The ”architects” of the enticement to citizen voters to get freebies under quid-pro-quo basis , having experienced it in the electoral laboratory of a few states in the country in one or the other form , of course, has resulted in winning of elections by such parties but in the short run , it has turned such states walking into a debt trap . Continuance of this “agreement” or bargain accentuates the adverse impact on widening and deepening of this trap . In the long run, it tells upon the capacity and the will of the beneficiary people to work hard and probably work sincerely. It is a sort of clumsy corruption with far reaching consequences and should be seen in that context as well. After all, why free , what for free, who to pay right through one’s nose for this ”free” as its cost, is a serious question which should be pondered over seriously by the citizens of the country .
On the other hand, boasting of “our Government ” not levying any taxes is furtherance of this corruption just not to displease the voters while those who cannot evade it or pay honestly suffer emotional setback that whatever was given in free was never from the pocket of the political leaders but from the tax payers’ pockets. Electricity has conveniently and easily been made the proverbial ”whipping boy ” by these politicians to whom perhaps basic economic principles appear as redundant and absolutely non-optional if not entirely superfluous. Electricity, the cost of generation of which plus costs of transmission and allied infrastructure are increasing day by day, is topping the list of freebies and a competition is there among propounder politicians advocating freebies as a means to reach the seat of Government as to who would offer to what greater extent electricity to considered “always poor” voters without paying the cost of it by them.
Like this, the basic variables of the economy and economic system plunge into a cycle of arrhythmia and can result into putting on hold the rhyme and rhythm of economic development of such a state / UT of the country. The condition of many states like Punjab, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Maharashtra, Kerala, Bihar , Tamil Nadu , Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand , Uttar Pradesh etc is that they are having the highest debt burden in India and these states account for half of the total expenditure by all state Governments combined in India . The question remains as to who was going to finance the political luxuries and royalties of these politicians employing the lolly pop of free electricity, financial ex-gratia of monthly cash to hundreds of thousands of people, free bus ride , free water , free metro /train travel, free medical facilities, free education , free ration and the list is unending . It is tantamount to muzzling of almost all vital channels of economic development , infrastructure improvement and thwarting and putting on hold introduction and implementation of various urgently required projects .
There is , in the process, and what follows generally, a pressure on the central Government to release funds to finance the cost of freebies and if not getting as much as asked for , then playing victimhood of neglect and discrimination by such freebies sponsoring political leaders is resorted to. It generates not only avoidable mess, clamour and political hullabaloo but a mouth watering means for others to join this ”game” to win elections. A vicious circle is about to get created in the country if it was not regulated and stopped forthwith. Supreme Court of India is hearing PILs filed against this practice and has, therefore, termed these freebies as ”serious” and ”irrational” and asked the central Government as to why it was hesitant on taking a stand on it .
Since Finance Commission plays a vital role in evaluating the state of finances of the Union and state Governments and gives recommendations on distribution of tax revenues between the Union and the states and amongst the states themselves and it being a constitutional body, can impose certain fetters on such hard earned revenue luxuries . Not only this, the Election Commission of India can penalise such political parties and even prohibit contesting elections by such candidates based primarily on these promises or can increasingly regulate this addiction like on the limit of spending on election campaigns. The strongest tool and antidote to this opium is in the hands of the law makers themselves in making laws in the Parliament against this practice. The question about this ”golden” option is who will bell the cat as, perhaps, all Law Makers are in unison on issues concerning them “all”. We , therefore, feel the real sovereign power wielders being the voters of this country alone can stop this practice by saying a big “No” to and out rightly rejecting these ”freebies” promising politicians while casting their valuable vote.
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