Spotlight

New Delhi, 19 March 2007

CENTRE’S NEW SOCIAL SECURITY SCHEME

NEW DELHI, March 29 (INFA): The Union Government is examining a new social security scheme recommended recently by the National Commission for the Enterprises in the Unorganized Sector (NCEUS).

A comprehensive Social Security Bill is proposed to be finalized soon, based on the recommendations of the NCEUS.

The main features of the Scheme are that all workers in the unorganized sector as well as without any social security in the organized sector will be eligible to register.  The social security benefits include insurance for sickness and maternity, life/accident and old age (in the form of a monthly pension). 

In a developing country context such as India, social security arrangements for the working poor have wider ramifications for the economy and society.  From a macro economic point of view, it helps to develop a healthy and contended work force capable of enhancing their contribution to national income and thus enhance the capacity of the economy to grow.

In turn, the higher growth would enhance the aggregate demand in the years. It has been assigned wide-ranging terms of reference. Being an advisory body, the Commission has to submit its recommendations to the Government of India. An Advisory Board has also been constituted to enable the Commission to have the benefit of the advice of experienced persons in the relevant areas.

The Commission has been focusing on a few significant programmatic interventions, which could be adopted in the immediate future. These interventions are aimed at bringing about improvement in the productivity of enterprises in the unorganized/Informal Sector, generation of large-scale employment opportunities on a sustainable basis and enhancing the welfare of the workers in the unorganized sector.---INFA

MASS MARRIAGES AT TIRUPATI TEMPLE

HYDERABAD, March 20 (INFA): The temple administration of the Thirumala Tirupati Devasthanam has decided to perform the second phase of mass marriages across the State on August 26, an auspicious date.

Recall, the first phase of the programme was conducted last month, in which 300 couples participated.

A devotee of Lord Venkateswara offered last week a 2.5 kg pot made of pure gold, costing about Rs.23 lakh.---INFA