The issue of freebies has remained there as it started with the start of elections in various states across the country. However, the fact that the practice could lead to a severe economic crisis across the country, is being totally sidelined. The matter is already in the Supreme Court following a petition which called for immediate action to stop the political parties from promising the freebies or even giving out the same as a reward later. The Election Commission of India was called to ensure action in this regard, however, so far, nothing substantial has come out of it even as the freebies show-off goes on.
Several bureaucrats recently met with Prime Minister Modi and they discussed with the PM, apart from other matters, the impacts of such campaigns wherein people are promised freebies ranging from an increase in wages to the free allocation of essential commodities. The responsibility of introducing the issue of freebies in the country lies with the political parties who have been making a wide range of promises during the election rallies to gather their votes. When the time of delivery comes, these political parties either fail to deliver or go ahead to fulfil their promises, but end up causing immense damage to the economic structure of the states.
The bad effect on the economy of the state does have a cascading effect because when the people of one state are getting things free of cost, then the aspiration of the people of other states also jump, prompting the Government to take the same path, ending up causing a dent to the economy. There is a need for people as well as politicians to understand that the freebies are not the solution and that the same is not possible. If the politicians are promising anything on these lines, then they are either lying or do not have the right sense of how the system works. The people have to understand that and if they want to have sustained development, they should learn how to differentiate between the politicians of varied nature: who talks of dependency and who is willing to strive to make people independent.
In the meantime, the Supreme Court needs to get really serious about the matter and should ensure that the necessary action is taken in this regard well in time. There is a need for the SC to pull up the Election Commission of India, urging it to ensure that steps and measures aimed at eliminating the freebies culture are taken without any further delay. Also, the political parties should be taught a lesson on how to play the ideal politics.
