EXTEND SOCIAL SECURITY FOR WORKERS IN ODISHA

A rapid structural change in the economy notwithstanding, social security continues to elude a large chunk of the labour force in Odisha. Two reports, completely different in scope and objective, give a clear picture of the situation.

A recently-released study of financial inclusion in rural India by Nabard provides a rather interesting tale of contrasts in the eastern state. Though the average household income in Odisha may be one of the lowest in the country, the savings tendency of the state's rural population is notably high. The report says that while over 70 percent of rural households in 11 states saved money during 2021-22, the figure in Odisha was 73 percent. Though farm families in the state earned barely a third of those in Punjab, Haryana and Kerala, lower consumption expenditure meant that households ended up with decent savings, with women leading the way.