Revamping the National Family benefit scheme is necessary to provide a better social security system in the country. Analyse (200 Words)
Refer - Indian Express
Enrich the answer from other sources, if the question demands.
IAS Parliament 3 years
KEY POINTS
· The National Family Benefit Scheme (NFBS), launched in 1995 under the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP), is meant to help the survivors in these circumstances.
· The central contribution to old-age pensions, for instance, has stagnated at a measly Rs 200 per month for nearly 15 years.
· Despite repeated pleas for an increase, including an open letter from 66 eminent economists in 2018, the central government refused to budge.
· Contributory schemes, however, are not very attractive for poor people and especially for the poorest.
· Schemes like APY requires them to be able to save, understand the formalities, and trust the government with their money. All this is quite difficult for people with low earnings and little education.
· A big increase in the amount of emergency assistance (initially Rs 10,000, raised to Rs 20,000 in 2012) is long overdue
· There is a strong case for removing the restriction to BPL households. As is well-known, BPL lists are outdated, unreliable, and full of exclusion errors in most states.
· NFBS formalities are crying for simplification, transparency, and people-friendliness. The main responsibility for identifying eligible families rests with the gram panchayat or municipality.
· The absence of any form of life insurance appropriate for poor households is a gaping hole in India’s budding social security system.
K. V. A 3 years
Kindly review
IAS Parliament 3 years
Good attempt. Keep Writing.
