First, when there is an economic shock, it is essential to provide people with formal access to a livelihood safety net. Second, the livelihood safety net must have comprehensive coverage. Last year’s migration tragedy and the economic slowdown have highlighted the need for a similar livelihood safety net in urban India. Also Read Economists call for urban jobs schemeInsights from Himachal PradeshA few States have experimented with a wage employment-based urban livelihood scheme. Two, separate minimum wages for rural and urban areas do not cause migration to urban areas since the higher cost of living in urban areas has an offsetting effect.

Source: The Hindu August 11, 2021 18:45 UTC