Social Security for the Poor 8

Social security to be really effective should fulfill certain essential conditions. The first and foremost is good leadership. That is a leadership which will act in the interest of the nation and its people. It needs a government with the will to manage its resources effectively and to ensure equity in distribution. Vested interests rooted in self aggrandizement philosophy will not deliver the goods. An accurate data bank of those below the poverty level should be maintained and this should be updated at regular intervals so that the information is acted upon and right decisions are made. Emphasis should be on institution building and not in demolishing institutions which have proved to be beneficial to society and which have a built in mechanism to ensure social secuiry.The joint family system prevalent in Asian countries like India had several good features. Instead of removing its weakness and building on its strengths efforts were made to demolish and condemn the system altogether so that the great advantage of a built in social security system was lost.

Privileges enjoyed by certain groups should be curtailed. Privileges should be allowed only when they're justified and found essential to discharge the responsibilities of the office held. The inflated privileges which the members of parliament and members of legislature enjoy are far disproportionate to the actual results they produce in terms of benefits to the people. There should be respect for talent for talent alone can lift society.

Leaders should instill in their followers the pride of dignity of labor and they should set examples. This will increase productivity and social harmony.Identity cards should be issued to those below the poverty level (BPL) and clear eligibility criteria evolved. These data need updating at regular intervals. The provision made for the BPL should meet all their basic needs. Private sector participation should be welcimed in all cases. Liberal tax concessions should be given for developing villages or areas where villages having pockets of poverty are present. Corruption should be considered as a social problem as severe as HIV positive and has to be tackled in all seriousness.
Self aggrandizement and clamor for privileges for existing groups at the cost to the poor and in the name of the poor prevail. It may even be questioned how it is practical to cover such a vast population under a scheme of social security. If any one subscribes to this philosophy of negative thinking and action it is essential that the so called undeserving privileges conferred on a small section of the population who are very well off and who are far above the poverty line are also withdrawn forthwith. The example cited below throws light on the magnitude of this malady.
Decades ago a Join Parliamentary Committee recommended extra perks for members to enable them todischarge their duties more diligently. The Committee recommended a dozen areas where facilities and perks could be further enhanced. It suggested allocation of 20 million units of local currency for each member annually for development work in his constituency with the principle of carry forward in case this entire amount was not spent in that year. The Committee stressed that the Act pertaining to salary, allowances and pension of members be amended deleting the prevision of signing the attendance register for claiming daily allowance. It suggested a mechanism by which the remuneration and facilities of the members could be fixed without the need for the members to vote such facilities and remuneration to themselves.

Mr. A entered his third term in the Upper House. He knew nothing about politics. He was reasonably well educated and actually was poor. He could barely afford a trip to the capital and was often forced to live off the largess of friends. Today he is a millionaire. He is also man of taste. So his sprawling bungalow is decorated with priceless objects of art and furniture.He goes abroad with family every year for holidays, travel first class and live in first class hotels,As or his contribution of local politics - Zero.

The there is Mr. B, an unsuccessful professional with an obscure practice. He managed to win seat. Today is a big tycoon with vast assets that seem to grow every year. His contribution to local politics- Zero. These are all true stories reported in leading newspapers explaining only the tip of the tip.

Social security is the most wanted development in the poor countries of the world. Each citizen has a right to live a life with dignity. The organized few millions need not live and enjoy at the cost of a billion underprivileged. The government should make the social security system a reality ichly drawing from a value system conducive to the collective good of the community. (Concluded)