SOCIAL SECURITY FOR UNORGANISED WORKERS IN INDIA

The unorganised workers account for about 93 per cent of the total workforce and there is a steady growth in it over years in India. It is argued that India had a long tradition of informal social security and social assistance system directed particularly towards the more vulnerable sections of the society but underwent steady and inevitable erosion. The social security initiatives of the Centre, State and NGO’s implemented during the past indicated that the needs are much more than the supports provided and the efforts must be targeted and vast enough to cover the growing unorganised workers. It is argued that the major security needs of the unorganised workers are food security, nutritional security, health security, housing security, employment security, income security, life and accident security, and old age security. In sum, the study calls for a Comprehensive, Universal and Integrated Social Security System for the unorganised workers in India.