A quiet revolution: providing a safety net for 94 crore people

India has recorded a phenomenal expansion of social security coverage from 19 per cent in 2015 to 64.3 per cent in 2025.

- OUR CORRESPONDENT

NEW DELHI:

In other terms, it means that 64.3 per cent of India's population, about 94.3 crore are now covered under at least one social protection benefit. This increase has also been acknowledged by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) on its ILOSTAT database.

This 45-percentage point jump over ten years marks one of the most significant expansions globally. In terms of number of beneficiaries, India now ranks second in the world after China, in providing social protection to citizens, according to a government statement here.

As per ILO, social security is the protection that a society provides to individuals and families to ensure access to health care and to guarantee income security.

It is especially important in times of old age, sickness, unemployment, disability, maternity, work injury or the loss of a breadwinner. Defined in ILO conventions and UN instruments, social security is recognised as a basic human right.

India has a wide-ranging social security system comprising of social insurance and social assistance schemes both at Central and state levels.

These include welfare payments, mandatory social insurance with contributions from employer and employee, and other employer-based benefits.

In addition to these, there are also schemes providing in-kind benefits like food, health, shelter security etc.