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

The Rajasthan Platform-Based Gig Workers Social Security and Welfare Fund, India’s first welfare fund, was recently unveiled by the chief minister of Rajasthan. Since the Code on Social Security was passed in 2020, this historic move represents a substantial regulatory step to address the vulnerabilities faced by gig and platform workers.

The Social Security and Welfare Fund for Platform-Based Gig Workers: Everything You Need to Know

Benefits for social security and welfare for gig workers: The government of Rajasthan established the nation’s first welfare fund particularly created to handle the social security concerns of gig and platform workers. The fund aims to offer platform economy gig workers social security benefits and welfare programmes.

Set up in accordance with the Code on Social Security 2020: Code on Social Security recognizes the vulnerabilities faced by gig and platform workers and emphasizes the need for social security measures to protect their rights and well-being. The creation of the welfare fund aligns with the code’s objective of extending social security coverage to workers in the informal sector.

Operates as a tripartite institution: The Platform-Based Gig Workers Social Security and Welfare Fund operates as a tripartite institution, comprising representatives from the bureaucracy, employers or clients, and workers’ unions or associations. This structure enables the fund to effectively address the concerns and interests of all stakeholders involved.

Funding through revenue-sharing model: The Code on Social Security mandates that platform companies contribute 1%-2% of their revenue towards the fund, ensuring that the financial responsibility is shared between the platforms and the government.

Who are known as Gig Workers?

Gig workers are individuals who engage in temporary, flexible, and on-demand work arrangements, often facilitated through digital platforms or apps.

They are part of the gig economy, which is characterized by short-term and project-based work engagements rather than traditional long-term employment contracts.

Gig workers encompass a wide range of occupations and industries. They may include freelance writers, drivers for ride-hailing services, delivery personnel, online marketplace sellers, virtual assistants, graphic designers, and many others.

These workers typically operate as independent contractors, offering their services or completing tasks on a project-by-project basis.

Potential challenges in program implementation

Lack of Clarity in Definitions: The classification and definition of gig workers can vary, making it challenging to accurately identify and include all eligible individuals in the programs. Determining the scope and coverage of the programs can be complex, especially considering the diverse nature of gig work.

Funding Constraints: Allocating sufficient funds for the implementation of social security programs for gig workers can be a significant challenge. Adequate resources need to be allocated to ensure the sustainability of the programs and the provision of comprehensive benefits. Identifying the appropriate funding mechanisms, such as revenue-sharing models or contributions from platforms, can be complex and require careful consideration.

Limited Awareness and Outreach: Many gig workers may be unaware of their rights or the existence of social security programs available to them. Effective outreach and awareness campaigns are crucial to ensure that gig workers understand the benefits and are encouraged to participate. Language barriers, digital literacy issues, and the dispersed nature of gig workers can further complicate outreach efforts.

Adapting to Technological Platforms: Implementing social security programs within the digital platforms that facilitate gig work can pose technical challenges. Integration with existing platform systems, ensuring secure data management, and addressing potential privacy concerns require careful planning and coordination between government agencies and platform operators.

Addressing Cross-Jurisdictional Issues: Gig workers often operate across multiple jurisdictions, which can create complexities in program implementation. Coordination among different states or countries may be required to ensure seamless coverage and avoid gaps or duplications in benefits.

Establishing Fair Evaluation Criteria: Determining eligibility criteria and evaluating gig workers’ contributions or income can be challenging. Traditional methods of assessing employment status or income may not align with the dynamic and variable nature of gig work. Developing fair and transparent evaluation mechanisms is crucial to ensure that deserving gig workers receive the appropriate benefits.

Balancing Flexibility and Protection: Gig work is characterized by its flexibility, allowing workers to choose when and how much they work. Designing social security programs that provide necessary protections while still accommodating the flexible nature of gig work can be a delicate balance. Ensuring that gig workers can access benefits without compromising their work arrangements is essential.

India’s Maternal Healthcare Crisis: A Call for Urgent Action

According to a recent United Nations report, India and nine other countries are responsible for a staggering 60% of all maternal fatalities, stillbirths, and infant deaths worldwide. India accounted for approximately 17% of these fatalities in 2020 alone, making it the nation with the second-highest number of maternal fatalities, behind Nigeria.

Maternal mortality: What is it?

Regardless of the length or location of the pregnancy, maternal death is defined by the World Health Organisation as the death of a woman while she is pregnant or within 42 days of the termination of her pregnancy from any cause associated with or aggravated by the pregnancy or its management, but not from accidental or incidental causes.

Gaps in maternal Healthcare in India

Maternal mortality rate: A United Nations report highlighted that India was among the top 10 countries responsible for 60% of global maternal deaths, stillbirths, and new-born deaths. In 2020, India accounted for over 17% of such deaths, making it the second-highest contributor after Nigeria.

