Critically discuss the challenges in identifying legitimate beneficiaries of welfare schemes in India despite numerous committees being formed.

India’s commitment to establishing a welfare state is enshrined in its Constitution, particularly through the Preamble and the Directive Principles of State Policy. However, an important challenge persists – identifying legitimate beneficiaries of welfare schemes. Despite the formation of numerous committees over decades, accurate vital information about who qualifies for these schemes remain elusive.

• Inadequate Focus on Households: Most committees have concentrated on individual income and consumption, neglecting a household-centric approach. This oversight often leads to a misrepresentation of poverty levels.
• Discrepancies in Poverty Estimates: Official poverty estimates frequently underestimate the number of individuals living in poverty. For instance, while the Government of India may report lower figures, international organisations like the World Bank provide higher estimates, denoting the inconsistency in data.
• Administrative Challenges: Weak administrative capacities and poorly defined eligibility criteria exacerbate the issue. Many deserving individuals are excluded from welfare schemes due to bureaucratic inefficiencies.

The consequences of these challenges are severe. The failure to accurately identify beneficiaries can result in the exclusion of the most vulnerable populations, widening the inequality gap between the rich and the poor.
Universal Schemes as a Solution: A potential remedy lies in implementing universal welfare schemes rather than localised ones. Universal schemes simplify the beneficiary identification process and can be framed as rights enjoyed by citizens. For example, the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) is a step in this direction, providing guaranteed employment to rural households, thereby reducing the complexity of beneficiary identification. Thus, while India aims to be a welfare state, addressing the systemic challenges in identifying legitimate beneficiaries is crucial for effective implementation and equitable distribution of welfare resources.