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The Indian Constitution emphasizes social justice via welfare programs, but their effectiveness depends on honest, transparent, and efficient implementation, making "honest welfare" vital for an equitable society.
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Read all about: Indian Welfare Model Explained |
It refers to a system of social support characterized by transparency, accountability, and efficiency, ensuring that intended benefits reach eligible beneficiaries without diversion or corruption.
It involves minimizing leakages, preventing inclusion and exclusion errors, and promoting trust between the state and its citizens.
Ensuring Equitable Resource Distribution
When welfare benefits like food, education, healthcare, or financial aid reach the rightful recipients, they directly address poverty and inequality.
The Economic Survey 2024-25 notes that government welfare schemes spur consumption and income-generating activities in low-income households, positively impacting living standards and reducing inequality.
Empowering the Vulnerable
Direct and transparent benefit transfers empower individuals by giving them control over resources, and protecting them from exploitation by middlemen.
This aligns with the constitutional directive for the state to secure adequate means of livelihood and protect against economic exploitation.
Building Public Trust and Dignity
A system that operates with integrity strengthens public trust in governance.
When citizens receive their entitlements reliably and respectfully, it upholds their dignity, a fundamental aspect of social justice.
Reducing Poverty and Malnutrition
Efficient welfare delivery directly impacts social indicators. For example, reducing leakages in food subsidies means more food reaches the hungry; combating hunger and undernourishment.
Preamble: It ensures "Justice – social, economic, and political" for all its citizens.
Fundamental Rights (Part III):
Directive Principles of State Policy (Part IV): These principles, though not enforceable, guide the state in policy-making:
Corruption and Leakages
An International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) and Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER) study revealed that about 28% of grains distributed under the Public Distribution System (PDS) failed to reach intended beneficiaries.
Exclusion and Inclusion Errors
Bureaucratic Inefficiencies and Lack of Capacity
Complex procedures, administrative delays, and inadequate staffing create hurdles for beneficiaries, especially in remote areas.
Outdated Data
Many welfare schemes, including the National Social Assistance Program (NSAP), Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY), rely on outdated 2011 socio-economic and caste census data to determine beneficiary eligibility, leading to widespread exclusion.
Digital Divide and Technical Glitches
While technology offers immense potential, a lack of digital literacy, internet connectivity, and technical issues can exclude genuine beneficiaries.
The algorithmic system "Samagra Vedika" in Telangana, for example, has been criticized for denying families access to welfare due to erroneous data attribution.
Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT)
Launched in 2013, DBT directly transfers subsidies and benefits into beneficiaries' bank accounts, eliminating intermediaries and reducing leakages.
A report by BlueKraft Digital Foundation highlights that DBT has led to savings of ₹3.48 lakh crore from 2009 to 2024. Food subsidies alone accounted for 53% of total DBT savings, amounting to ₹1.85 lakh crore.
Subsidy share in total government expenditure decreased from 16% in the pre-DBT era (2009-2013) to 9% in FY 2023-24, while beneficiary coverage increased 16-fold, from 11 crore to 176 crore. (Source: PIB)
The Welfare Efficiency Index (WEI) improved from 0.32 in 2014 to 0.91 in 2023, reflecting better targeting and inclusion. (Source: PIB)
JAM Trinity (Jan Dhan-Aadhaar-Mobile)
It forms the backbone of DBT, linking Jan Dhan bank accounts for financial inclusion, Aadhaar for biometric identification, and mobile phones for communication and digital transactions.
JAM has brought millions of previously unbanked citizens into the formal financial system, empowering them with secure savings and access to credit.
Aadhaar-Based Authentication
Linking welfare schemes to Aadhaar helps eliminate duplicate and fake beneficiaries, ensuring benefits reach eligible individuals.
Social Audits
Mandated for schemes like MGNREGA under Section 17 of the Act, social audits empower Gram Sabhas to monitor the execution of works and scrutinize official records against ground realities, promoting transparency and accountability.
Technological Integration and e-Governance
Digital platforms, Point-of-Sale (PoS) devices in Fair Price Shops (FPS), and online grievance redressal mechanisms streamline processes, reduce human interface prone to corruption, and enhance monitoring.
Citizen Charters
These outline services, timelines, and grievance redressal mechanisms, enhancing citizen awareness and holding government departments accountable.
Strengthen Digital Infrastructure and Literacy
Expand broadband connectivity to last-mile areas and enhance digital literacy among beneficiaries to overcome the digital divide and prevent exclusion.
Refine Targeting Mechanisms and Data Integrity
Regularly update beneficiary databases (e.g., through a new Socio-Economic Caste Census) to minimize exclusion and inclusion errors.
Leverage data analytics and AI ethically to identify fraudulent claims without causing arbitrary exclusions.
Empower Social Audit Units
Provide adequate financial resources (currently 0.5% of MGNREGA expenditure), training, and independent oversight to social audit units.
Ensure political non-interference and encourage active citizen participation in the audit process.
Robust Grievance Redressal Mechanisms
Establish easily accessible, efficient, and time-bound grievance redressal systems, ensuring prompt resolution of beneficiary complaints related to non-receipt of benefits or technical issues.
Shift from 'Schemes' to 'Systems'
Transition from isolated welfare schemes to a comprehensive social protection system that provides lifecycle support, addressing multidimensional challenges like food insecurity, income insecurity, and an aging population.
Honest welfare is not merely about financial savings; it embodies a commitment to the constitutional ideals of justice, equality, and dignity for every citizen. By continuously refining delivery mechanisms, leveraging technology responsibly, and fostering participatory governance, India can truly bridge the gap between welfare promises and the lived reality of social justice.
Source: INDIAN EXPRESS
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PRACTICE QUESTION Q. While welfare spending is crucial for inclusive growth, its fiscal implications cannot be ignored. Discuss. 150 words |
The PMJDY is a national financial inclusion initiative providing universal access to banking services like savings accounts, credit, insurance, and pensions. Indian citizens without an existing bank account can open a zero-balance account and receive a RuPay debit card and overdraft facility.
AB-PMJAY provides health insurance coverage to economically vulnerable families, offering cashless hospitalization and treatment for various medical conditions up to ₹5 lakh per family per year at empaneled hospitals.
The primary objective of PMUY is to reduce the health hazards associated with cooking with traditional fuels by providing clean cooking fuel (LPG connections) to women from BPL or poor households. Male members of the family are not eligible to apply for the connection under this scheme.
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