THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The State Government is all set to scale up social security programmes such as pensions, food subsidies, insurance and scholarships in a big way and universalise the benefits of social programmes in the State in two years.
The first phase of the Total Social Security Programme will be unveiled during the presentation of the 2010-11 budget on February 19.
“This is nothing new or unprecedented, just an expansion of existing social security schemes. Our plan is to move towards a Total Social Security system in two years. The coming budget will mark the beginning of our efforts to universalise social security,” Finance Minister Thomas Isaac told Express.
Senior members of the Planning Board were unwilling to open up on the issue. “We are attempting something big”, “there will definitely be some innovative social programmes”, “this will be the peak of the LDF Government’s performance” were all they were ready to offer. The Planning Board will meet on January 20 to give final shape to the social plan.
The budget 2010-11 is expected to ramp up some of the existing social programmes.
Minimum pensions could be increased to a more satisfactory level than the current one irrespective of the category. The Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojna (RSBY) health insurance scheme could be expanded to include major diseases such as cancer. The insurance money, which presently is Rs 30,000, will also be proportionately raised, perhaps to Rs 50,000. Presently 22 lakh BPL families can freely avail of the scheme. APL families can also join by paying an annual premium of Rs 550. Isaac’s fourth budget might contain proposals that could take the State closer to universal health insurance.
Food security is sure to get a big boost, especially at a time when prices are galloping.
‘Rice @ Rs 2 a Kilo’ scheme is all set to be expanded. The State Committee of the LDF has already resolved to provide sufficient funds in the next budget to raise the number of beneficiaries to 35 lakh families.
Currently, official figures say, 26 lakh families receive rice and wheat at Rs 2 a kilo.
The Construction Workers’ Welfare Board, for which Rs 10 crore was set apart in the last budget, could be made operational this year.
The big social intervention this year would be the inclusion of migrant workers within the ambit of the Board.
Parallelly, Isaac said that the Government was planning a centralised database of welfare funds. There are also plans to take out items such as minimum pensions out of welfare funds. Under a Total Social Security System, welfare funds would function as contributory funds specialising in improving the skill sets of its members. Henceforth, it would not be confused with direct social assistance to target groups. The movement towards the universal social security, top sources felt, will be greatly catalysed once the Unique Identification (UID) project is on course.