :
	 ¾ SDG 	 Goal	 1	 emphasizes	 “ending 	 poverty 	
in	 all	 its	 forms” 	 and 	 advocates	 for	 r obust 	
social	pr otection 	systems 	globally .
• Universal Declaration of Human Rights :
	 ¾ Article 	 22	 af firms 	 the 	 right 	 to	 social	 security 	
for 	dignity 	and 	personal	development.
	 ¾ Reaf firmed 	 by	 the	 2012	 International 	
Labour 	 Confer ence	 commitment 	 to 	
universal	social	pr otection 	floors.
4. Need for Universal Social Protection
• UN’s 56th Commission on Social 
Development :
	 ¾ Highlights 	 that 	 71%	 of	 the 	 global	
population 	 lacks	 adequate	 pr otection, 	
with	over	750	million 	in 	extr eme 	poverty .
	 ¾ Only 	 29%	 of	 the	 global	 workfor ce	 has	
compr ehensive	social	pr otection.
• World Social Protection Report 2024-26 
(ILO) :
	 ¾ Coverage 	 has	 gr own 	 to 	 52.4%,	 but 	
significant 	 gaps 	 persist,	 especially	 for	
childr en	and 	women.
	 ¾ Social	 pr otection 	 enhances	 economic	
gr owth, 	 social 	 inclusion, 	 and	 political 	
stability	 by	 r educing	 inequalities	 and 	
fostering	social	cohesion.
5. Social Security Measures in India
A. Right to Education
•	 Education 	 is	 a	 fundamental	 right 	 (Article 	
21A).
•	 Right	 to 	 Education 	 (R TE) 	 Act,	 2009:	 Ensur es	
fr ee 	 and	 compulsory	 education 	 for	 childr en 	
aged	6-14.
•	 Key	Initiatives:
 ¾ Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan :	 T ar gets 	 education	
for 	 192	 million 	 childr en	 in 	 1.1	 million 	
habitations.
 ¾ Samagra Shiksha Scheme :	 Covers 	
education	 fr om	 pr e-school 	 to	 class	 XII, 	
ensuring	quality	and 	inclusive	education.
 ¾ State-level Initiatives :	 States	 like	
Karnataka, 	 Uttar	 Pradesh,	 and	 Maharashtra 	
have	extended	fr ee 	education 	to	girls.
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KURUKSHETRA NOVEMBER 2024- Social Security & Welfare
B. Right to Food
• National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013 :	
Entitles 	 up 	 to 	 75%	 of	 r ural	 and 	 50%	 of 	 urban 	
populations 	to	subsidized	food.
• Key Programs :
 ¾ PM Gareeb Kalyan Ann Yojana :	 Pr ovided 	
additional 	food	grains 	during	COVID-19.
 ¾ Antyodaya Anna Yojana :	 Focuses 	 on 	 food	
security 	for	the	most	vulnerable 	sections.
 ¾ Mid-Day Meal Scheme (PM POSHAN) :	
Ensur es	 nutrition 	 for 	 childr en, 	 impacting 	
1 1.8	cr or e	students	in	1 1.2 	lakh 	schools.
• State Initiatives :	 States	 like 	 T amil	 Nadu,	
Rajasthan, 	 and 	 Karnataka 	 pr ovide 	 subsidized	
cooked 	meals.
C. Health Insurance for the Poor
• Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan 
Aarogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) :
	 ¾ W orld’s 	 lar gest	 health 	 insurance	 scheme	
covering	 12	 cr or e 	 families,	 pr oviding 	
benefits 	 of	 up	 to	 Rs	 5	 lakh 	 per	 family	
annually .
	 ¾ Recently	 expanded 	 to 	 cover	 all 	 senior 	
citizens	aged	70	and	above.
D. Right to Work and Employment
• Mahatma Gandhi National Rural 
Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) :
	 ¾ Pr ovides	 100	 days	 of	 wage 	 employment 	
per	year	to	r ural 	households.
• Code on Social Security 2020 :
	 ¾ Intr oduces	 pr otection 	 for	 unor ganized, 	 gig,	
and	 platform	 workers,	 covering	 healthcar e, 	
income	 security , 	 maternity 	 benefits,	 and 	
other	social	security	measur es.
6. Social Security for Senior Citizens
• Global Aging Trend 	(WHO):
	 ¾ The 	 population 	 aged 	 60+	 is	 pr ojected	 to 	
r each	1.4	billion 	by 	2030.
