New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday expressed concerns over the practice of announcing freebies before elections, arguing that such measures discourage people from working by providing free rations and financial aid without requiring effort. The remarks were made by Justices B.R. Gavai and Augustine George Masih during a hearing on a case related to the right to shelter for homeless individuals in urban areas.
Justice Gavai pointed out, “Unfortunately, due to these freebies, people are not willing to work. They receive free rations and financial support without doing any work.” The Bench further questioned whether it might be more effective to integrate the homeless into mainstream society, encouraging their active contribution to national development.
Attorney General R. Venkataramani informed the court that the Centre is in the process of finalizing the Urban Poverty Alleviation Mission, which aims to address various issues, including providing shelter for the homeless in urban areas.
The Bench directed the Attorney General to confirm a timeline for the mission’s implementation and scheduled the next hearing for six weeks later.
