Kerala 2005 - of Planning Commission

162
and financial base, some others have a weak financial
base given the limited capacity of workers to make
contributions. In some others it has proved difficult to
ensure timely contributions from the employers. There is a
strong case to review the functioning of the Welfare Funds
and streamline their functioning and inject a measure of
professional management in investment of funds and
delivery of benefits. An area that demands particular
attention is that of administrative costs which should not
be allowed to exceed the pre-determined level. These
Funds are an example to the rest of India in providing a
measure of social security to the households of workers
in the unorganised sector and thereby help enhance their
human capabilities.
in ostentatious marriages as have been witnessed never
before. A portion of the resources spent on these could go
a long way in enhancing the quantity and quality of food
provided to poor children in schools. This is something
that the otherwise active civil society has to engage itself
in. With some innovative initiatives, it is quite possible to
realise such goals. This Reports calls on the civil society
to engage in such sensitisation processes.
2.5 Concern for the Voiceless
The problem of poverty, especially income poverty,
has been partly tackled by income transfer to specific
vulnerable groups. And one of the long-standing schemes
is the provision of old age pension to the poor. However,
this scheme requires considerable strengthening. The
monthly pension (Rs. 110 of which Rs. 75 is provided
by the Central government under the National Social
Assistance Programme) is too meagre and works out to
less than 30 per cent of the per capita income required
to cross the poverty line. Much of the social security
content of the old age pension for the poor is robbed of
its worth when such pensions are distributed once in six
or eight months as is the case in Kerala. Given the fact
that these poor people have no voice or representation,
there is no one to champion their cause. The State has a
duty to ensure that monthly pensions and similar transfer
payments to the poor are paid on a regular basis without
running into arrears.
2.6 Strengthening Social Security of Workers
in the Unorganised Sector
The setting up and institutionalisation of Welfare Funds
for workers in the unorganised sector has taken deep roots
in Kerala. While some Funds have adequate contributions
2.7 The Need for Innovative Ways
to Strengthen the PDS
For a long time the Public Distribution System played a
pivotal role in ensuring food security in Kerala. The PDS
has now undergone some decline arising out of the dual
pricing system for Below Poverty Line (BPL) households
and Above Poverty Line (APL) households. If there are
no large-scale social protests or adverse impact arising
out of this new system, it is mainly because of the easy
availability of food grains in the market and the reduced
price differential as between PDS and the open market.
Yet there is a case for strengthening the PDS since
the poor depend on it to a greater extent. The recent
decision of the government to permit PDS shops to sell
non-essential commodities is a welcome step in this
direction. A persistent and common complaint is the
low quality of food grains distributed through the PDS.
This may be partly taken care of by sourcing quality food
grains from other States on a bulk basis that would also act
as a check on prices in the open markets.
2.8 Focus on Enhancing the Quality of
Education as an Overarching Public Policy
The Report has highlighted that strengthening the virtuous
cycle of growth based on human development warrants
addressing the problem of quality. As an example, the case
of education was discussed in Chapter 6. Kerala is ideally
placed now to address the problem of quality because of
the decline in the absolute number of children born and
consequent reduction in the school-going population.
Improving the physical amenities in government and
aided schools should continue to receive attention.
The positive role of Parent Teacher Associations (now
existent in almost all schools) should be mentioned here