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    NITI readies social protection framework

    Synopsis

    In order to bridge the inequality gap and uplifting more people out of poverty, technical committee headed by NITI Aayog vice chairman Rajiv Kumar is set to prepare a social protection framework that will identify top 5 priority areas for the government, ranging from employment and old-age security to health.

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    NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant (L) with NITI Aayog vice-chairman Rajiv Kumar
    New Delhi: A technical committee headed by NITI Aayog vice chairman Rajiv Kumar has been formed to prepare an integrated social protection framework that will outline policy prescription for the government to reduce inequality and lift more and more people out of poverty.

    The plan is to come up with targeted intervention in priority areas through consolidated efforts and funds from the Centre, said people aware of the matter, although more than two dozen schemes are in place.

    The move is aimed at achieving Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of universal social security, they said. It comes at a time when the government is striving to create quality jobs for the youth while broadening avenues for social security for the country’s workforce.

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    Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman had, in her February 1 budget speech, dedicated a section to ‘caring society’ with a focus on women, children and social welfare, among other things.

    In its first term, the Modi-led government had rolled out the Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY), Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY) and Atal Pension Yojana while it started its second term with the launch of pension schemes for unorganised workers and traders besides giving Rs 6,000 to farmers under PM-Kisan.

    The committee includes senior officials of ministries concerned and it will finalise the social protection framework that will be unique to India, said the people.

    The panel will identify top five priority areas for the government, which could range from employment and old-age security to health, agriculture and introduction of specific interventions, said a senior official, who did not wish to be identified.

    NITI Aayog, the Centre’s premier think tank, is driving the task of bringing all stakeholder ministries on board. The ministries of rural development, agriculture, social justice and empowerment, women and child development, and labour are the nodal central ministries delivering social benefits.

    Social protection is defined as the set of policies and programmes designed to reduce poverty and vulnerability by promoting efficient labour markets, diminishing people's exposure to risks and enhancing their capacity to protect themselves against hazards and interruption or loss of income. Such programmes are essential as they help in pulling people out of poverty, besides contributing to economic growth by raising labour productivity and enhancing social stability.


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