Rethink Welfare — Citizens Are More Than Labharthis, Pg11

Key Highlights:

• Debates on welfare interventions in India often focus on fiscal impact, blurring the distinction between welfare as a right and as "freebies".
• Historically, Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP) codified socio-economic rights, guiding governments towards a rights-based welfare regime.
• The last decade has seen a shift towards "new welfarism," characterized by declining Union government fiscal commitment to social sectors (from 25% in 2009 to 10-14%) and increased reliance on digital Direct Benefit Transfers (DBT).
• Concerns exist regarding digital welfare delivery, including accountability for exclusions shifting from the state to citizens.
• A recent report, "Realising Rights," advocates for a rights-based welfare regime with adequate fiscal commitment and human-centered governance.
• Proposals like replacing MGNREGA and discontinuing eggs in mid-day meals are seen as steps backward from a rights-based approach.

Detailed Insights:

• Post-independence, initial government focus was on economic growth through industrialization, with welfare expanding later.
• The 2000s emphasized converting welfare entitlements into legally enforceable rights, strengthening citizen claims.
• The JAM Trinity (Jan Dhan-Aadhaar-Mobile) has created a technological layer, making digital governance a platform and philosophy.
• Universal basic services, aligned with constitutional provisions, remain an unfinished agenda requiring active inclusion and protective features.
• Ensuring quality, dignity, and community solidarity in service delivery necessitates mechanisms for participation, public scrutiny, and grievance redressal.
• Empowering local governments and decentralizing decision-making are crucial for effective and flexible welfare delivery.
• Digitization must be accompanied by legal safeguards and public consultation to ensure accountability and prevent exclusions.
• Reimagining citizens as rights-holders rather than mere "beneficiaries" (labharthis) is fundamental for a robust welfare system.
• A well-nourished, healthy, and educated society is not only a constitutional imperative but also an engine for human capability and economic growth.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP): Non-justiciable guidelines in the Indian Constitution for the state to establish a just society.
• MGNREGA: A social security measure that guarantees the 'right to work' by providing 100 days of wage employment in a financial year to adult members of rural households.
• Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT): A system where subsidies and benefits are transferred directly to beneficiaries' bank accounts, aiming to reduce leakages.
• JAM Trinity: An initiative combining Jan Dhan bank accounts, Aadhaar unique identity, and Mobile phones to streamline welfare delivery and financial inclusion.