Supreme Court Criticizes Election Freebies for Undermining Work Ethic

India's top court warns that pre-election handouts may foster dependency and hinder national development.

The Supreme Court of India expressed concern that election freebies discourage people from working and contribute to creating a 'class of parasites.'
Justice BR Gavai highlighted the impact of such schemes on labor markets, citing difficulties faced by agriculturalists in finding workers due to free rations and cash handouts.
The court is reviewing whether pre-election promises of handouts by political parties should be classified as corrupt practices under election laws.
The Attorney General informed the court that the government is finalizing an Urban Poverty Alleviation Mission to address issues like homelessness and urban poverty.
Advocates for the homeless argued that inadequate shelters and declining government funding have exacerbated urban homelessness, with over 750 deaths reported this winter due to exposure.