SC on Freebies: ‘People Not Ready to Work Due to Free Facilities’

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): The Supreme Court on Friday expressed discontent over the practice of political parties announcing freebies ahead of elections, stating that such promises lead to people not wanting to work. During a hearing on a plea seeking shelter for the homeless in urban areas, the bench, comprising Justice B R Gavai and Justice Augustine George Masih, commented that free ration and money are discouraging people from contributing to society. Justice Gavai remarked, "Unfortunately, because of these free facilities... people are not willing to work. They are receiving free ration and money without doing any work." Addressing the issue, the bench suggested that it would be more beneficial if these individuals were integrated into the mainstream of society, allowing them to contribute to the nation's development.

Attorney General R Venkataramani informed the court that the Centre was in the process of finalizing the Urban Poverty Mission  which aims to address various concerns, including providing shelter for urban homeless populations. The court instructed the Attorney General to clarify the implementation timeline of the mission. The Supreme Court's comments reflect its concern over the long-term effects of welfare schemes and the importance of ensuring people have opportunities to participate in economic development rather than relying solely on government aid.