Freebies seem to have come to a tipping point as polling for crucial state elections, a prelude to the 2024 Lok Sabha election, are set into motion. The time has come to initiate a well-rounded discussion on the economic causes and consequences of freebies, and its separation from essential welfare activities.
No one's entitled to a freebie
We must differentiate between freebies and entitlement. Freebies do not differentiate between those who can afford to pay and those who can't, thus alleviating the crucial distinction between who should be and those who shouldn't be the beneficiaries. Entitlement on the other hand, is a bona fide benefit for those who can't afford. A clear example being free power for everyone is freebies, while free food grain for the 80-crore population during a pandemic is an entitlement.
Most damaging of freebies
To begin with, over time, the incessant announcements of the freebies by virtually every who's who of India's variegated political ensemble have created a huge problem, with the biggest damage happening to the power sector.
This story is from the September 29, 2022 edition of The Times of India Hyderabad.
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This story is from the September 29, 2022 edition of The Times of India Hyderabad.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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