Paisa votes for you
Delhi election shows free cash politics is now out of control
Cash is expected to rain on Delhi. The BJP yesterday gave a one-time payment of $15,000 to civil service aspirants and reimbursed expenses and travel expenses for two attempts. AAP has promised to bear the tuition fees for the entrance examination of the Autowallah ward and the 1L tuition fees for her daughter’s wedding. Promises from AAP, BJP and Congress include monthly dole to women (AAP: 2.1k, 2.5k for both BJP and Congress), temple priests and monasteries (AAP: 18k), SCs in vocational colleges Students (BJP: 1k), senior citizens (BJP: 2.5k for 60-70 years old, 3k for 70 years and above). The BJP has provided $21,000 to pregnant women. Congress promised to provide unemployed youth with an $8,500-a-year stipend and apprenticeship opportunities. The problem, of course, was always the eligibility criteria that cropped up after the polls. But that’s not the point.
Political parties are turning to elections A model that prioritizes private benefits over delivering public benefits. This has serious consequences for both democratic principles and the economy. First, we see the flip side of successful direct cash transfer technology, which permanently changed the way states interact with citizens. It comes down to a quid pro quo between political parties and citizens – governments, through the media, elected representatives, dipping into state coffers and cutting back on basic spending, because what incentive is there not to do that, given what electoral politics has become in the end? itself.
Second, where does this donated money come from? As Gadkari said, this is the case in Maharashtra, where subsidies for relief items for women may be affected at the expense of government schemes. Delhi is rich. The per capita income is 4.62L. The budget for this fiscal year is 76,000 cr. However, the lunch cook’s monthly salary is a paltry $1,000, well below the minimum wage. Instead of a fair wage for critical services, politicians want “women” to queue up for $2000+ wages. The government is becoming a charity serving the public under the guise of welfare. The country simply cannot afford it. Next up are the Bihar elections. Imagine the damage such a cash circus could cause.
This article was published as an editorial in the print edition of The Times of India.
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