A welfare scheme for 500 mn Indians: Is this Modi's big plan for 2019?

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to extend a welfare program to India’s 500 million workers as he bids for re-election 2019, but he has limited time and resources to implement the ambitious plan.

PM Modi aims to initially provide three programs — old age pension, life insurance and maternity benefits, while leaving out unemployment, child support and other benefits — to most working citizens, government officials said, asking not to be identified as discussions are private.

While it could translate into significant political gains to offset the challenges he faces in the lead up to the national poll, it is likely to add pressure on India’s fiscal deficit, already one of the widest in Asia.

The government has drafted a bill to extend benefits to all workers, including those in informal employment, by merging and simplifying 15 federal labour laws into one. It plans to present the bill in July in the upcoming session of Parliament, Labour Minister Santosh Gangwar told Bloomberg News, while remaining non-committal on a full-fledged roll-out before the national poll.