The focus of welfare schemes in India is shifting from "well-being" towards "over-dependency". In light of this, do you agree that welfare schemes have inculcated a "freebies culture" in India leading to a divergence of focus from poverty and hunger alleviation?

reduced funds for -> hunger | |-> poverty

Welfare schemes & divergence of focus from hunger alleviation + poverty

Arguments in favour.

(1) Increased expenditure on welfare schemes creates fiscal deficits (FD)

• 4.9% FD in FY24 (2) decreases availability of funds for other programmes
• around 4.5 L cr spent in food fuel fertilizer subsidy (FY24) (3) increased issue of hunger
• India -> #117 in Global hunger index
• 1/3rd kids -> malnourished
• 50% women and 14% men -> anaemic (NFHS-5) (4) increased issue of poverty
• NITI Aayog MDPI -> 16% population poor.

Arguments Against (1) welfare schemes address hunger

diagram [Steps] -> PM Poshan [Steps] -> Mid day meal scheme [Steps] -> ICDS [Steps] -> Weekly iron & folic acid supplementation scheme [Steps] -> anaemia mukt bharat [Steps] -> food fortification [Steps] -> promotion of millets [Steps] -> NFSA 2013

(2) empower citizens to reduce poverty

diagram [Steps] -> PM-Kaushal Vikas Yojana [Steps] -> NRLM [Steps] -> MGNREGA [Steps] -> PM MUDRA [Steps] -> PM-JDY [Steps] -> PM-JAY [Steps] -> Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan