Strongly defending the freebies doled out by the previous Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam government, former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi on Thursday said it did not come at the cost of developmental schemes.

"Freebies were not given away by securing loans meant for developmental schemes," said Karunanidhi adding that for the welfare of a state, such schemes should not be neglected.

The economic development of a country may not benefit all in the initial stages, and welfare schemes alone can reduce the disparity between the poor and others, the DMK chief said.

The DMK had distributed rice at Rs 1 per kg besides giving away free colour televisions.

Karunanidhi said the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam government's decision to implement free rice scheme and hike amount given under marriage assistance scheme had only endorsed his government's actions.

Any government, which neglected welfare schemes, and only implemented developmental schemes, would be considered anti-poor, he said.

Karunanidhi denied that implementation of welfare schemes had increased the state's debt."There is nothing new in the government getting loans for the implementation of welfare and developmental schemes. Even the United States and European countries were implementing schemes with the assistance of loans," he said.

He said that though his government was implementing welfare schemes since 2006, the state had revenue surplus till 2009.

The revenue deficit from 2009 was due to reduced tax revenue and implementation of the sixth pay commissions recommendations for state government employees, he claimed.