The Culture of Free Handouts Could Harm India Like Cancer: Why Swadeshi Jagran Manch’s Warning Deserves Serious Attention
Delhi News
New Delhi: As the Lok Sabha elections approach, political parties across India are again ramping up their promises of freebies to attract voters. The culture of offering free benefits has become central to electoral strategy, with recent announcements drawing both support and criticism. Swadeshi Jagran Manch, affiliated with the RSS, has voiced concerns, describing freebies such as free electricity as detrimental to the economy and calling for an end to this trend. The organization argues that state resources are misused through these giveaways. This practice poses long-term risks to financial stability.
Freebies have become a significant part of India’s political landscape, as parties promise incentives despite knowing the strain they place on government budgets. Despite this, such promises are often used to win voter support just before elections, leading to a renewed debate on their economic impact.
Financial Misuse and Economic Consequences
Ashwini Mahajan, co-convenor of Swadeshi Jagran Manch, highlights the misallocation of funds meant for development and expresses concern over state governments’ fiscal discipline. He argues that such spending increases debt and affects the nation’s credit ratings, hindering India’s ability to attract investments at lower interest rates. This, in turn, could restrict growth by making it costlier for the country to borrow funds for development. Mahajan believes that stricter regulations on government spending are essential to curb these practices.
The Manch asserts that state resources initially provided for developmental purposes are diverted toward populist measures. They liken the impact of freebies on the economy to a “cancer,” gradually eroding fiscal stability.
Origins of Freebie Culture in Indian Politics
The tradition of offering election freebies began with the late Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, who attracted voters by promising items like sarees, pressure cookers, washing machines, and televisions. Over time, other political parties across India adopted similar strategies. In 2015, the Aam Aadmi Party in Delhi gained significant traction by promising free electricity, water, and bus travel, helping it secure victory in the Delhi Assembly elections. The approach has since spread, with examples including Kerala’s 2021 Assembly elections, where the Left Democratic Front won by offering subsidized rice and food kits.
In Punjab’s recent Assembly election, the Aam Aadmi Party used a similar strategy, securing a sweeping victory after promising 300 units of free electricity and a monthly payment to women in the state. These examples highlight how central the culture of freebies has become in India’s electoral landscape, with many parties now relying on such promises to appeal to voters.
Latest Freebie Announcements in Delhi and Haryana
Ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal recently announced a new Solar Policy for 2024, promising free electricity to households that install solar panels on their rooftops. This initiative follows Delhi’s existing policy of providing free electricity for usage of up to 200 units, with subsidies extending up to 400 units. Under the new policy, government buildings with larger areas must also install solar panels within the next three years. Kejriwal emphasizes that these measures aim to make energy more affordable and accessible for residents.
In Haryana, Chief Minister Manohar Lal has introduced a pension scheme for widows and unmarried individuals, providing a monthly allowance of three thousand rupees. This initiative targets around 12,000 people, with the first payments set to begin soon. With both Haryana’s Assembly elections and the Lok Sabha elections on the horizon, this pension scheme is another example of using welfare policies to appeal to a specific voter base.
Defining the Freebie Culture
In response to growing concerns, the Election Commission submitted an affidavit to the Supreme Court, stating that India currently lacks a clear definition of a “freebie.” According to the Commission, life-saving medicines or essential food during crises may not be classified as freebies if they serve a critical need. However, when similar provisions are offered without an urgent need, they can be considered unnecessary giveaways. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has also expressed concerns that subsidies that distort prices, discourage private investment, or reduce labor force participation can hinder economic progress.
Supreme Court’s Stance on Election Freebies
The debate over freebie culture has reached the Supreme Court, which recently criticized the growing reliance on giveaways to secure votes. In August 2022, the Court remarked that had the Election Commission acted sooner, political parties may have been less inclined to use such tactics. With freebie distribution now becoming a central tool for parties to attract voters, the Court has called for an expert committee to examine and address the issue, noting that political interests are unlikely to regulate themselves.
As the discourse on freebie culture intensifies, concerns about the sustainability of these policies continue to grow. With state and central governments incurring rising levels of debt, economic experts and political analysts are calling for a more balanced approach that ensures fiscal responsibility while still addressing the welfare needs of the public.
