While the welfare initiatives are needed for empowerment of people, the freebies culture is detrimental and cultivates a patron-client syndrome. Examine in context of governance in India.

Governance in India is based upon welfare motive as guided by directive principles of the state policy.

Welfare initiatives embody civil rights and empower people:

• Schemes like Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, mid-day meal are aimed to improve education along with empowerment.
• Initiatives like NFS-2013 (PDS), PM Garib Kalyan Yojana, prevent collapse of social order by ensuring food security.
• Policies in form of pension scheme (Atal pension), social security, and maternity benefit ensure government’s obligation towards certain sections.

While on the other hand, freebies have negative impact as they cultivate patron-client syndrome:

• Freebies are usually accompanied by parochial loyalties. E.g. freebies in elections for favouring a party.
• They hamper the overall development of the acceptor by increasing dependency.
• The government practising so, usually acts as patron and utilises the group negatively, e.g. vote bank politics.
• It also hinders social development by creating factionalism among the beneficiaries.

To control such tendencies, government must focus on welfare motive:

• Promote human development (health, education).
• Encourage active welfare rather than passive alms lending. E.g. replacing subsidies with improving infrastructure in agriculture.
• Creation of an environment which favours welfare instead of freebies.

Thus, welfare must be multidimensional and not be misinterpreted with freebies.

Topics: GS-II: Welfare Schemes for Vulnerable Sections • GS-II: Important Aspects of Governance Transparency and Accountability Citizen Charters