A welfare state is responsible for providing the means whereby all its members can reach minimum standard of health, economic security and civilized living and can share according to their capacity in the social and cultural heritage. On the other hand, social welfare programmes seek to supplement the statutory social security programmes and meet the particular individual needs which do not fit into the common pattern. It was said that welfare without security or vice versa is not possible.

Social welfare and social security are thus intimately linked up but they are pursuing different ends. Social security refers to a state of mind as well as an objective fact. It is mainly directed towards providing income security as a preliminary to a state of social and psychological well-being.