Rajasthan Government Introduces Bill To Ensure Minimum Income, Includes Guaranteed Employment, Social Security Pension

The Rajasthan Minimum Guaranteed Income Bill 2023 was introduced on Tuesday (18 July) by the Ashok Gehlot government with the aim of providing "additional income" to individuals and households in the state.

The bill focuses on three main areas: the right to minimum guaranteed income, the right to guaranteed employment, and the right to guaranteed social security pension.

Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot first mentioned the bill in his budget speech earlier this year as part of his government's efforts to alleviate the impact of inflation on citizens. These measures are also seen as a strategy for the upcoming elections.

The Mahatma Gandhi Minimum Guaranteed Income Yojana (MGMGIY) will be the name of the scheme. The bill states that eligible individuals will receive a minimum guaranteed income through this scheme, either by providing employment in urban areas through the Indira Gandhi Urban Employment Guarantee Scheme (IGUEGS) or in rural areas through the Chief Minister Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (CMREGS).

Alternatively, eligible individuals may receive a pension if they fall under the categories of old age, specially abled, widow, or single woman.

Every adult residing in rural areas of the state has the right to guaranteed employment for at least an additional 25 days per financial year, after completing the maximum days of work under MGNREGA. They are also entitled to receive minimum wages on a weekly basis or within a fortnight.

Similarly, in urban areas, every adult has the right to guaranteed employment for at least 125 days per financial year, along with receiving minimum wages on a weekly basis or within a fortnight.

If the Programme Officer fails to provide employment within 15 days of receiving an application, the applicant is eligible to receive an unemployment allowance from the state government. This allowance will be provided on a weekly basis or within a fortnight.

The Right to Guaranteed Social Security Pension ensures that individuals in the categories of old age, specially abled, widow, or single woman, who meet the prescribed eligibility criteria, receive a pension.

The pension includes an automatic annual increase of 15 per cent on the base rate, divided into two instalments of 5 per cent in July and 10 per cent in January, starting from the financial year 2024-2025.

The implementation of this scheme is expected to result in an additional expenditure of Rs 2,500 crore per year for the government. However, this amount may increase over time.

The Chief Minister recently addressed social security pension beneficiaries. "When the government gives you Rs 1,000, it is not a favour. The one who rules has a moral responsibility that everyone gets justice. And we are bringing in a law so that no one can stop the pension," he said.