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10th October 2023 (10 Topics)

Mental health and the floundering informal worker

Context:

Informal workers, despite their significant contribution to national income, are perennially exposed to economic, physical, and, in turn, mental vulnerabilities.

Mental Health condition for Informal Workforce

  • Informal Workers' Mental Health: ILO reports 15% of working-age adults’ worldwide grapple with mental disorders.
  • Plight of Informal Workers in India: India's informal workforce, comprising 90% of the labor force, faces precarious conditions negatively impacting mental health.
  • Youth Unemployment: UNDP highlights detrimental effects of unemployment and poor-quality jobs on mental health.

Social Security and Mental Well-being

  • Impacts of Inadequate Social Security: NCRB data links daily wage earners to 26% of suicide cases, underlining the importance of employment guarantee programs.
  • Code on Social Security 2020: Universalizing social security is essential, but the current code lacks this as a stated goal.Emphasizes the need for proactive policies and adequate mental health recognition and action.
  • Budgetary Allocation: World Mental Health Report advocates for community-based, people-centered, and rights-oriented care.

Toward Universal Mental Health Rights

  • Empowering India's Informal Workforce: Urges a reevaluation of social security measures, emphasizing the need for universalization.
  • Fulfilling Mental Health as a Universal Right: Aligns with Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 3 on 'good health and well-being' and SDG 8 on 'decent work for all.'
  • Urges a holistic approach to mental health: Encompassing recovery-oriented, human rights-based care.
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