Sunil Sharma
writetomlapadder@gmail.com
The prime priority of every successful state is to provide social protection to marginalized population. A democracy becomes meaningful not just through elections and public rallies but through the everyday experience of security and dignity that citizens derive from the state. When people feel protected against illness, accidents, unemployment or social crises, the moral foundation of democracy becomes stronger. Without such protection, millions remain citizens only on paper, not in their lived reality.
In India, the demand for a strong system of social protection has always been urgent because of the country’s vast informal workforce, its history of social inequality, and the scale of economic vulnerability. Welfare programmes existed long before 2014, but their reach and impact were uneven. Many schemes struggled with leakages, corruption, duplication of beneficiaries and weak delivery mechanisms. Much of India’s poor lived outside the formal financial system and had no reliable access to pensions, insurance or healthcare coverage. Welfare was often dependent on navigating local bureaucracies or political networks, which meant that the most disadvantaged were the most likely to fall through the cracks.
These gaps created as “structural exclusion”not intentional discrimination but systematic disadvantages that arise from the design and functioning of institutions. For a long time, India’s social protection architecture could not fully overcome these structural barriers. As a result, while the country’s constitutional vision promised equality and justice, the everyday experience of welfare remained uneven, fragile and uncertain for many citizens.After 2014, the approach toward social protection began to shift significantly. The government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi placed a strong emphasis on inclusive development, using technology and financial access as tools to reform the delivery of welfare. The starting point was the massive financial inclusion project under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana. By bringing crores of people into the banking system, the state created a direct channel between itself and the citizen. This reduced dependence on middlemen and signaled a move towards a welfare system based on rights rather than discretion. The bank account became not just a financial tool but a symbol of state recognition.
This foundation allowed the government to expand social insurance in ways not seen before. Affordable schemes like the Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana and Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana brought life and accident insurance within the reach of the poorest families. The Atal Pension Yojana attempted to ensure that informal sector workers, who form the majority of the workforce, also gain some measure of old-age security. These schemes represent a democratisation of risk protection. Earlier, insurance and pension systems were largely the privilege of organised sector employees; now they became accessible to street vendors, daily wage labourers, domestic workers and agricultural labourers.
Healthcare protection saw an even more notable change with the introduction of Ayushman Bharat, one of the world’s largest publicly funded health insurance programmes. Hospitalisation costs are among the biggest causes of poverty in India, pushing families into debt traps that take years to overcome. Cashless treatment under Ayushman Bharat attempted to break this cycle by enabling the poor to access hospital care without fear of financial ruin. While implementation challenges remain, the programme reflects a larger shift in the state’s approach from viewing health as a consumer service to recognising it as a component of social citizenship.
The government also introduced targeted income support and social recognition for vulnerable groups. PM-KISAN provided direct financial assistance to millions of farmers, acknowledging the uncertainties of agricultural livelihoods. The e-Shram portal marked a historic step in documenting informal workers, many of whom had never been officially recorded by the state. This registration not only offers access to benefits but also symbolic recognition of workers who have long remained invisible in policy frameworks. When the state recognises a worker, it creates the basis for new claims, new rights and new forms of democratic accountability.
Technology played a decisive role in building this new welfare architecture. The integration of Aadhaar with Direct Benefit Transfers reduced corruption, cut down duplication, and brought transparency to the system. The shift to a more centralised and digital delivery model has reduced arbitrariness and made the state’s welfare role more predictable. This does not mean that all issues have been resolved. Digital literacy gaps, administrative capacity and regional disparities still pose challenges. But the direction of change is clear: towards a state that sees social protection not as a burden but as a commitment central to its democratic character.
What emerges from these developments is a redefinition of the relationship between the citizen and the state. Social protection is no longer treated as optional support or a political favour; it is increasingly framed as part of the state’s duty and a citizen’s entitlement. In sociological terms, this strengthens the sense of belonging and inclusion. When individuals feel protected, they feel more integrated into the social fabric and more confident in the promises of democracy.
India’s progress in social protection after 2014 does not mean that the task is complete. Inequalities persist, and new vulnerabilities continue to emerge in a rapidly changing economy. But the direction and intent are unmistakable: the Indian government has moved toward a more expansive and citizen-friendly welfare regime, rooted in financial inclusion, digital governance and accessible security nets.
A democracy’s real test lies not in its slogans but in its ability to protect its most vulnerable members. Social protection is not charity but a constitutional and moral commitment. India’s efforts over the past decade suggest that the state is taking this responsibility more seriously, moving closer to the vision of a nation where every citizen irrespective of class, caste or region can feel secure, valued and protected.
(The author is Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly of Jammu and Kashmir)
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