Welfare Economics

Rajasthan budget: Rs 15k cr for tap water, greenfield expressways. Updates

Rajasthan Finance Minister Diya Kumari proposed Rs 27,000 crore for the health sector and said that bio pink toilets will be built for women

The psychologist who humanised economics

Nobel laureate Daniel Kahneman's first major contribution was his and Tversky's groundbreaking 1974 study on judgment and uncertainty

Maha Cabinet clears OPS for state employees who joined after Nov 2005

The Maharashtra cabinet on Thursday cleared a proposal that offers an option of availing the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) to the state government employees who joined the service after November 2005. The decision comes days after the government as well as semi-government employees and officials went on a strike to press for their demand of restoring the OPS. The cabinet gave its nod to the proposal that offers an option of the OPS to the state employees who joined the service post-November 2005, the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) said. Talking to PTI, Vishwas Katkar, general secretary of the Maharashtra state employees' confederation, said, "The cabinet's decision will benefit some 26,000 state government employees who were selected before November 2005 but received joining letters later. This decision will benefit only these 26,000 state employees." There are as many as 9.5 lakh state employees who joined the service before November 2005 and they already enjoy the benefits of the OPS.

No additional tax imposed for implementing welfare schemes: Assam CM

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday said that his government has not imposed any additional taxes on the people for implementing various welfare schemes. He maintained that the state government was able to carry out the welfare activities due to the support of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He was speaking at a programme where beneficiaries of the 'Orunodoi 2.0' scheme were handed their cards. Under the scheme, economically weak families receive Rs 1,250 in the bank account of the woman member every month to meet various household expenses. Under 'Orunodoi 2.0', around 7 lakh new names will be added to the list of beneficiaries, taking the total to 26 lakh. Over 25,000 new beneficiaries of Jorhat district received their cards at the programme. Taking on opposition parties for criticising the government for creating 'beneficiaries' through its various schemes, Sarma said, "As the chief minister, I will, of course, look to create 'hitadhikaris' (beneficiaries). "Thes

Over 140,000 applications received for PM Vishwakarma in 10 days: Govt

Within ten days of its launch, the PM Vishwakarma scheme has received more than 1.40 lakh applications, Union Minister Narayan Rane said on Wednesday. The Minister for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises, through his post on X (formerly Twitter), wrote that PM Vishwakarma Yojana is a result of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision and receiving of such high numbers of applications within ten days of the launch is a testament to its success. He further stated that the PM Vishwakarma Scheme will be a milestone for the comprehensive development of our socially and economically underprivileged Vishwakarma brothers and sisters and it will restore their lost identity which has been long awaited. The Union Minister said that this scheme aims to enhance traditional artisans and craftspersons production capacity and take their products to domestic and global markets. Under the scheme, 18 types of artisans and craftsmen will be benefited. Skill training will be provided to the beneficiaries

Under new labour laws, unused leaves beyond 30 will be paid for by employer

The new regulation will do away with the system where unused leaves used to lapse beyond a certain time limit

Construction workers to get welfare schemes' benefits through DBT: Delhi LG

Delhi Lt Governor VK Saxena has approved 17 welfare schemes, including disability pension and medical assistance, for registered construction workers of the national capital, officials said on Saturday. The benefits under the schemes would be provided by direct benefit transfer (DBT) after Aadhar-based authentication of the beneficiaries registered with Delhi Building and Other Construction Workers' Welfare Board (DBOCWWB), they said. Saxena has directed strict monitoring of disbursement process to ensure that benefits are given only to the genuine beneficiaries and there are no leakages, officials at LG office said. "The move aims at minimising leakages as in recent times, there were several instances of financial irregularities by providing benefits to ghost construction workers that are being probed by the Anti Corruption Branch," they said. The LG has approved the notification of 17 welfare schemes of the DBOCWWB with specific directions for constant supervision and monitoring

Yoginder K Alagh (1939-2022): An exceptionally generous economist departs

Born in pre-independence India, Alagh has left behind a rich legacy in the world of economic policymaking

Leaders in democracy need to introspect, says Chief Justice NV Ramana

The pandemic has exposed and highlighted deep-rooted vulnerabilities and has increased the inequalities in society. In such times, selfless service is the need of the hour, the CJI noted

Best of BS Opinion: PSB privatisation, vaccinating India brilliantly & more

Here's a selection of Business Standard opinion pieces for the day

Modi, Williamson and Alesina

Williamson and Alesina were both economists who offered insights that India must follow over the next two decades. If it doesn't, it can resign itself to its current low-grade economic status.