More pilot projects on basic income mooted

New Delhi, March 29

A national conference on basic income in India has advocated that more pilot projects should be taken up across the country so that the debate on the shape, size and implementation of a basic income scheme can acquire clear contours.

A two-day National Conference on Basic Income in India kicked off here today organised by SEWA Bharat and India Network for Basic Income. The idea of a Universal Basic Income (UBI) has shot into prominence after this year’s Economic Survey recommended it for consideration.

According to the conference organisers, basic income is an income given unconditionally, does not stipulate where it is to be spent and provides for a person’s basic needs without becoming a disincentive to work. Globally also several countries are discussing the basic income concept as employment patterns are changing and rising automation poses a threat to jobs as some speakers at today’s conference pointed out.

In a video message at the conference, Chief Economic Adviser Arvind Subramanian said UBI is an idea for serious consideration. He said the Jan Dhan Aadhaar Mobile infrastructure can be leveraged to implement UBI although the debate will be on how to make UBI viable at a cost of 4-5% of GDP by replacing some of the existing welfare schemes.

Renana Jhabvala, Chair, SEWA Bharat, said the organisation had run three pilot projects, two in Madhya Pradesh and one in Delhi on unconditional basic income to identify the effects of cash grants. She said the pilots showed that such a programme can be transformational as it provides choice to the people and can provide new ways of social security. — TNS