Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in the 123rd episode of his monthly radio programme ‘Mann Ki Baat’, hailed a recent International Labour Organisation (ILO) report which highlights a major leap in India’s social security coverage, stating that 64% of the population—approximately 95 crore people—are now beneficiaries of social protection schemes.
PM Modi emphasised the dramatic progress made over the past decade. “This number was less than 25 crore until 2015,” he noted, pointing to a 45 percentage point increase in coverage since then, one of the highest globally, according to the ILOSTAT dashboard.
The Prime Minister attributed the success to various flagship schemes including:
- Ayushman Bharat
- Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PM-GKAY)
- e-Shram portal
- Atal Pension Yojana (APY)
These initiatives, he said, have been crucial in expanding the safety net to millions, and the growing coverage is expected to strengthen India’s position in finalising social security agreements with developed nations, enabling the portability of benefits for Indian workers abroad.
PM Modi also celebrated India’s latest health milestone, with the World Health Organization (WHO) declaring the country free from Trachoma, a preventable eye disease. “This is the success of our health workers… and the contribution of the ‘Jal Jeevan Mission’,” he said.
The Prime Minister further spoke about the grand celebration of the 11th International Day of Yoga on June 21, where millions across India and the world participated. He highlighted visuals from Visakhapatnam, where a record-breaking 3 lakh people performed yoga together on the beach, and 2,000 tribal students executed 108 Surya Namaskars for 108 minutes.
“Each year, the celebration of Yoga Day becomes grander. This shows that more people are embracing Yoga as a part of their lifestyle,” PM Modi concluded.