• Pensions :
	 ¾ 79.6%	 of	 the 	 global	 elderly	 population 	
r eceives 	pensions.
	 ¾ India’s	 central	 and 	 state	 governments 	
allocate	 substantial 	 budgets	 for	 pensions, 	
with	 numer ous 	 schemes 	 supporting 	 non-
government	workers.
• Senior Citizen Schemes in India :
 ¾ Atal Vayo Abhyudaya Yojana (A VYAY) :	
Covers 	healthcar e,	nutrition, 	and	welfar e.
 ¾ Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension 
Scheme :	 Pr ovides	 Rs.	 200	 per	 month, 	 with 	
additional 	state	top-ups	for	beneficiaries.
7. Protection for Workers in the Unorganized 
Sector
• Economic Survey 2023-24 :	 India’s	 workfor ce 	
is	 ar ound	 565	 million, 	 with	 45%	 in 	 agricultur e.
• Key Schemes :
 ¾ Employees State Insurance (ESI) :	 Covers 	
health 	 pr otection, 	 unemployment,	 and 	
sickness 	benefits.
 ¾ Employees Provident Fund Organization 
(EPFO) :	Pr ovides 	old-age	income	security .
 ¾ Unorganized Workers Social Security Act, 
2008 :	 Of fers 	 benefits 	 like 	 life	 and	 disability 	
cover ,	health, 	and	old-age	pr otection.
 ¾ Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bhima 
Yojana (PM JJBY) :	 Pr ovides	 Rs.	 2	 lakh 	
risk	 coverage	 for	 people	 aged	 18-50	 at	 an	
annual	pr emium 	of	Rs. 	436.
8. Future Directions and Challenges
• Global Comparisons :
	 ¾ Some 	 countries,	 like 	 Ur uguay , 	 have	
achieved	 compr ehensive	 social	 pr otection, 	
leading 	 to	 high 	 per	 capita 	 income	 and	 low	
poverty .
• ILO’s 2024-26 Report :
	 ¾ An	 additional 	 $1.4	 trillion 	 per	 annum	
is	 needed	 for 	 low-	 and 	 middle-income	
countries	to	ensur e 	basic	social	pr otection.
• Key Insight :
	 ¾ Social	 pr otection 	 schemes 	 ar e	 vital	 for	
sustainable 	 economic	 gr owth, 	 as 	 noted 	
by 	 former 	 Fr ench 	 Pr esident 	 Nicolas 	
Sarkozy ,	 highlighting 	 their 	 r ole	 in	 worker	
pr oductivity 	and 	balanced	development.
Conclusion:
•	 Social	 security	 systems	 ar e 	 essential 	 not 	 only 	 for	
poverty	alleviation 	but	also	for 	fostering 	social	
inclusion, 	stability ,	and 	economic	gr owth.
•	 India’s	 expansive	 social	 pr otection 	
pr ograms,	 while	 impactful, 	 r equir e	 ongoing 	
development	 and	 adaptation 	 to 	 demographic 	
and	socio-economic	changes.
KURUKSHETRA NOVEMBER 2024- Social Security & Welfare
3
•	 Global	 examples	 underscor e 	 the 	 importance	
of	 r obust	 social 	 security	 frameworks 	 for	
building 	pr osper ous,	r esilient 	societies.
TOPIC 2 : GOVERNMENT SCHEMES 
FOR DIVYANG JAN
1. Inspiring Icons of Divyang Jan
• Global Figures :
 ¾ Albert Einstein:	 Scientist	 with	 dyslexia,	
one	of	history’s	gr eatest	minds.
 ¾ Stephen Hawking:	 Renowned	 theor etical 	
physicist	 with 	 ALS,	 author 	 of	 “A 	 Brief	
History 	of 	T ime.”
 ¾ Helen Keller: Deaf-blind 	 author 	 and 	
activist,	pioneer ed	disability 	awar eness.
 ¾ Tom Cruise:	 Actor	 with	 dyslexia, 	 an	
advocate	for 	learning 	disabilities.
 ¾ Frida Kahlo: 	 Mexican 	 artist,	 used	 her	
work	 to	 expr ess	 r esilience	 amid	 physical 	
challenges.
• Indian Icons :
 ¾ Sudha Chandran:	 Renowned	 classical	
dancer ,	 continued	 performing	 with 	 a	
pr osthetic	leg.
