Perception of Beneficiaries
regarding Social Security Pension Schemes
Dr. Biju S K
Assistant Professor
Government Arts College,
Thiruvananthapuram
Abstract
Pension and social
security schemes have been receiving increasing attention in recent years in
most countries of the developing world in view of the rapidly growing elderly
population. Social security is a concept preserved in Article
22 of the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights,
which states: Everyone, as a member of society, has the right to social
security and is entitled to realization, through national effort and
international co-operation and in accordance with the organization and
resources of each State, of the economic,
social and cultural rights essential for his dignity and the free development of his
personality. The main function of social security is
to provide income security, access to health care and basic social services and
thus reducing poverty among the elderly. This paper deals the perception of
beneficiaries regarding social security pension schemes in Kerala.
1. Introduction
Social security is basically a
term of Atlantic origin introduced by Abraham Epstein with a view to
differentiating it from economic security. It is both a concept and a system.
The concept of social security is very old, though the term, the laws and
institutions built around it in order to institutionalize the concept may be of
recent origin. Social security conveys a meaning that requires a security in
the society in case of contingencies. But it also covers to security by state
in case of contingencies. The term social security, its meaning, its denotation
and connotation are vague. It is the principle or practice of public provision
for the economic security and social welfare of individual and his family as
such, through social assistance or insurance.
Social
security is a concept preserved in Article 22 of the Universal Declaration
of Human Rights, which states: Everyone, as a member of society, has
the right to social security and is entitled to realization, through national
effort and international co-operation and in accordance with the organization
and resources of each State, of the economic, social and
cultural rights essential
for his dignity and the free development of his
personality.
2. Statement of the Problem
Pension and social
security schemes have been receiving increasing attention in recent years in
most countries of the developing world in view of the rapidly growing elderly
population. Equipping with sustainable financial capacity as a senior citizen
is a basic problem for most of the people. Lack of financial capacity creates a
stressful life and invites the entry of problems other than those caused by
physical and mental health issues. The rise in the size of the old age population
in capacitated to generate any income immediately leads to a severe economic
problem.
The
pension crisis is a universal phenomenon and many countries face rising pension
expenditure, often combined with significant pensioner poverty. The problem is
attributed to various trends, notably a pincer movement between rising life
expectancy and lower birth rates. Kerala is also facing the problem of lower
birth rate and rising life expectancy. Life expectancy is
a statistical measure of the average time an organism is expected to live,
based on the year of its birth, its current age and other demographic factors including gender.
3.
Objectives of the Study
The study is carried on with the following objectives:
i.
To analyse the perception of
beneficiaries regarding various pension schemes.
ii.
To identify the problems faced
by the pensioners.
4.
Methodology
A total of 60 respondents from Trivandrum District were
selected for the study. Convenience sampling method has been used for the
selection of sample respondents. Both primary and secondary data have been used
for the study Primary data were collected form pensioners by administering
interview schedule. The secondary data had been collected from government
agencies, Local Self Governments,, various books, magazines, internet and
newspapers.
5.
Perception of
Beneficiaries
The perception of social security pensioners were
analysed through the data collected for the purpose. The perception and problems of these
beneficiaries are important to the policy makers for developing schemes for the
peoples.
5.1.
Living Arrangements for
the beneficiaries
The status of residents of beneficiaries are analysed
listed in table 5.1 given below;
Table
5.1 : Classification on the basis of Living Arrangements.
|
Items
|
Number
|
Percentage
|
|
Owned
|
31
|
52
|
|
Rental
|
18
|
30
|
|
With children
|
8
|
13
|
|
Others
|
3
|
5
|
|
Total
|
60
|
100
|
Source: Primary data
While
seeing residential status of Pension holders, it is found that 52% of
population lives in owned house followed by rental house 30%. The people living
with children or relatives or others are less than 20%, shows the favourable
status of pensioners in Kerala.
5.2. Source of Awareness
It is important that how did the beneficiaries get
information about the social security pension, and who are the supporters or
the mechanism of these people to get information relating to the pension
schemes. The source of awareness is given in Fig. 5.2.
Fig.
5.2: Source of Awareness
The
various source of awareness classification differs with small percentage, as we
could see in the Figure 5.2; it is found that the main source of information is
local leaders.
5.3. Utilisation of Pension Amount
It is egger to know how these people utilize the
money and what the major expenses of the aged people are. Table 5.3 depicts the
purpose of utlisation of pension amount.
