In this article, we will discuss Social Security Issues Faced by Urban India. So, let’s get started.
Social Security Issues Faced By Urban India
- Spread of Infection: In the Covid-19 outbreak in India, big cities such as– Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Chennai – were the main urban epicentres of the disease.
- Rural-Urban Livelihood Security Divide: Though the Indian government operates the National Urban Livelihoods Mission (NULM), which is focused on self-employment through skill up-gradation and credit linkages through banks, the scheme does not have guaranteed wage employment provisions akin to what MGNREGA provides.
- During the lockdown last year, the migrant labourers moved in large numbers from the urban to rural areas, which is symptomatic of the rural-urban livelihood security divide.
- This migration tragedy and the economic slowdown have highlighted the need for a similar livelihood safety net in urban India.
- Economic Effect: The economic crisis in urban areas is deepening as people who lost their jobs are yet to find replacements and little has been accomplished after the lockdown for the revival of livelihoods in the informal sector in the Indian urban area.
- Public Distribution System & Social Sector Scheme Coverage: A larger proportion of households in urban areas did not have access to ration cards.
- The social security schemes also had relatively better coverage among the rural poor as rural areas had better access to PDS rations.
- Nutrition and Hunger: A decline in nutritional quality and quantity was more among the urban residents, as was the need to borrow money for buying food.
