Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, May 9: Union Minister for Minority Affairs, Najma Heptullah today launched three Social Security Schemes (SSS) of Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bheema Yojana (PMJJBY), Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bheema Yojana (PMSBY) and Atal Pension Yojana at SKICC here.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the function, the Union Minister said that there was no social security to house wives, divorcees, people working as labourers and economically down trodden section of the society.
Heptullah said that these schemes will provide social security. “A house wife works at home and when she grows old who will help her. What is the security of divorced women, there is no security. These hardships are being faced by the women and poor people. Those who are working in Government offices have security but what about the labourers and other working class”, she asked.
The Union Minister advised people to save little money so that after the age of 60 they make its use.
Heptullah said that those who are injured in accidents need money and this insurance scheme is for them. “In US and European countries there is social security but here we don’t have any. This is part of economic inclusiveness that everybody has to be taken along. This is for the poor people”, she said.
Speaking on the occasion, Heptullah said the newly launched schemes would add new dimension to the whole concept of social security in the country as they are aimed at providing affordable socio-economic security to the people in general and underprivileged strata in particular. She said these schemes would be a significant value addition to the welfare oriented initiatives for the poor and underprivileged sections of the society and will help fill major vacuum in the welfare programmes presently in vogue.
“The objective of these insurance schemes is to create the opportunity for the people to secure their families in hard times when their bread-winners are no more or are disabled due to any mishap. Through these pension schemes, we also want to have a system which could empower and motivate people to create a source for them to be financially independent when their old ages challenge them and dilute their earning capabilities”, she elaborated.
The Minister for Finance, Labour Employment and Culture, Dr. Haseeb Drabu while speaking on the occasion said through these schemes, the Government wants to create social security network for the underprivileged and the weaker sections of the society. He said these should not be propagated as schemes but an idea meant to create a sense of social security in the lower and under privileged strata.
Dr. Drabu said these schemes would be efficacious and helpful in fulfilling the socio-economic security needs of each individual of the country and is a good initiative towards providing affordable access to social protection.
Later, the Ministers distributed the insurance certificates and passbooks to the beneficiaries.
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