Social Security in India

Social Security is a kind of protection given by the society to its members through a series of public measures, against the problems of illness unemployment, old age, accident and disability, maternity etc. arising from difficult conditions of modern human life. The ideology of social security pacifies and secures the economics of society. Social security is an important dimension in the reduction of poverty and multidimensional deprivation. The social security programmes in India consist of two part : (i) Protective social security measures, largely for the organised sector such as medical care, benefits relating to sickness, maternity, employment injury, survivors, old age, employment, unemployment etc., and (2) promotional social security for the unorganised sector in terms of self-employment, wage employment and provision of basic needs such as food, health and education. The conventional ‘protective model’ is inappropriate for India as less then 7 percent of the workforce is engaged in ‘regular employment’ in the ‘organised sector’. The informal sector provides bulk (93%) of employment. Income deprivation is an important cause of deprivation in basic education, health housing and nutrition. The present book presents an exhaustive analysis of various aspects of social security in India. This volume emphasise the need for a broader interpretation of social security and social welfare in a developing country like India.

Read from the printed jacket. Pending editorial approval.