Social security measures among agricultural workers – A narrative review

Abstract

Agricultural workers suffer from various health problems which affect them at social, economic, mental, ecological, as well as all physical levels. In India, a vast proportion of agricultural workers are poor and hence they have a financial disadvantage. Catastrophic health expenditure without a mechanism of robust social security measures in place further deteriorates the socioeconomic position of such agricultural workers. Social security measures act as a support system at the time of health-related crisis and hence this article reviews existing social security measures for agricultural workers in India and related barriers to their utilization. The review suggests using awareness protocols that should reach the community, using their own language (for better compliance), and informing them about how to avail of these social security measures. They should be provided with family support to reduce their burden economically and to reduce their excessive stress level. This, in turn, will help to improve their socioeconomic status. The Indian agricultural workers lack general awareness about how social security works, and we lack good digital social equipment as well, which needs intervention and to apply on it. India has many social security schemes for agricultural workers but many of the target beneficiaries do not benefit from them or are excluded from these schemes because of procedural barriers. Hence, the utilization of social security schemes by agricultural workers remains poor. We need to further research into the measures that can be taken to increase this utilization so that agricultural workers can get benefit of the existing social security schemes.