 ¾ Ravindra Jain:	 Noted	 music 	 composer 	
and	 lyricist,	 visually	 impair ed,	 famous 	 in 	
Indian 	cinema.
 ¾Ajit Jogi: First	 Chief 	 Minister 	 of	
Chhattisgar h, 	 over came	 physical 	
challenges.
 ¾ Arunima Sinha:	 First	 female 	 amputee 	 to	
scale 	Mount	Ever est.
 ¾ Shekhar Naik:	 Blind 	 cricketer , 	 captain	 of 	
India’s	visually	impair ed	cricket	team.
 ¾ Ira Singhal:	 UPSC 	 topper	 with	 scoliosis,	
a	 civil	 services 	 of ficer	 advocating 	 for 	
inclusivity .
• Impact :	 These	 r ole 	 models	 inspir e 	 millions, 	
showing 	 that 	 disabilities	 don’t	 limit 	 potential, 	
encouraging 	 Divyang 	 Jans	 to	 pursue 	
ambitious	goals.
2 Current Situation and Challenges
• WHO Data :
 ¾ Global Issue:	 400	 million 	 disabled	 persons	
in	 developing 	 nations 	 face 	 barriers	 to	
r esour ces.
 ¾ Access Disparity:	 Lack	 of 	 inclusion 	 in 	
economic,	social,	and 	political 	systems.
• India’s Census 2011 Statistics :
 ¾ Total Divyang Population:	 2.1%	 of	 1.23	
billion, 	 translating 	 to	 r oughly 	 26	 million 	
individuals.
 ¾ State Leaders in Disability Rates:	 Uttar	
Pradesh	 (15.76%) ,	 Bihar , 	 W est 	 Bengal, 	
T amil	Nadu,	Maharashtra.
 ¾ Literacy:	 1.5	 cr or e	 (out	 of 2.7 crore ) 	
Divyang	 Jans	 wer e	 literate, 	 with	 further	
pr ogr ess	in 	r ecent	years.
• Urban vs. Rural Divide :
 ¾ Rural Challenges:	 Limited	 access 	 to	
government	benefits	and	schemes.
 ¾ Urban Access:	 Gr eater	 availability	 of	
services 	 but 	 still	 faces 	 bur eaucratic 	
barriers.
• Employment Challenges :
 ¾ Skill Development Council and NDFDC:	
Pr ovides	 skill 	 training, 	 loans, 	 and 	
entr epr eneurship 	 aid	 for 	 economic	
empowerment.
 ¾Unemployment Issues: 	 High 	
unemployment	 rates 	 persist	 despite	 skill 	
development	ef forts.
3. Divyangjan Empowerment Schemes
3.1 Individual Empowerment Schemes
• Focus Areas :	 Ensuring 	 access 	 to 	 education, 	
healthcar e,	 social	 security , 	 and	 fostering 	 self-
esteem.
• Disability Certification :
 ¾ Importance: Mandatory 	 for	 accessing	 most	
government	schemes.
 ¾ Availability: Obtainable	 at	 CMO	 of fices 	
or	 government	 hospitals, 	 str eamlining 	
access.
• Unique Disability ID (UDID) :
 ¾ Benefits: Concessions	 in	 fees, 	 scholarships,	
loans,	 unemployment	 benefits, 	 transport 	
discounts.
 ¾ T ravel Benefits: Discounts 	 for	 trains, 	 buses, 	
and	 some 	 domestic	 flights	 (Air 	 India 	 based 	
on	disability 	type	and 	per centage).
3.2 Assistance in Assistive Devices (ADIP 
Scheme)
• Objective :	 Financial 	 aid 	 for	 pur chasing 	 aids	
to	impr ove 	functionality 	and	independence.
• Eligibility :	 A vailable	 to 	 Divyang 	 Jans	 needing 	
durable, 	scientifically-designed 	equipment.
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KURUKSHETRA NOVEMBER 2024- Social Security & Welfare
• Devices Provided :	 Includes	 wheelchairs,	
hearing 	aids, 	Braille 	kits,	and 	pr osthetics.
3.3 Social Respect Initiatives
• Recognition Programs :
 ¾ National Awards:	 Pr esented	 on 	 World 
Disability Day (3rd December) .
