Freebies are goods and services given free without any charge to the users. It is alleged that some state governments in India have confusion between ‘freebies and welfare. There is only a thin line between the two. Those who are against ‘freebies’ are generally against ‘welfare’ provisions too.
https://countercurrents.org/2022/08/is-freebies-good-politics-but-bad-economics/
The ‘freebies’ question has finally reached the Supreme Court of India through a Public Interest Litigation filed by a prominent politician. The intervention plea filed asked the Central government and the Election Commission of India to take steps to regulate political party poll manifestos and hold parties accountable for the promises made in such manifestos.
Social scientists have however cautioned that such social engineering through social welfare to be effective requires more ‘communicative action’ along with ‘policy rigor’ and ‘efficiency of implementation’. Whenever governments have failed to adequately communicate both the symbolism as well as the useful outcomes of such welfare measures for the development and integration of the nation, regressive politicians try demolishing the entire welfare system which had traditionally offered safety nets to the poor. Unfortunately, this is what is happening around the current ‘freebies’ debate too.
19/08/2022
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