Election Freebies: Short-Term Gain, Long-Term Pain.

THE COST OF A VOTE: A CLOSER LOOK AT INDIA'S 'FREEBIE CULTURE'

 By Lara Gaud

Elections are among the most controversial periods for any country, and India is no exception. Why are elections particularly contentious in India? As the world's largest democracy, India is expected to conduct 'free and fair' elections. However, one must question whether this is truly the case. Political parties frequently distribute ‘freebies’ leading up to elections, with leaders spending millions to entice voters and build vote banks. Given this context, it is difficult to claim that India's elections are genuinely free and fair.

Let's get into a detailed analysis.

In 2019, a survey was conducted by the Association for Democratic Reforms, a Delhi-based NGO, across 543 parliamentary constituencies in India. 

According to that survey, more than 42% of voters consider the distribution of cash, liquor, and freebies an essential factor behind voting for a particular candidate rather than the candidate’s plan for their welfare.

Recently, many newspapers have covered the news regarding Prime Minister Modi giving a term called ‘Revadi Culture’ to such Freebies. Further, he adds “Those behind this ‘Revadi Culture’ do not believe in building expressways, airports, and defence corridors. Together we have to defeat this thinking and remove this culture from politics”. PM Modi believes that people behind such culture are dangerous for the development of the country. On the other hand, former CM of Madhya Pradesh, Shivraj Singh Chouhan of BJP (Now, Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare) started ‘Ladli Behna Yojana’ in Madhya Pradesh to attract women voters, and CM of Maharashtra Eknath Shinde of Shiv Sena, an alliance of NDA, introduced ‘Ladki Bahin Yojana which promised Rs 3000 per month in the banks of women in Maharashtra. 

The point is PM Modi believes such practices to be dangerous for the development of the country and his own ministers are introducing such yojanas to create vote banks. In Madhya Pradesh, not only the BJP but also Congress party promised Rs. 1500 and LPG cylinders for 500 to counter the ‘Ladli Behna Yojana’ by BJP. Congress National general secretary announces ‘Padho Padhao Yojana’ in the 2023 elections to give a monthly allowance to school-going children that are Rs. 500, 1000, and 1500 for students of grades 1 to 8, 9-10, and 11-12 respectively as a monthly allowance. Such schemes create a burden on the education budget of the state. Instead, such money can be used to spend on improving the quality and accessibility of education in rural areas, providing training to government teachers and professors, and expanding the mid-day meal schemes to include more schools..

The article is not against any schemes or yojanas introduced by the centre or state, but it focuses on ‘why such yojanas are introduced ONLY before the elections.’ Even if the yojana is introduced before the elections why through the means of money and not by providing sustainable and permanent developmental schemes such as Pradhan Mantri Rozgar Yojana (creates employment opportunities for women entrepreneurs in urban and rural areas) and Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (supports rural development).

This is not a party-specific issue but rather a flawed system of politics in India. The citizens of India, who are considered supreme in the democracy, are the victims of such deceitful political plots. 

This article was submitted to the Internzpro Blog Writing Competition - November 2024, and secured 4th rank. 

Link: https://internzpro.com/election-freebies-short-term-gain-long-term-pain/