Topic- Concept and Scope of Social Security From- Dr.Govind Kumar Programme- MA IN PMIR, PU Course- Social Security Legislations Code- CC-8 ,Semester-II, PMIR CONCEPT AND SCOPE OF SOCIAL SECURITY (i) Concept- Social Security is a new concept and it represents society’s current answer to the problem of economic insecurity. It has evolved out of previous methods used to deal with the same problem. A number of text books have been written charting the slow evolution . However story will instead be taken up from the 1930’s because this period is important in the evolution of social security. The concept of Social security is essentially related to the high ideals of human dignity and social justice. In fact , it is the protection that a society provides and households to ensure access to health care and to guarantee income security ,particularly in cases of old age, sickness, maternity, work injury, unemployment, invalidity. According to Lord William Beveridge, the term ‘Social Security’ is used to denote the security of an income to take the place of earnings when they are interrupted by unemployment, sickness or accident, to provide for retirement through age , to provide against loss of support by death of another person and to meet exceptional expenditures, such as those concerned with birth, death and marriage. In the words of Maurice Stack, ‘Social security’ we understand a programme of protection provided by society against those contingencies of modern life – sickness, unemployment, old- age, dependency, industrial accidents, and invalidism- against which the individual cannot be expected to protect himself and his family by his own ability or foresight. According to International Labour Organisational, ‘ Social security is the security that society furnishes, through appropriate organization, against certain risks to which its members are exposed. The risks are essentially contingencies against which the individual of small means cannot effectively provide by his own ability or foresight alone or even in private combination with his fellows. On the basis of these definitions, views of experts, and others the following features of social security can be listed: (a) Social security is a measure of ensuring social justice. (b) It is an essential part of public policy in a state like . (c)Social security is a dynamic concept. Its change with the social and economic conditions obtaining in a particular country at a given point of time . (d) The basic purpose this is to protect people of small means from risks or contingencies. (e) Contingences under social security include sickness, old age, invalidity, maternity, death, unemployment, etc., (f) Social security measures are generally prescribed by law. (g) These measures provide for cash payment to affected persons to party compensate for the loss of income due to certain contingencies. (h) It is essential for the protection and stability of the labour force. The responsibility of the State toward weaker sections of the community is well recognised and is embodied in the Constitution itself as one of the . Article 41 of the Constitution specifically provides that ‘’The State shall, within the limits of its economic capacity and development make effective provision for securing the right to work to education and public assistance, in cases of unemployment, old age , sickness and disablement and in other cases of underserved want’’. As , India has been striving to provide certain measures of social security through: The Employee’s Compensation Act, 1923; The Employee’s State Insurance Act, 1948; The Maternity Benefit Act, 1961; The Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972; and The Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952.

(ii) Scope of Social Security – The scope of social security is very wide though the social security programmes differ from country to country. Generally, social security schemes are of the following types. 1. Social insurance. Under it, the Workers and employees make periodical contributions , with or without a subsidy from thee Government. The funds so collected are used to provide benefits on the basis of the contribution record of the beneficiary without testing his financially position. Provident fund and group insurance are examples of these type. 2. Social Assistance. Under I the cost of the benefit provided is financed fully by he Government without any contributions from workers and employers. However, benefits are paid after judging the financial position of e beneficiary. Oldage pension is an example.

The Social Security (minimum standard) Convention No. 102 of the International Labour Organisational prescribes the following components of social security. (a) Medical care (b) Sickness benefit (c) Old age benefits or Retirement benefits (d) Employment injury benefit (e) Family benefit (f) Maternity benefit (g) Invalidity benefit (h) Survivor’s benefit

(iii) India is a Welfare State and therefore, social security is an essential component of Government policy. According to the , “the state shall within the limits of its economics capacity and development make effective provision securing the right to work to, to education and to public assistance in case of unemployment, old age, sickness and disablement and other cases of unserved wants. “Many State Governments have introduced old age assistance schemes and other types of social assistance benefits. Social insurance is provided though the following social security labour laws.Labour Laws are Viz.,(a) The Employee’s Compensation Act, 1923,(b)The Employee’s State Insurance Act, 1948,(c) The Maternity Benefite Act, 1970, (d) The Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972,(e) The Employees’ Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952 etc.