With reference to Dilasha Seth's report, "Govt mulls universal health insurance" (December 28), the National Democratic Alliance government's approach to social security - from financial inclusion to the proposal of providing universal health care to several labourer-friendly initiatives - has been encouraging this year. Universal health care will improve other human development indicators too.
Several initiatives in the past aimed at the uplift of the poor suffered due to criticism about subsidy, pilferage of funds at various stages before they reached the intended beneficiaries and broadly, a lack of appreciation of the efforts by those who were not the beneficiaries of the schemes.
The NITI Ayog may study the issue and determine the contours of a policy that the Centre and state governments can then adapt and adopt by integrating initiatives for poverty alleviation, education, health care and pension.
The government may consider making this a national movement, ensuring public and private sector participation and creating a National Social Security Fund. The corpus for the fund could come from budgetary provision, a portion of the "unclaimed" deposits with LIC, EPFO, banks and other organisations handling "public funds" as well as a one-time contribution by corporate entities.
M G Warrier, Mumbai
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