Dr Md Afroz & Dr Md Tabrez Alam
“Labharti” politics where parties promise “freebies” or material benefits to citizens—has become a strong vote-getter. Labharti politics has become nationwide, providing subsidised food, electricity, health, education and cash transfers. This pattern shows parties’ efforts to fulfil low-income citizens’ immediate needs but raises issues about their long-term durability. Labharti politics is redefining citizenship in modern India as political parties prioritise immediate gains above systemic reforms.
Labharti Politics in Indian Landscape
Freebies politics, a western political discourse, has gained prominence in India due to the UPA government’s heavy investment in social sectors and criticism from opposition parties. Technocratic incentivising has led to increased economic inequality, with many governments failing to address poverty, unemployment, population control, and health issues. As a result, many people fall into poverty and rely on state welfare measures. The post-Covid-19 pandemic has seen a new democratic realisation, with citizens having a bargaining capacity in both regional and national elections. Political parties compete to gain maximum votes, using various tactics to make citizens feel empowered and are masters.
On a national scale, welfare schemes like “Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN)”, “Ayushman Bharat”, and “Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY)” have emerged as politically impactful labharti initiatives, benefiting millions of families. For instance, “Ayushman Bharat” provides health insurance up to ₹5 lakh per family annually, benefiting nearly 100 million low-income families nationwide. PM-KISAN similarly provides annual cash support of ₹6,000 to over 12 crore farmers to stabilize agricultural income. These schemes, while beneficial, are costly; “India’s public debt” reached “89.6% of its GDP in 2022, reflecting the fiscal burden that extensive welfare programs place on national resources (PIB,2022-23).
Labharti Politics in Jharkhand: Competing Claims for Citizen Loyalty
Thus, labharti politics has gained traction nationally, it has gained momentum in states elections in each passing years phenomenally where competing political parties have crafted welfare-driven narratives to address the unique socio-economic challenges faced by the population, with each party vying to position itself as the true “labharti champion” of the state. Recently, Jharkhand is the most hotly contested state where JMM led UPA alliance and BJP led NDA countering each other very ruthlessly projecting anti-national and anti-regional development.
Jharkhand’s socio-economic context marked by high poverty rates (29.3% of the population lives below the poverty line) and significant rural unemployment—has made it a prime ground for labharti politics. The ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM)-Congress coalition has extensively used labharti schemes to offer immediate relief to disadvantaged communities. Programs such as the “Mukhyamantri Sahayata Yojana”, which distributes monthly cash transfers of ₹2,000 to families below the poverty line, are a key example. As of 2023, ‘3.5 lakh families’ in Jharkhand have benefited from this scheme, a substantial number given the state’s largely rural demographic.
The “Didi Kitchen initiative” provided free meals to migrant labourers and impoverished families during the COVID-19 pandemic, reaching over 12 lakh people. These programs helped the Jharkhand government reach the poorest populations and establish connections with citizens relying on food subsidies. 70% of the population relies on PDS to prevent hunger. Soren government are giving Rs 1000 to 50 years old person to monthly pension, the recent addition of “Mukhyamantri Maiya Yojna” in which 18 to 49 years female get Rs 1,000 per month covering 45 lakhs beneficiary by the Jharkhand government. Another flagship initiative Mukhyamantri “Abua Awas Yojna” adding “India Awas Yojna” credit 2.5 lakhs in rural and 3 lakhs to urban dwellings and “Sarkar Aapke Dwar” government reaches to the people through mobile camps, fastening services through single window system, it resolved approx. 10 lakhs grievances at one go.
Counterclaims: Long-term Empowerment Versus Dependency
The opposition BJP criticizes labharti schemes as fostering dependency and not addressing poverty’s root causes. They advocate for sustainable employment and skill development programs, aligning with central programs like “Skill India” and “Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana”. The BJP points to Jharkhand’s performance under MNREGA, which provided 15 crore person-days of work in 2018-2019. However, critics argue that these temporary jobs limit the programs’ long-term efficacy and dependency on further relief measures.
Economic Realities of Labharti Politics in Jharkhand
Jharkhand’s reliance on welfare schemes has come at a substantial fiscal cost. In 2023, 10% of the state budget (₹12,000 crore) was allocated to subsidies and welfare initiatives. This includes popular schemes such as “One Nation, One Ration Card”, which allows labour migrants to access subsidized food grains across India, benefiting “85 lakh people” in Jharkhand. However, the extensive budget allocation towards labharti programs is straining Jharkhand’s finances, with the state’s debt-to-GSDP (Gross State Domestic Product) ratio reaching 33.4% in 2023. Critics argue that while these programs serve immediate needs, they come at the expense of sustainable infrastructure and development investments, crucial for long-term growth.
This debt burden creates a precarious fiscal environment, limiting the state’s capacity to invest in critical sectors like education, healthcare, and infrastructure—investments essential for economic empowerment and self-reliance. The reliance on labharti schemes raises questions about how Jharkhand can maintain financial stability if this dependency-driven approach continues in the coming years.
Changing Voter Expectations: The Influence of Freebies on Political Loyalty
Empirical data highlights that labharti schemes significantly influence voter behaviour in Jharkhand. A 2023 survey found that 54% of rural voters preferred candidates promising direct welfare benefits over those focused-on development initiatives. This trend suggests a shift in voter expectations, where tangible short-term benefits take precedence over long-term policy goals. The focus on immediate benefits may pressure political leaders to prioritize short-term schemes over sustainable development, potentially compromising the quality of governance in favour of populist gains.
The rise of labharti politics also creates a ripple effect, compelling opposition parties to adopt similar strategies. In recent state elections, both the ruling and opposition parties offered competing welfare schemes, further entrenching the labharti culture in Jharkhand’s political landscape.
Sustainable Welfare: A Balanced Approach
Despite the popularity of labharti politics, many policymakers and citizens recognize that welfare schemes alone cannot fully address Jharkhand’s deep-rooted socio-economic challenges. The success of targeted programs like ‘Ayushman Bharat’ and ‘Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY)’ exemplifies how welfare can promote long-term security and resilience without fostering dependency. Ayushman Bharat, for example, covers secondary and tertiary healthcare for over 4.5 lakh families in Jharkhand, reducing the financial burden on low-income households and promoting health equity. PMAY has similarly impacted nearly 2 lakh rural households in Jharkhand, providing affordable housing and fostering stability. These examples underscore the importance of well-designed welfare that addresses fundamental needs, enhancing citizens’ resilience without making them reliant on handouts. As Jharkhand moves forward, prioritizing welfare initiatives that offer sustainable empowerment, rather than temporary relief, will be crucial.
A Path Forward for Jharkhand
Jharkhand’s future depends on its leaders’ ability to balance immediate welfare needs with long-term empowerment initiatives. Labharti schemes provide relief, but they must be balanced with investments in education, healthcare, and sustainable livelihoods. Fostering self-sufficiency and resilience can build a more empowered citizenry. The future of Jharkhand’s political landscape depends on a model that fosters sustainable citizenship, ensuring robust, accountable, and lasting progress.