Antenatal care (ANC):1% of mothers in India did not attend any ANC visit during their recent pregnancy. Furthermore, only 34.1% of mothers attended one, two, or three visits, falling short of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommendation of four visits.

Postnatal care: 16% of women in India did not receive any postnatal health check-ups, while 22.8% experienced delayed check-ups occurring two days after childbirth. In the poorest 20% of the households, 26.3% women never had a postnatal health check-up, whereas among the richest, only 7.9% did not.

Lack of skilled health providers: 8% of Indian women did not receive tetanus shots, which are crucial for preventing infections during and after surgery. In about 11% of cases, no skilled health providers were present at the time of delivery, posing risks in detecting and managing complications.

Decline in MMR: The Sample Registration System (SRS) 2016-2018 estimated India’s MMR at 113 per 100,000 live births. This represents a decline from previous years and indicates progress in reducing maternal deaths.

Challenges in achieving further reductions in MMR in India

Regional Disparities: States with limited healthcare infrastructure and resources often report higher MMR compared to more developed regions. Bridging these regional gaps in healthcare access and quality is crucial for ensuring equitable maternal healthcare outcomes.

Socioeconomic Factors: Socioeconomic factors play a substantial role in maternal health outcomes. Women from marginalized communities, low-income households, and rural areas face higher risks due to limited access to healthcare facilities, education, and economic resources.

Quality of Healthcare Services: The availability of skilled healthcare providers, adequate infrastructure, and essential medical supplies is lacking in many parts particularly in remote and ares.

Awareness and Education: Limited awareness among women, families, and communities about the importance of antenatal care, skilled birth attendance, and postnatal care hindering timely and appropriate care-seeking behavior.

Cultural and Social Factors: Deep-rooted cultural and social factors often influence maternal healthcare-seeking behavior and decision-making. Traditional beliefs, practices, and societal norms directly or indirectly affect women’s access to and utilization of maternal healthcare services.

Government’s initiatives to improve maternal health

National Health Mission (NHM): The NHM is a flagship program of the Government of India aimed at providing accessible and affordable healthcare services, including maternal healthcare. Under the NHM, the Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, and Adolescent Health (RMNCH+A) strategy focuses on improving maternal and child health outcomes through a continuum of care approach.

Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY): The JSY is a conditional cash transfer program that encourages institutional deliveries and postnatal care utilization. It provides financial assistance to pregnant women from low-income households to cover the cost of delivery and associated expenses. The program aims to reduce financial barriers and promote institutional deliveries, ensuring access to skilled birth attendants.

Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY): The PMMVY is a maternity benefit scheme that provides cash incentives to pregnant and lactating women for their first live birth. It aims to provide partial wage compensation to pregnant women for wage loss during childbirth and to improve maternal and newborn health outcomes.

Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK): The JSSK program ensures free and cashless delivery, including caesarean section, in public health facilities. It covers the costs of essential drugs, diagnostics, blood transfusion, and transportation for pregnant women and sick infants. The program also provides free referral transport services for pregnant women in need of emergency care.

Maternal Death Surveillance and Response (MDSR): The MDSR system is an important component of the government’s efforts to reduce maternal deaths. It focuses on identifying, reporting, and analyzing maternal deaths to understand the causes and take appropriate actions for prevention in the future.

National Iron Plus Initiative (NIPI): The NIPI focuses on addressing anemia in pregnant women by providing iron and folic acid supplements. Anemia is a significant risk factor for maternal mortality, and the NIPI aims to ensure universal coverage and adherence to iron and folic acid supplementation during pregnancy.

Skill Development Initiatives: The government has also emphasized the training and skill development of healthcare professionals, especially in the field of obstetric and neonatal care. This includes the establishment of skilled birth attendant programs, enhancing the capabilities of healthcare providers, and promoting evidence-based practices for safe deliveries and postnatal care.

Matrilineality in Meghalaya

A verbal conflict has broken out in matrilineal Meghalaya as a result of a tribal council’s directive not to grant a Scheduled Tribe (ST) certificate to any Khasi person who takes her or his father’s surname.

Malaysian Matrilineal Society

Matrilineal descent is a practise that several communities in Meghalaya, northeastern India, follow.

The two main tribes included in the article are the Khasi and the Garo.

The Khasi people are referred to as “Ki Hynniew Trep” (The Seven Huts), whereas the Garo people are also known as Achik people.

Matrilineal qualities among these tribes have a rich history, but there are worries that they are dwindling.

Background

Khasi people are an ancient tribe and are considered the largest surviving matrilineal culture in the world.

