In groundbreaking social welfare initiatives, Kerala and Tripura’s state governments have introduced progressive measures for the benefit of their citizens. Kerala will now offer monthly pensions to workers enlisted under MGNREGS, and Ayyankali Urban Employment Guarantee Scheme. Concurrently, in Tripura, ‘Saharsh’, a new educational program aimed at fostering social and emotional learning cascades across all schools.
Kerala’s Pension Scheme for MGNREGS Workers
In a unique social measure, the Kerala government has established a welfare fund board, which is dedicated to the workers registered under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MNGREGS) and the Ayyankali Urban Employment Guarantee Scheme. These workers will now be entitled to receive a monthly pension when they reach 60 years of age.
To be included under this scheme, workers aged between 18 and 55 must become members of the fund board. These members are required to pay a fixed monthly premium amount (around ₹50), until they reach 55 years old. A member who has made contributions for at least ten years will qualify for pension benefits. In addition to the monthly contributions from the workers, the government will also make an equivalent contribution to the fund, which might be revised every three years.
Saharsh Scheme: Tripura’s Initiative for Social and Emotional Learning
Tripura’s state government, aiming to promote social and emotional learning, has introduced ‘Saharsh’, a distinctive educational program. Implemented initially in pilot mode across 40 schools in August 2022, the initiative is scheduled to expand to all government and assisted schools in the state. The program’s primary objective is to empower children and enable them to learn with joy. Currently, Tripura holds a Grade-I category status in the Performance Grading Index.
Anticipated GDP Growth Rates for FY 2022-23
According to the National Statistical Office (NSO), the Indian economy is projected to grow by 7% in FY 22-23. This figure is slightly up from the 6.8% that the Monetary Policy Committee had initially projected. In the first half of FY 22-23, the economy recorded a 9.7% growth, which is expected to decelerate to 4.5% in the second half. Despite this slowdown, India is still forecasted to be one of the quickest growing economies globally.
The First Advance Estimates (FAEs) are the official, earliest estimates of the anticipated Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth in a financial year. First introduced in 2016-17, these estimates provide a sense of the underlying momentum in economic activities. They are particularly helpful in the context of drafting the impending Union Budget.