Your assets will determine if you get free safety net or not

Labour ministry proposed universal social security coverage for unorganised and self-employed poor

Less well-off citizens keen to get social security from the government free of cost under the proposed universal social security scheme might have to state the value of their total fixed assets, such as house, jewellery and electronic goods.

At present, social security benefits in India are restricted to the formal sector. The labour ministry has proposed universal social security coverage -- preventive and general practitioner care, benefits for sickness, unemployment, old age, employment injury, maternity and invalidity.

The ministry has proposed to gauge what should be the minimum wage for the unorganised and self-employed poor through the value of their total