NEW DELHI: More than two-third people in India are now covered under at least one social security benefit – roughly translating into 100 crore people – International Labour Organisation (ILO) director general Gilbert F Houngbo said Wednesday.“According to ILO running estimates, India’s social protection system now reaches 100 crore people. This milestone offers lessons that can be shared through south-south cooperation,” he said in his address to the Brics labour and employment ministers’ meeting. “India’s social protection coverage has grown from 25 crore citizens (19%) in 2015 to over 100 crore citizens (68.4%) in 2026, reflecting the govt’s commitment to Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas,” labour minister Mansukh Mandaviya posted on X.ILO’s criteria to consider a scheme as part of the social security net include that it should be legislatively backed, in cash and be active along with the availability of a verified time-series data of the last three years. The increase in social protection coverage is expected to further strengthen India’s global engagements.
