The Need for a Contributory Pension Scheme for Professionals and Workers

A mandatory Contributory Pension Scheme must be introduced for professionals, including Lawyers, Journalists, and Chartered Accountants, as well as for Industrial Workers and Farmers.

Many self-employed professionals, such as lawyers and journalists, currently have no provision for old-age security. This gap often leads to them living in penury and becoming dependent on family. Journalists, in particular, often face a very difficult life after their working years. While professionals like chartered accountants and small businessmen may be more financially savvy, the need for a safety net remains critical for all.

While a few state governments offer small monthly pensions for journalists, these schemes are too few and the amounts provided are too meagre to be effective. A robust, mandatory system is essential.

Proposal for Lawyers

Bar Councils are perfectly positioned to establish beneficial pension schemes. They can generate substantial funds through mandatory contributions from several sources:

1. Mandatory Registration Deposit: Every new entrant must deposit a reasonable sum with the State Bar Council upon registration.
2. Monthly Contribution: Lawyers must make a modest monthly contribution.
3. External Support: The Bar Council should seek support from Bar Associations and governments.

A portion of these accumulated funds should be allocated to a dedicated pension fund, payable after the age of sixty or sixty-five. While high-earning advocates should have the flexibility to forgo the pension initially, the option to receive it later must always be available.

Proposal for Journalists

Media proprietors must be mandated to maintain a dedicated pension fund for their employees, with additional support from state governments.

This fund must be separate from the existing, and often inadequate, PF-linked pension scheme. State governments should either significantly increase their existing pension contributions to journalists or redirect those funds to strengthen the centralised pension fund. Journalists, having worked hard to enrich their media proprietors, deserve a secure and dignified retirement.

Implementing Universal Welfare

Ultimately, similar welfare measures should be implemented for all sectors. All workers who generate profits through hard toil deserve comprehensive pension benefits in their old age. Instead of governments distributing discretionary "largesse," structured contributory schemes should be implemented for all workers and even for farmers, ensuring security across the board.

Nitish Kumar’s Enduring Legacy in Bihar

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar will be remembered for many contributions, but two stand out as truly transformative for the people of the state. One of his most impactful initiatives was the distribution of free bicycles to school-going girls. I was deeply moved to witness hundreds of girls, during my last visit to Rajgir, confidently pedalling to schools located miles from their homes—something that was once nearly unimaginable. In the past, many girls were forced to abandon their education due to the constant threat posed by anti-social elements. Today, thanks to this initiative, along with the provision of mid-day meals and essential school supplies—books, notebooks, pens, and pencils—girls enjoy the same educational support as boys.

This shift has had a profound effect: the literacy rate among girls in Bihar has seen a significant rise during Nitish Kumar’s tenure. Such a safe and encouraging environment for girls’ education was virtually unthinkable during the earlier Lalu Prasad Yadav era.

The second landmark achievement of Nitish Kumar’s administration has been the enforcement of Prohibition, a bold move undertaken despite resistance from within his own party and bureaucracy. Those familiar with the ground realities know that the liberal availability of alcohol had devastating effects, especially on the poor and women. The state witnessed numerous deaths due to the consumption of cheap, adulterated liquor, compounded by the lack of adequate medical facilities. Prohibition, though controversial, brought relief to countless families who had suffered silently for years.

Looking ahead, Bihar’s path to sustainable development lies in industrialisation. The state must create opportunities that can curb the mass migration of its workforce. Biharis are known for their intelligence and hard work, and they have contributed immensely to the prosperity of other states through sheer determination and effort.

While corruption may never be entirely eradicated, it can certainly be curtailed under the leadership of individuals like Nitish Kumar—leaders known for their integrity and commitment to public welfare.