 ¾ State Awards:	 Some	 states, 	 like 	 Haryana 	
and	 Uttar	 Pradesh,	 r ecognize 	 exceptional 	
contributions.
• Media Representation :	 Encouraging 	
inclusive	 r epr esentation 	 to 	 change 	 societal	
attitudes.
3.4 Economic Empowerment Programs
• Financial Aid for Entrepreneurship :
 ¾ Loan Limits:	 Up	 to	 ?50 lakh 	 with 	 r educed 	
inter est	 rates 	 for 	 self-employment 	 pr ojects.
 ¾Support Institutions: National 
Divyangjan Finance and Development 
Corporation (NDFDC) 	 pr ovides 	 funds 	 for	
business 	ventur es.
• Skill Development Initiatives :
 ¾ Training Programs: T raining 	 centers	 in 	
various 	states	for	vocational 	skills.
 ¾ Self-Employment:	 T raining 	 for	 sustainable 	
self-employment 	opportunities.
4. Schemes by the National Trust
4.1 Disha – Early Intervention
• Target Age :	 For 	 childr en 	 up	 to	 10	 years	 with 	
developmental 	delays.
• Disha Centers :	 Pr ovide 	 day-car e	 services, 	
therapy , 	and 	training 	to	enhance 	skills.
• Family Support :	 Guidance 	 for	 family 	
members 	on	 ef fective 	car e 	practices.
4.2 Daycare Centers
• Primary Goal :	 V ocational 	 and 	 interpersonal 	
skills 	training 	for	childr en 	and	adults.
• Operating Hours :	 6	 hours	 a	 day , 	 allowing 	
family	 members 	 to	 manage	 other 	
r esponsibilities.
• Skill Development :	 Focus	 on 	 social	 skills, 	
pr e-vocational 	training.
4.3 Samarth (Respite Homes)
• Beneficiaries :	 Supports	 families	 fr om	Below 
Poverty Line (BPL) 	 and 	Low Income Group 
(LIG) .
• Services Provided :	 Gr oup	 homes 	 with 	
necessary 	car e,	including 	medical	support.
4.4 Gharaunda (Group Home for Adults)
• Objective :	 Lifetime	 car e	 homes	 of fering 	
vocational 	training 	and	skill-building.
• Medical Assistance :	 Access 	 to	 essential	
medical	and	therapeutic	services.
4.5 Nirmaya (Health Insurance Scheme)
• Coverage :	 Health 	 insurance	 up	 to 	 ? 5	 lakh 	 per	
year .
• Premium Waivers :	 Subsidized	 pr emiums 	 for 	
eligible	Divyang 	Jans.
• Comprehensive Benefits :	Includes	in-patient 	
car e,	sur geries, 	and 	therapies.
4.6 Sahayogi (Caregiver Training)
• Goal :	 T raining 	 car egivers	 to	 support	 Divyang 	
Jans	at	home.
• Types of Courses :	 Family-level	 and 	 advanced	
car egiver	 courses 	 to	 ensur e	 compr ehensive 	
support.
4.7 Gyanprabha (Educational Support)
• Objective :	 Pr ovides 	 scholarships 	 and 	
financial 	 aid 	 for	 education	 and	 vocational 	
training.
• Benefits :	 Covers 	 educational	 expenses,	
including 	tuition, 	books,	and 	travel	costs.
4.8 Prerna (Marketing Support)
• Purpose :	 Pr omotes	 goods	 pr oduced	 by 	
Divyang 	Jans 	thr ough 	fairs	and	exhibitions.
• Incentives :	 Financial 	 support	 for	 participation 	
in	events	and 	r ewar ds	based 	on 	sales.
4.9 Sambhav (Assistive Devices Resource 
Centers)
• Establishment of Centers :	 Cities	 acr oss	 India 	
have	r esour ce 	centers	with	disability 	aids.
• Resource Access :	 Information 	 on	 available	
aids	and 	hands-on 	access 	for 	Divyang 	Jans.
4.10 Bhadte Kadam (Awareness and 
Sensitization)
• Goal :	 Impr ove	 social	 attitudes 	 and 	 pr omote 	
social	inclusion.
• Community Outreach : 	 Collaborations 	
with	 local 	 institutions	 for	 disability 	
awar eness	events.
• Education Programs : 	 Hosts	 pr ograms 	 to	
educate 	 families, 	 schools, 	 and	 workplaces 	
about	 inclusivity .