The Rajasthan government has recently introduced The Rajasthan Minimum Guaranteed Income Bill, 2023, aiming to provide the residents of the state with extended income support. This bill is a step designed to help individuals navigate their way through inflation and enhance their financial stability. Broken down into three core categories, this bill includes the right to guaranteed minimum income, the right to secured employment, and the right to guaranteed social security pension.
Delving into the Rajasthan Minimum Guaranteed Income Bill, 2023
This bill is an initiative that assures a minimum income to every adult citizen for a period of 125 days per year. The income will be provided via the Indira Gandhi Shahri Rozgar Guarantee Yojana scheme in urban areas and the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) in rural areas. An addition of 25 days to MGNREGA’s usual 100 days will be made to cater to the rural regions.
The Right to Secured Employment
As part of this bill, the government commits to regular weekly or fortnightly payment of minimum wages after work completion in rural and urban employment schemes. To ensure convenience for the workers, job sites will be kept within a five-kilometer radius of the registered job card address. The bill also states that if the employment is not provided within a span of 15 days post-application, the applicant would be entitled to receive an unemployment allowance on a weekly basis and no later than a fortnight.
Stability in Old Age: The Right to Guaranteed Social Security Pension
The Rajasthan Minimum Guaranteed Income Bill also provides for a guaranteed social security pension for certain sections of the society such as the elderly, specially-abled individuals, widows, and single women. This pension is set to see an annual increment of 15% in two installments, which will be initiated from the financial year 2024-2025.
How Does This Differ from Cash Transfer Schemes?
While regular cash transfer schemes do exist, what sets the Rajasthan Minimum Guaranteed Income Bill apart is its provision for legally guaranteed minimum income support, secured employment, and pensions. This bill resonates with Mahatma Gandhi’s vision of all-encompassing welfare measures. It extends coverage to all families in the state, with special provisions for employment and pension support for various vulnerable groups. Unlike cash transfer schemes which may have limited coverage, this bill promises an annual increment in pensions to keep up with inflation.
Criticism Against The Bill
Despite praise for the steps taken to bridge economic disparities, the bill has also faced criticism. Critics argue that the added expenditure of Rs 2,500 crore per year might strain the state’s finances. They are calling into question the long-term sustainability of the scheme and whether it may pose a potential burden on taxpayers.
