ABSTRACT
SOCIAL security schemes of industrialised societies, whether capitalist or socialist, tend to be comprehensive both as regards the people covered and the risks against which protection is provided. As it was shown in the last chapter, social security must be comprehensive if it is to be of any real meaning to the people. This completeness and indivisibility of social security is indicative of the changes in political philosophy that have taken place during the last sixty years regarding the role of the state vis-à-vis the well-being of its citizens. In this country, it is now accepted dogma that the state must offer economic protection to all its members irrespective of sex, age, class, religion, race or other minority traits. This chapter examines the historical development from partial to complete coverage, the groups of people covered by social security and the various risks against which protection is afforded.