Khasis, along with other subgroups like the Garo, reside in Meghalaya, as well as bordering areas of Assam and Bangladesh.

The matrilineal tradition practiced by the Khasi people is unique within India.

Matrilineal principles are emphasized in myths, legends, and origin narratives of the Khasi tribe.

Reference to “Nari Rajya” in the epic Mahabharata likely correlates with the matrilineal culture of the Khasi and Jaintia Hills in Meghalaya.

Rights, Roles and Responsibilities

Women play a dominant role in the matrilineal society of Meghalaya.

The youngest daughter, known as Ka Khadduh, inherits ancestral property.

Husbands live with their mother-in-law after marriage.

Children take their mother’s surname.

In case a couple has no daughters, they can adopt a daughter and pass property rights to her.

The birth of a girl is celebrated, and there is no social stigma associated with women remarrying or giving birth out of wedlock.

Women have the freedom to intermarry outside their tribe.

Independent, well-dressed, unmarried women enjoy security and prefer not to get married.

Many small businesses are managed by women.

Comparison between Garo and Khasi Practices

Bina Agarwal compared the Garo and Khasi practices in 1994. (Aspirants with Sociology optional are bound to remember the sociologist’s name.)

Garo also practices matrilineal inheritance and matrilocal post-marital residence.

Both tribes accept pre-marital sex by women, but adultery by women is punished.

The Khasi practice duolocal post-marital residence, where the husband lives separately from the wife’s parents’ residence.

The Khasi have an aversion to cross-cousin marriage.

Roles of Men and Political Representation

Mothers or mothers-in-law are responsible for the care of children.

Khasi men perceive themselves as having a secondary status and established societies to protect men’s rights.

Representation of women in politics, legislative assembly, village councils, and panchayats is minimal.

Women believe they handle money matters better and enjoy economic freedom.

Matrilineal, not matriarchal

While society is matrilineal, it is not matriarchal. In past monarchies of the state, the son of the youngest sister of the king inherited the throne.

Even now in the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly or village councils or panchayats the representation of women in politics is minimal.

Issues with the system

Some Khasi men perceive themselves to be accorded a secondary status.

They have established societies to protect equal rights for men.

They express that Khasi men don’t have any security, they don’t own land, they don’t run the family business and, at the same time, they are almost good for nothing.

Sikkim Statehood Day

Every year on May 16, Sikkim Day is observed to mark the year that Sikkim became a part of India.

About 20 years after Sardar Vallabbhai Patel oversaw the merger of princely states into India, the process of Sikkim’s accession to India began.

History of Sikkim and the Chogyal Royals

Phuntsong Namgyal was crowned as the first king or Chogyal in 1642, establishing the kingdom of Sikkim.

The Namgyal dynasty ruled Sikkim for 333 years before it was integrated with India in 1975.

Between China and India, Sikkim was of Tibetan descent. It frequently had territorial disputes with Bhutan and Nepal.

Various treaties like the Treaty of Tumlong (1861), Treaty of Titaliya (1817), Calcutta Convention (1890), and Lhasa Convention (1904) shaped the relationship between Sikkim and the British.

Independent India and Sikkim

After India’s independence, princely states had the option to accede to India or Pakistan.

Sikkim’s unique relationship with British rule led to complexities in its integration with India.

Sardar Vallabbhai Patel and BN Rau wanted Sikkim to sign the Instrument of Accession to integrate it with India.

Jawaharlal Nehru acknowledged the situation in Sikkim and emphasized its autonomous growth.

Sikkim State Congress (SSC), Praja Mandal (PM), and Praja Sudharak Samaj (PSS) demanded a popular government, abolition of landlordism, and accession to India.

A Standstill Agreement was signed to maintain the existing arrangement while discussions continued.

War with China

Sikkim had a state council with elected and nominated members.

Political developments in the 1960s and 1970s played a significant role in Sikkim’s status.

The formation of the Sikkim National Congress (SNC) in 1960 and changes in political leadership on both sides influenced the course of events.

India-China war of 1962 and containment of border skirmishes made it important to clarify the relationship between India and Sikkim.

How Sikkim finally joined India?

The Indian leadership started supporting pro-democracy forces in Sikkim, such as Kazi Dorji of the SNC.

Protests in Sikkim in 1973 led to a tripartite agreement between the Chogyal, the Indian government, and three major political parties.

Elections were held in 1974, and a new constitution limited the role of the monarch.

A referendum held in 1975 resulted in a majority vote in favor of joining India.

The Constitution (Thirty-Sixth Amendment) Bill was passed, recognizing Sikkim as a state in the Union of India.

Sikkim’s new parliament proposed a bill for Sikkim to become an Indian state, which was accepted by the Indian government.