A natural outcome of concentration of population in the industrial belts was a heightened awareness of the people, in general, and of workers, in particular, of their rights and privileges. Inevitably, the governments were obliged to meet these demands.

Even as such developments were taking shape, the Second World War conditions brought in certain compulsions. The most serious consequence of the War was the prospect of large-scale unemployment of discharged defence personnel on cessation of hostilities. The problem was aggravated by the demobilised workforce engaged in auxiliary sectors too.

It was in this milieu that the principles of a welfare society enunciated by Lord Beveridge in his celebrated work ‘Report on Social Insurance and Allied Services’ (1942) assumed enormous significance. The book became some kind of a charter of the ideals of the Welfare State.

This concept of ‘Welfare State’ has become such an integral part of public policies of the advanced nations that whenever unemployment exceeds 4 per cent in those countries, there is a furore from the general public. Inability to tackle the problem had made the position of some American Presidents shaky. It has even caused the defeat of ruling parties in the UK.

Now, to the implementation of welfare measures in India. In a country where 25-30 per cent of the population survives below the poverty line, the need for the government to protect the masses from hunger is obvious.

Measures such as allowances to aged destitutes and free ‘noon meal’ to millions of school-children have to be accepted as essential. Besides, basic healthcare of people who can ill afford medical facilities is certainly an obligation of any modern government.

Compensation to victims in natural disasters or in accidents involving State Departments/Undertakings such as Railways and Road Transport Corporations is legitimate. Occasional gifts to outstanding performers — be it in the sphere of education or sports or in the area of social services — should be considered reasonable.

But what is the ‘rationale’ in the government offering huge largesse to victims of accidents such as stampedes in festivals or while crossing rail-tracks or undertaking risky journeys across rivers in spate, and so on?

Unfortunately, no prudent norms are observed in these areas, particularly while spending funds under ‘non-productive’ heads of account. Political parties vying with one another in throwing away largesse to the masses has resulted in the laudable ideology of ‘welfare’ degenerating into cheap ‘welfarism.’ Often, the general public are helpless spectators of the functioning of ‘waste-fare’ governments as against ‘welfare’ ones.

Just pause to think of gifts to our cricket players, crossing even a crore of rupees in some cases!

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