Rajasthan Minimum Income Guarantee Bill 2023 passed
Ashok Gehlot's government in Rajasthan passed the Minimum Income Guarantee Bill 2023 from the assembly. The Bill ensures a minimum income for a large section of the state's population, including those below the poverty line. The Rajasthan Minimum Income Guarantee Bill, 2023, introduced by the Rajasthan government, aims to help the citizens of the state combat inflation and improve their financial stability.
Rajasthan has become the first state in the country to pass the Minimum Income Guarantee Bill in the Assembly. Rajasthan is the first state in the country to guarantee additional 25 days of employment in a month in rural and urban areas.
- Apart from 100 days of MNREGA, there will be a guarantee of 25 days of employment in the state. It will be mandatory to increase the social security pension by 15 percent every year.
- The bill will bring comprehensive benefits like free medical treatment, accident insurance, free electricity and subsidized gas cylinders while further improving the financial condition of the beneficiaries. Under this, persons above 18 years living in rural and urban areas of the state will get the right to minimum wages.
- After the bill becomes law, under the social security pension schemes in the state, old age, disabled, widow or single women beneficiaries will get a minimum pension of Rs 1,000 every month. At the same time, under the Indira Gandhi Urban Employment Guarantee Scheme in urban areas, per family will get 125 days of employment.
- There will be an annual increase of 15% in pension in two installments from the financial year 2024-2025.
The Rajasthan Minimum Income Guarantee Bill is unique in that it legally ensures both minimum income support and guaranteed employment and pension, which differentiates it from regular cash transfer schemes. It reflects Mahatma Gandhi's vision of comprehensive welfare measures. This bill covers all the families of the state. Along with this it provides employment and pension support to various vulnerable groups. The Bill may limit the coverage of cash transfer schemes. The Bill provides for annual increase in pensions while ensuring that they keep pace with inflation. Cash transfer schemes may not have such provisions. The Bill takes a comprehensive approach towards social security which aims to benefit the weaker sections of the society.