World Bank’s Support to India | 16 May 2020

Why in News

Recently, the World Bank has approved USD 1 billion for accelerating India’s Covid-19 Social Protection Response Programme.

  • With this announcement, commitment from the World Bank towards emergency Covid-19 response in India has reached to USD 2 billion.
  • Earlier, a USD 1 billion support was announced in April to support India’s health sector.

Key Points

  • Social Protection Response Programme:
    • It is pivoted towards migrants, unorganised workers, informal sector, and creating an integration of the existing infrastructure of safety nets like the Public distribution system, Jan Dhan, Aadhar & mobile.
    • It will expand the coverage of India’s social protection system by helping vulnerable groups access to more social benefits directly and across the country.
      • Geographic portability would be introduced to ensure that social protection benefits could be accessed from anywhere in the country, providing relief to inter-State migrant workers.
    • It will support the Government of India’s efforts towards a more consolidated delivery platform accessible to both rural and urban populations across state boundaries.
    • Such a system will also strengthen India’s federalism by enabling and supporting states to respond quickly and effectively.
  • Phased Implementation: This new support will be funded and operated in two phases:
    • An immediate allocation of $750 million for fiscal year 2020 .
    • A $250 million second tranche that will be made available for fiscal year 2021.
  • First Phase: It will be implemented countrywide through the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana (PMGKY) to benefit vulnerable groups, particularly migrants and informal workers.
  • Second phase: It would deepen the social protection package, whereby additional cash and in-kind benefits based on local needs will be extended through state governments and portable social protection delivery systems.

Need

  • Unprecedented introduction of social distancing and lock downs due to Covid-19, to slow down the spread of the virus, have impacted economies and jobs especially in the informal sector.
  • Over 90% of India’s workforce is employed in the informal sector, without access to significant savings or workplace based social protection benefits such as paid sick leave or social insurance.
  • Over 9 million migrants, who cross state borders to work each year, are also at greater risk as social assistance programmes in India largely provide benefits to residents .
  • In an urbanising India, cities and towns need targeted support as its social protection programmes are focused on rural populations.
  • Social protection is critical when half of India’s population earns less than $3 a day and are close to the poverty line.

Source:PIB