Table
5.3: Purpose of utilization of Pension Amount.
|
Purpose
|
Weighted
Rank
|
Rank
|
|
Food
|
335
|
1
|
|
Health care
|
330
|
2
|
|
Clothing
|
290
|
3
|
|
Rent
|
236
|
4
|
|
Repayment of Debt
|
212
|
5
|
|
Purchase of Asset
|
176
|
6
|
|
Investment
|
152
|
7
|
Source: Primary data.
As per ranking schedule, it is found that most
prioritized purpose of pension is to get food. Secondly, the main purpose to
avail health care followed clothing, payment of rent, repayment of debt,
purchase of asset and at last is ranked for the purpose of investment.
5.4. Socio Economic Problems
The major problems faced by the social security
pensioners were analysed and enlisted in table 5.4.
Table
5.4: Socio Economic Problem
|
Economic
Problem
|
Weighted
Rank
|
Rank
|
|
Financial Problem
|
217
|
1
|
|
Health Problem
|
213
|
2
|
|
Regularity of Pension
|
187
|
3
|
|
Distribution of Pension
|
176
|
4
|
|
Loneliness
|
158
|
5
|
Source: Primary data
As per the ranking schedule, it is found that the
major economic problem is ranked first by financial problem followed by health
problem then regularity of pension then by distribution of pension and the
least one is ranked by loneliness.
5.5. Satisfaction
of Pensioners
Fig.
5.5. .Satisfaction level of pensioners
As per the ranking
schedule, it is found that the pensioners are highly satisfied at social
integrity followed by social security, then physical health, regular income,
individual and social freedom and at last with success in life.
6. Major Findings of the Study
i.
One of the major finding of the
study was to identify the various social security pension schemes available in
Kerala. There are seven types of social security pension schemes in
Kerala. They are
a)
National Old age Pension.
b)
Widow Pension
c)
Pension to Unmarried Women
above 50 years
d)
Pension to the Physically
Challenged Persons
e)
Pension to the Mentally
Challenged Persons
f)
Agriculture Labour Pension
g)
Unemployment wages (Previously
handled by Training and Employment Department)
ii.
Another major finding of the
study was the criteria for applying various social security pensions. Each
pension has fixed and specific criteria.
iii.
The next finding was about the
perception of beneficiaries regarding various pension schemes. There are both
problems and satisfaction according to various social security pension schemes.
The satisfaction level is high on social integrity.
iv.
The last major finding was on
the problems of the pensioners on social security pension schemes. The highly
faced problem by them is financial
problem.
v.
Living arrangement of most of
the pensioners is in owned house (52%).
vi.
The source of awareness about
the pension schemes for the pensioners is mostly informed by the Local leaders
(30%).
vii.
The cross table for the Table
4.8 makes us understand the percentage of male and female for knowing about the
pension schemes.
viii.
The main purpose for which the
pension amount is used is to get food.
7.
Suggestions
i.
This study reveals that most of
the people wholly depending on this particular pension amount for their basic
needs. Since the amount is insufficient for them, the Government should
increase the pension amount to make it helpful for the beneficiary.
ii.
The government should take
adequate steps to avoid undeserved people beneficiating from these pension
schemes.
iii.
From the study it is clear that, the Government failed to
distribute the pension amount in a regular basis; measures to taken to release regular payments and thereby to
help the beneficiaries to meet their basic needs.
iv.
The Government should give the
pension amount for all the eligible pensioners and also should bring some more
additional financial assistance to the persons who are suffering from severe
disabilities.
v.
The study reveals that majority
of the pensioners are aware of the sources of pension only through Local
leaders, thus more awareness towards pension must be given by other sources
like media, advertisement, meetings, etc...
vi.
LSGI and Government must be
efficient in making people aware about the sources of pension.
8. Conclusion
The project work
titled “Perception of Beneficiaries regarding
Social Security Pension Schemes” is the result of
a study conducted by using literature review, personal interviews andanalysis
of the collected data. Tables and graphs were used inanalysis, adequate
interpretation was drawn out on the basis of analysis.The
contribution of this study is to know the perceptions of beneficiaries
regarding social Security Pension in rural and urban area. The main aim of social security pensions is
to provide financial assistance to people who have no other source of income
for their livelihood. The social
security pensions provide protection to old age persons, mentally and
physically challenged persons from different problems they faced. The
Government can provide different type of social security pensions to the poor
people. Finally, the
aged should be considered as a valuable cultural resource and role models for
the younger generation. Therefore, Governmental and non-governmental
organizations should come forward to motivate and create awareness among the
youth to take care of the aged in the family. Older persons also have the right
to a standard of living ensuring their well-being. Thus old age is definitely a
challenge which deserves the attention of policy thinkers from multidiscipline
and also research scholars.
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