The Rajasthan Assembly witnessed a significant milestone today as it passed the Minimum Income Guarantee Bill, 2023, which is expected to be the last session before the state goes to polls. The bill ensures 125 days of work per year for all families in the state and guarantees a minimum pension of ₹1,000 per month for elderly individuals, specially-abled individuals, widows, and single women. This pension will see an annual increase of 15%.
Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot introduced this landmark bill with the aim of expanding the state’s social security net, taking inspiration from the Congress’s successful implementation of five guarantees in Karnataka. These promises included free electricity and a monthly assistance of ₹2,000 to the woman head of each family.
In addition to the Minimum Income Guarantee Bill, the Rajasthan Assembly also presented the Rajasthan Platform-based Gig Workers (Registration and Welfare) Bill, 2023. This bill aims to provide social security to gig workers and will establish a ₹200-crore fund for this purpose. The discussion on this bill is scheduled for Monday.
Responding to the center’s criticism of opposition-ruled states for providing ‘freebies,’ Chief Minister Gehlot emphasized that social security is a fundamental right of every person in the state and the country. He asserted that it is the responsibility of every democratic government to provide social security to its residents. He also highlighted the Nyuntam Aay Yojana (NYAY), a Congress manifesto proposal that sought to grant ₹6,000 monthly to the bottom 20% of the population.
The Minimum Income Guarantee Bill consolidates the urban employment guarantee scheme, rural employment guarantee scheme, and pension scheme under one umbrella legislation called the Mahatma Gandhi Minimum Income Guarantee Scheme. As per the bill, once it becomes law, all rural families in the state will receive an additional 25 days of employment through the Mukhyamantri Gramin Rozgar Guarantee Yojana after completing 100 days under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). Urban families will also be entitled to 125 days of employment through the Indira Gandhi Urban Employment Guarantee Scheme.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Shanti Kumar Dhariwal explained that the bill incorporates a provision for an automatic 15% increase in pension every year, with 5% in July and 10% in January, based on a base amount of ₹1,000. He stressed that this groundbreaking legislation will not only provide relief to the common man from inflation but also ensure the continuity of social welfare measures, irrespective of the party in power after the upcoming elections in Rajasthan.
