What’s the news?

• Rajasthan government has introduced ‘The Rajasthan Minimum Guaranteed Income Bill, 2023’ in the Assembly, what is widely expected to be the last session before the State goes for polls in less than four months.

Central Idea

• Rajasthan Minimum Guaranteed Income Bill, 2023, aim at providing guaranteed wages or pensions to the entire adult population of the state. Social activists have reacted positively to the bill, highlighting its unique features and praising its focus on providing employment and pensions through legislation rather than cash transfer schemes.

What is the Bill?

• All families of the state get guaranteed employment of 125 days every year,
• The aged, disabled, widows, and single women get a minimum pension of Rs 1,000 per month.
• The pension will be increased each year at the rate of 15 per cent.
• The Bill has three broad categories: right to minimum guaranteed income, right to guaranteed employment, and right to guaranteed social security pension.
• The government anticipates an additional expenditure of Rs 2,500 crore per year for this scheme, which may increase with time

Major provisions of the Bill

1. Minimum guaranteed income:

• Guaranteed minimum income for 125 days- each year – every adult citizen of Rajasthan.
• Implemented through- Indira Gandhi Shahri Rozgar Guarantee Yojana for urban areas and MGNREGA for rural areas.
• Supplement MGNREGA’s 100 days- additional 25 days of employment in rural regions.

2. Guaranteed employment:

• After completion of work- minimum wages should be paid on a weekly or fortnightly basis.
• Implementation responsibility – through A program officer– ensures- job sites are located within a five-kilometer radius of the registered job card address in both urban and rural areas.
• If the program officer fails to provide employment within 15 days of receiving an application- applicant will be entitled to a weekly unemployment allowance.

3. Guaranteed social security pension:

• Individuals falling into the categories- old age, specially-abled, widows, and single women with prescribed eligibility- entitled to a pension.
• The pension amount will increase annually by 5% in July and 10% in January, beginning from the financial year 2024-2025.

What is the Rationale behind the Bill?

• The bill aligns with the principle of social justice and aims to provide support and security to the most vulnerable members of society.
• Treating the most marginalized individuals with fairness and dignity.
• “Mahatma Gandhi’s message that the true measure of a society lies in how it treats its most vulnerable members”
• As part of a bouquet of schemes and measures undertaken by the government to provide relief from inflation
• Provide a safety net and alleviate financial burdens on the most vulnerable sections of society.

Criticism over the bill

• The bill’s introduction close to the upcoming elections- politically motivated
• Populist measure designed to appeal to voters
• Financial feasibility of implementing the bill’s provisions- securing sustainable funding
• Burden on the state’s finances in the long run.
• Proper identification of beneficiaries, monitoring mechanisms, and ensuring efficient delivery of guaranteed income, employment, and pensions

Conclusion

• The Rajasthan Minimum Guaranteed Income Bill, 2023, is being seen as a pioneering step towards securing social security for all residents of the state. If implemented properly and efficiently the legislation will pave the way towards building a just and inclusive society, where the welfare of every citizen is a priority.

Also read:

A Social Security Board for Gig Workers: Rajasthan’s Pioneering Step

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