While the spirit of compassion underpinning welfare programs is admirable, it's essential for us to acknowledge that an overreliance on these programs may ultimately disincentivize self-reliance and personal responsibility. We need to prioritize a system that encourages job creation, hard work and entrepreneurship – key pillars of a thriving economy. At the end of the day, it's about fostering an environment where hand-ups, not hand-outs, become the norm.