An Analysis of Post-2014 Social Protection Initiatives in India

This chapter provides an overview of an integrated and innovative approach adopted by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi led government, which assumed office in May 2014, to broaden and deepen delivery of social protection programs and schemes to Indian households. The government has accepted that social protection should be an integral part of India’s economic and social development strategies, and not be an appendage as has been the case previously. This approach recognizes that social protection programs should be designed to deliver public amenities and services to households, and not only focus on providing monetary payments alone. This is because the household welfare ultimately depends on consumption of public and private sector goods and services that monetary benefits and non-monetary services provide. This approach also recognizes that both market and non-market activities have the potential to enhance welfare; and the expenditure, time, energy, and effort reducing initiatives impacting on the households should be considered an integral components of a social protection system.