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The Hindu
4 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Kerala example of ‘welfare magnet State', says paper presented at ILO meet
Kerala has set an example of a 'welfare magnet State' through its 'systematic and organised labour welfare initiatives and inclusive development', especially for migrant labourers, says a paper presented at the 'Regulating for Decent Work' conference of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) at Geneva between July 2 and 4. The paper, presented by K. Ravi Raman, member, State Planning Board, also suggests the possibility of designing a better economic and fiscal strategy towards the migrant welfare system, including an 'exclusive budget' for the guest workers. The cost to the State to ensure dignified work and living conditions for them by maintaining welfare benefits for another five years is estimated to be ₹454 crore. Mr. Raman says that Kerala was the first State to implement the Inter-State Migrant Workmen (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1979, 'in letter and spirit,' by registering those who bring workers to the State and by providing a comprehensive welfare package for the workers. The government introduced the Kerala Migrant Workers' Welfare Scheme, jointly implemented by the Kerala Building and Other Construction Workers' Welfare Board and the Labour department. The social safety net includes health and education assistance, death benefits, financial aid for repatriating the body of a deceased worker, financial relief for those who are permanently disabled and unable to work, medical benefits, terminal benefits, educational grants, and maternity benefits. The welfare schemes are implemented by the Labour department, the Welfare Board, and the State Health Agency. Migrants are able to generate an average surplus income or savings of about ₹4,000 per month. Moreover, around 32% of them remit more than ₹30,000 per year. It is estimated that the annual outflow to other States from Kerala is between ₹7,500 crore and ₹8,000 crore. The paper points out that rapid urbanisation, demographic shifts, and changes in fertility rates are key factors contributing to Kerala's current status as a favoured destination for inter-State migrants. The State has the highest proportion of elderly people — the non-working-age population — at around 14%, well above the national average of 9%. The total fertility rate has declined to 1.5, well below the replacement level. This drop has led to a shrinking domestic labour pool, a trend that is even more pronounced among the Scheduled Castes, from whom a significant portion of the workforce is drawn. The State's average population growth rate is expected to turn negative within a decade, with some districts having already arrived at this figures. With mortality and fertility rates reaching saturation, Kerala's demand for workers continues to rise and is currently being met by inter-State migrants. The wages on offer are also higher — ₹893.6 compared to the all-India average of ₹417.3. Migration typically occurs from high-fertility, low-wage regions to low-fertility, high-wage regions. However, Mr. Raman points out that with declining fertility rates and rising wages in the sending States, Kerala is likely to witness a drop in the number of inter-State migrants in the near future.
The Hindu
18-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Panel report on disaster risk financing yet to be enforced in Kerala
Even as Kerala is reeling under the monsoon fury, the government is yet to implement the proposals by a committee on disaster risk financing led by K. Ravi Raman, member, State Planning Board, which were submitted four years ago. The panel, set up against the backdrop of the 2018 floods and other natural calamities, had suggested that a new risk transfer mechanismfor financing disasters could be implemented and a climate risk insurance modelmay be adopted. It had also proposed a State disaster risk fund pool. For insurance coverage, the panel said, the households in the State may be classified into trust/assurance mode, hybrid mode, and full-cost mode. In trust/ assurance mode, the government will have to pay the full premium rate of ₹31 for an insured sum of ₹1 lakh as a group insurance scheme. The entire section of yellow and pink ration cardholders (38.32 lakh households) can be made part of it. Of the 24.73 lakh blue ration cardholders, who belong to the non-priority subsidy category, 22.26 lakh may be included in the hybrid mode as the rest are assumed to have been covered by some kind of insurance. There can be two options. As the first option, these people may have to pay 50% of the premium (₹15) as subsidy through direct insurance and the rest will have to be paid by the government as indirect insurance. In the second option, the government may have to identify households whose residents are employed in the unorganised sector and are living in the most environmentally vulnerable areas. The government can pay the full premium rate for the identified section. The others can pay 50% of the premium as subsidy through direct insurance and the rest of the amount will have to be paid by government as indirect insurance. Of the 26.07 lakh white ration cardholders in the non-priority category, 23.9 lakh can be included in the full cost mode, and asked to pay the full premium as the others are expected to have been covered under some kind of insurance either individually or through their employers. The government may also develop a State Disaster Risk Fund Poolas a new disaster risk financial source and the climate risk insurance can be implemented using its funds. The amount collected for the purpose can be deposited in a disaster risk pool account. An estimated ₹566 crorewould be the initial resource base for the proposed pool, which could be obtained from taxation and other methods. The nodal authorityto supervise and regulate matters related may be the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority. It is also possible to consider the Kerala State Insurance Department as a nodal agency. The department should work in collaboration with the KSDMA, district disaster management authorities and local self-government institutions, the panel had said.
