To ensure the welfare of the people and provide health care facilities to all.
Explanation
The Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP), enshrined in Part IV of the Constitution of India (Articles 36–51), provide guidelines for the State to establish a welfare society. Specifically, Article 47 defines the State's responsibilities regarding nutrition, standard of living, and public health.
Option Analysis
- To privatize all health services to ensure efficiency. is incorrect: The Constitution establishes India as a welfare state. There is no constitutional mandate to privatize health services; rather, the emphasis is on the State's role in securing public welfare.
- To ensure the welfare of the people and provide health care facilities to all. is correct: Article 47 explicitly states that "the State shall regard the raising of the level of nutrition and the standard of living of its people and the improvement of public health as among its primary duties." This aligns with the objective of ensuring the welfare of the people.
- To focus solely on urban health infrastructure to support industrial growth. is incorrect: The Constitution mandates the State to promote the welfare of all people, irrespective of their residence (urban or rural). Focusing solely on urban infrastructure would violate the principles of equality and social justice.
- To provide health insurance rather than direct health services. is incorrect: While health insurance is a policy tool, the constitutional mandate under Article 47 is the "improvement of public health" broadly. It does not limit the State's role to financial coverage (insurance) to the exclusion of direct service provision.
Key Takeaway
Article 47 of the Constitution declares the improvement of public health, raising the level of nutrition, and the standard of living as primary duties of the State.