April 24, 2023

It is common that our political parties often make promises of freebies and subsidies to voters during election campaigns. These promises range from free education and healthcare to loan waivers and cash transfers. While such promises may help political parties win elections, they are a major setback for social improvement and nation-building. While we discuss Freebies we should not get confused with well-thought welfare schemes! which can bring transformational change in society one such example is the mid-day meal program which was pioneered by Mr. K. Kamaraj and later adopted by many state and central Govt. Mid-day meal scheme. This has become an important scheme to improve education and has yielded a great long-term impact on the overall economy. However, many of the current freebie promises seem ill-intended,  short-sighted and designed for quick wins in elections. One might ask, so what? Firstly, freebies and subsidies create a culture of entitlement among the people. Instead of encouraging people to work hard and earn a living, these promises make people dependent on the government for their basic needs. This phenomenon can be seen in both Urban and Rural parts of Bharat and this may not just create a youth population which is non-productive today but a population which may turn out to be a huge liability in later years too. A young county like ours shall struggle to carry this huge burden.   Secondly, these promises often lead to a vicious cycle of debt for the government. Freebies and subsidies require a significant amount of money from the government’s coffers, which can put a strain on the country’s finances. In order to fulfil these promises, the government may resort to borrowing, which leads to an increase in the national and state debt. This, in turn, can lead to inflation, higher taxes, and a weaker economy. Thirdly, freebies and subsidies often have unintended consequences that can be harmful to society. For example, while free electricity to farmers is an encouraging initiative, if not administered right, it may also bring huge impacts such as overuse, groundwater depletion, etc. Similarly, loan waivers can create moral hazards and encourage irresponsible borrowing and lending practices. Political freebie promises in India are a major setback for social improvement and nation-building. Instead of offering freebies and subsidies, political parties should focus on creating an environment of equal opportunity and growth for all citizens. This can be achieved through investments in education, healthcare, and infrastructure, as well as by creating a business-friendly environment that encourages entrepreneurship and innovation.