DSW 1207 - Content 7.Welfare State

 




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7.Welfare State

A welfare state is a state that is committed to providing basic economic security for its citizens by protecting them from market risks associated with old age, unemployment, accidents, and sickness. The term ‘welfare state’ first emerged in the UK during World War II.

According to T. W. Kent, “A state that provides for its citizens a wide range of social services.”

According to G.D.H. Cole, “The welfare state is a society in which an assured minimum standard of living and opportunity becomes the possession of every citizen.”

A welfare state is a form of government in which the state (or a well-established network of social institutions) protects and promotes the economic and social well-being of its citizens, based upon the principles of equal opportunity, equitable distribution of wealth, and public responsibility for citizens unable to avail themselves of the minimal provisions for a good life.

Characteristics or Features of Welfare State-

1.    Ensure Social Security: A welfare state ensures social security. The economy in a welfare state is essentially a mixed economy with a combination of capitalist and socialist features. Government Plays an influential role in regulating economic activities and social welfare of the people.

2.    Socialistic in nature: A welfare state is a Socialistic in nature. It is based on the principle of equality and is keen to provide equal opportunities to all. It also aims to ensure equitable distribution of health.

3.    Control overall the economic activities: It exercises control overall economic activities. In a welfare state, all provides private enterprise in regulate by the government.

4.    Provide basic facilities to its citizens: It Provides all basic facilities to its citizens. A welfare government is interested in providing economic and social services like general education, public health, public transport, housing and other financial assistance to its people.

5.    Justice to all: In a welfare state, ordinary People have to deal with the authorities for their many needs. For example, Legal Justice, administration and social justice. A welfare state has a responsibility to ensure justice and its needs are met.

6.    Planning and activities: It is the responsibility of the welfare state to formulate national Policies and plan each economic activity in a balanced manner. Economic activities include production and distribution. Industrial Policy, Policy trade policy, commercial and banking policy etc are formulate to regulate those activities.

7.    Regulate and Control: The role of regulation and the regulatory state in social policy, redistribution, and the reforms of the welfare state are increasingly important but often underestimated and misunderstood.

8.    Welfare of labourers: Welfare of laboureres comes under the duty of the state. They are bound to enact laws to prevent exploitation of Workers and to ensure the safety and welfare of those working in industries, factories, company and other sectors of employment.

Functions of Welfare State-

1.    To protect life and property: The welfare state provides security to the life and property of every people in the state. The state is obliged to protect the social security of the people

2.    To protect from external invasion: In order to maintain its existence the state has to protect its external sovereignty. If state fails to do so, it bases its Identity. In order to advice this objective the state has to maintain a strong standing army. The state which is Unable to protect itself from internal and external threats shall not be able to Protect the life liberty and property of its citizen.

3.    To maintain of laws and order: One of the important function of the state is the maintenance of law and order. The state makes adequate arrangements for curtailing crimes, punishing the criminals and for the protection of life at property of its citizen. The state makes provision of police and courts to apprehend culprits and to punish them.

4.    To maintain diplomatic relationship with other countries: Diplomatic relations begin with diplomatic recognition. The competence of a State to engage in relations with the other States includes the competence of granting diplomatic recognition.

5.    Judicial Administration: Administrative law is the by-product of the growth of socio- economic functions of the state and the increased powers of the government. Power has become very necessary in the developed society and the relationship between the administrative authorities has become very complex. In order to regulate these complex relations, some law is necessary, which may bring about regularity, and certainty and may check at the same time the misuse of power vested in the administration.

6.    To spread education: Education is the backbone of the nation. Hence, although imparting education is an optional function of the state, it can be considered as important as an essential function. This work includes the establishment and management of schools, colleges, madrasas and all types of universities for the eradication of illiteracy.

7.    Social economic security: The contemporary state also makes arrangements for economic and social security of its citizen Facilities of old age pension, subsistence allowances to the crippled and unemployed and pensions after retirement of service are also granted by the state

8.    To eradicate Poverty: No state can make Progress if its citizen are poor and are not able to meet and bear necessities of their lives. It should be the duty of the state to eradicate poverty and the citizens may be well provided with the necessities of life like food, clothing and shelter. For this purpose- the welfare state makes various plans, creates employment opportunities, distributes free food to the persons living below poverty line etc.

9.    To improve health: The state established hospitals and charitable dispensaries to improve public health. Provides prevention of epidemics and infectious diseases. Provide clean water, conduct cleanliness drives to protect public health.

10.Moral and social reform: Social morality can certainly act as a supporting force for the establishment of fundamental human rights. Ensuring food security is essential and unadulterated wholesome food supply, removing inadequate clothing, making medical facilities within reach, providing housing for all people and establishing practical or life oriented education system and management are essential contexts for building social morality.

 

Do you think Bangladesh is a welfare state?

I think Bangladesh is not a welfare state but now it is becoming a welfare state.

In modern democratic welfare states, the state has to accept the overall responsibility for the welfare and well-being of the public. For this reason, the modern welfare state has to perform multiple responsibilities in various fields. In the past, the main goal of the state was to protect the interests of the ruling class.

Is Bangladesh a welfare state? In a welfare state, the government provides unemployment benefits, fully controls the economy, but this is not noticeable in Bangladesh. However, the government has taken some public welfare programs, considering that it can also be called welfare. Below is a description of the welfare work undertaken by the government:

1.    Performance of Public Service: Construction of roads and railways, establishment of hospitals, maternity homes, etc., provision of clean drinking water and many other service works are done by Bangladesh government for the welfare of the people.

2.    Social Security: There are social security schemes for workers against various accidents and emergencies for women. There are family allowance, party insurance and welfare fund for government employees.

3.    Scholarship and Salary Waiver: The Government has waived the salary of students up to the eighth class and has arranged for the provision of scholarships for female students at the secondary level.

4.    Establishment of social justice: Bangladesh government has taken the responsibility of protecting everyone from exploitation, oppression and unjust oppression, regardless of caste, religion, caste, tribe, women and men.

5.    Adequate Medical Care: The welfare state provides adequate medical care, so our medical care is comparatively less but not absolute.

6.    Solution of unemployment problem: Welfare state provides employment for every people of the state. Similarly, the Bangladesh government is making an important contribution to solving the unemployment problem by creating new workplaces.

Finally, it can be said that Bangladesh is undoubtedly a welfare state. Bangladesh was originally founded with the aim of achieving real welfare by struggling against injustice, tyranny, tyranny, oppression etc. But due to thousands of problems and incapacity in our country, the full implementation of that goal has not become possible.

 






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