Indian freebies are working. But it’s not reducing poverty, only making people spend less https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7dhR88b2B9o ThePrint Jul 25, 2023 Subsidies, freebies and government schemes are reducing how much the poor have to pay for essentials, but are doing nothing for their incomes. With growing aspirations, expect freebies to increase and become more diverse, The Print Deputy Editor TCA Sharad Raghavan argues in #StandardDeviation
Subsidies are here to stay. Worryingly, subsidy expenditure will likely increase as Indian politicians try to meet a wider set of aspirations through more diverse freebies.
TCA SHARAD RAGHAVAN https://theprint.in/opinion/standard-deviation/indian-freebies-are-working-but-its-not-reducing-poverty-only-making-people-spend-less/1683780/
25 July, 2023 t poverty alleviation is more than just providing basic essentials and leaving things at that. Yes, a roof over one’s head, access to electricity, drinking water, and cooking gas are all absolutely essential for everybody. But aspirations don’t end there....The overwhelming feeling is that the bottom half of India is not doing well at all. They’re just about getting by, and there’s very little scope for any improvement any time soon. This means subsidies are here to stay. Worryingly, it also means subsidy expenditure will likely increase as politicians try to meet a wider set of aspirations through more diverse freebies.