Two days back, the Election Commission (EC) in a communication to all recognized national and state political parties that every political party submit an additional proforma detailing each of the electoral promises made in the manifesto, the full expenditure involved and how exactly this will be met given the state’s financial health. The proposal has generated a strong political reaction to the larger debate on ‘Freebies’ vis a vis ‘welfare schemes’. The opposition parties are demanding that an all-party- meeting should be called by the EC. The mandate of the EC is to conduct free and fair elections in the country, this communication indicates that the EC is encroaching into the rights and duties of other constitutional authorities. The opposition parties’ leaders’ contention is that we are WELFARE STATE as per our constitution, and we have every right to announce welfare schemes and freebies.
INDIA- A Welfare State
As originally enacted, the preamble of the Indian constitution described the state as a “ Sovereign Democratic Republic”. In 1976 the 42nd Amendment changed this to read as “ Sovereign Socialist Secular Democratic Republic”. Justice, Liberty, Equality and Fraternity are the guiding principles of the constitution. Social equality in this context means the absence of discrimination on the grounds only of caste, colour, creed, sex, religion or language. Under social equality, everyone has equal status and opportunities. Economic equality means the government will endeavour to make the distribution of wealth more equal and provide a decent standard of living for all. This has in effect emphasized in commitment toward the formation of a welfare state.
The constitution has described certain basic human and civil rights to all citizens, this directly becomes the duty of the state to guarantee these rights to citizens. The fundamental rights lay the foundations of India as a Secular, Socialist and Democratic Welfare state. The various rights are- Right to Equality, the Right to Freedom, the Right Against Exploitation, the Right to Freedom of Religion, and the Right to culture and Education. Every citizen enjoys these rights without discrimination on the basis of sex, caste, creed, colour, religion or education. The state shall work towards fulfilling these rights of citizens. The state shall strive for the promotion and maintenance of international peace and security and just honourable relations between nations.
Welfare State- Western versus Indian. Most western countries have adopted capitalism as the state policy. Still, they claim to be Welfare states. These western countries founded on capitalist exploitation earmark a portion of state funds to service sectors like health care and education, and also directly to individuals in the form of subsidies, pensions and other benefits.
By definition, India is Socialist State. But unlike the communist regimes that claim to represent Scientific Socialism, India since its inception as a democratic nation has discarded the concept of full state ownership and adopted a mixed economy of public and private sectors. It should also be noted that neither our constitution nor its judicial interpretations elaborate on the ideological repercussions of the term socialism. Actually, India has adopted a federal system having a division of authority between the union and state governments and a mixed economy which allows private finance along with governmental endeavours. During the past six decades, the Indian Parliament and state assemblies have passed several laws with the declared objective of people’s welfare.
The following are some examples of welfare measures launched by successive governments- Laws to protect children from exploitation, Laws and welfare schemes to protect women from exploitation, Programmes for the welfare of physically challenged, Reservation for SC, ST, and OBC in legislature, employment & education, Schemes for development of religious and linguistic minorities, Welfare schemes for the poor, backward classes and scheduled castes and scheduled tribes, Acts for minimum wages and equal work for both men and women, Schemes to boost rural employment, Right to Education Act and Sarva Siksha Abhiyan, Food Security Ordinance.
Looking into all the above factors, which contribute to India being not a fully Welfare State. The politicians still believe that we are a socialist state and they have every right to announce any welfare schemes or freebies for their voters. It is all right to announce welfare schemes for the weaker and lower strata of people, but to announce freebies across the board is uncalled for, and if it is done to just give incentives to all sections then it becomes unethical. In the recent state elections, one political party announced free electricity and water with a cap on max units consumption, and many more freebies, without going into the state’s financial health. The similar thing they have earlier done in another state, and they are in power in both the states and these states are in negative financial health.
In my opinion, there should be some constitutional body which has to be given the right to look into the manifesto of all political parties before the elections, and if the freebies or any other welfare scheme are being announced, the political parties should explain to that constitutional body how they are going to full fill these schemes, and from where the finances will be arranged. As this matter of freebies has been already petitioned in the Supreme Court (SC), which has directed the EC and union government to look into this, hence the EC has issued the communication to all the parties including ruling parties in the Centre and States.
Actually, there should be some limit to these freebies, to full fill their promise of giving freebies should not be at the cost of other planned expenditures for infrastructure works and other planned schemes benefitting all.
Waiting for your views on this blog.
Anil Malik
Mumbai, India
6th October 2022