The Basic Income pilot project in India, conducted by the Self Employed Women’s Association and the India Development Foundation, has been making progress and may provide interesting statistical data in the future, according to information by Guy Standing, professor of economic security at the University of Bath and co-president of the Basic Income Earth Network (BIEN), who has also operated as advisor for the project. The project consists of three components:
1) The aim of the first component is to explore effects of unconditional cash transfers on a larger scale. 4,000 individuals in eight villages have been given a monthly unconditional cash transfer for 12 months regardless of their poverty status, employment status, age and gender. The setup of the trial also includes control villages to measure occurred effects. Due to inhabitants of these control villages do not receive any cash transfers, these villages enable researcher to recognize effects of performed cash transfers in implemented surveys. One survey was conducted in the beginning, a second one in the middle of the trial. A third and final survey is planned to conclude the first component of the project.
2) This part of the project aims to compare effects of unconditional cash transfers and subsidized ration shops. In the beginning of the project, participants were given the choice between both. They have then received support in accordance to their choice for one year. Occurred effects have been monitored in both groups.
3) The third component of the project focuses on effects of an unconditional basic income in a tribal village. Every inhabitant has been received a monthly paid cash transfer. Two surveys are part of this component. One survey was conducted before cash transfers were performed. The second survey will be conducted in June. A comparison of both surveys will then disclose effects of an unconditional basic income.
Related information can be found at:
https://binews.org/2011/09/india-basic-income-pilot-projects-are-underway/
