Social protection for individuals and households must be recognised not just as a safety net, but as an economically and socially empowering instrument.

How does the social protection budget for the 2023-24 fiscal year fare when analysed through the lenses of equity and efficiency?

The government should increase per capita allowance under its social safety net programmes (SSNPs), particularly for the elderly, widows, disabled and marginalised women, considering the high-level food inflation and the rising cost of living, said an economist.