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Trending: Call for Papers Volume 5 | Issue 3: International Journal of Advanced Legal Research [ISSN: 2582-7340]

‘REVDI CULTURE’ OR GOVT’S BASIC RESPONSIBILITY? – Divyansh Rana

Abstract

This abstract delves into the prevalent practice of freebies in Indian politics and its implications on the country’s governance and economy. It examines the growing trend of political parties offering enticing promises of free goods and services during elections to win over voters. The analysis includes recent examples from Gujarat and Karnataka, where major parties like BJP, AAP, and Congress have proposed attractive freebies in their election manifestos.  While freebies may seem appealing to certain sections of society, the abstract highlights the need to differentiate between genuine welfare initiatives and short-term, unsustainable freebies. Political parties’ race to outdo each other in offering freebies puts immense strain on the state exchequer, leading to increased fiscal deficits and potential economic crises in the long run. The abstract also draws attention to the Supreme Court’s involvement in the matter, where pleas to ban freebies and derecognize parties engaging in such practices were heard. The Court highlighted the importance of balancing welfare measures and freebies, emphasizing that genuine welfare schemes aim to uplift the disadvantaged and provide sustainable solutions.The effects of freebies are discussed, showcasing how they can eacerbate economic inequality and divert attention from crucial issues. The abstract argues for stronger internal party democracy, empowering the Election Commission, and increased public expenditure on job creation and infrastructure development to limit the proliferation of freebies. In conclusion, the abstract advocates for a shift towards sustainable governance and responsible policies, promoting welfare-oriented initiatives that address the people’s genuine needs. A careful evaluation of the long-term impact of freebies on the economy and society is crucial to ensure the well-being of future generations and the overall development of India.

Keywords: Revdi Culture, Freebies, Election, Welfare, Governance

Introduction

Recently Freebies have been playing a prominent role in India’s electoral politics taking up the driver’s seat in the upcoming state elections. Despite knowledge of the fact that it puts additional pressure on the exchequer. Parties instead of looking at the problem at the ground level and fighting against them, political parties are busy in their race for freebies. Every party, either small or big, is in the run-up with each other in announcing a long list of freebies to woo the voters. Supreme court, while hearing a plea seeking a ban on the freebie culture during elections and the demand to cancel the recognition of such political parties which do the politics of freebies for electoral gain. [1]Supreme Court said in the petition that due to freebies politics, the burden of debt increases on the state, so to stop it, the recognition of such parties should be cancelled. The supreme court looked for answers from the election commission and the government of India on this. The election commission told the Supreme court that offering freebies before or after elections is a policy decision of a political party, and it cannot regulate state policies and decisions taken by the parties. The Supreme court later directed the central government to consult the Finance Commission, which allocates funds to the states and checks how much debt is on which state in this allocation and somewhere that state is not spending it on free schemes by taking more funds if that’s the case the funds received by the state should be cut. The battle between freebies and welfare is not new. [2]This practice goes back to the 1967 elections in the Tamil Nadu assembly, where DMK Chairman C.N. Annadurai promised that if his party won, they would provide people with television, radio, laptops, etc., in the form of freebies. Many debates and commentaries in the last few months have been based on freebies’ risks in state finance. At present times freebies are used as a weapon to convince voters. But political parties should also try to understand its implication as it poses disastrous effects on the economy in the long run. Currently, many political parties defend their freebies promises under the shade of welfare.

Freebies can be best understood as the goods and services you get but don’t need to pay for. Or in other words, something you get for free is called a freebie. Political parties promise to offer free electricity/water supply, monthly allowance to unemployed youth, daily wage workers and women as well as gadgets like laptops, smartphones etc. in order to secure the vote of the people. Providing freebies has become a practice in Indian politics. The states have become habitual of providing freebies, be it in the form of loan waivers or free electricity, cycles, laptops, TV sets and so on. In the past, many cases have been reported where politicians woo the voters by giving them free services. For example, free bus rides for women, free rations, education, healthcare, free electricity for up to 300 units or more, etc. Freebies culture is not limited to South Asia or developing nations. A perfect example is Bernies Sanders, United States Senator from Vermont, who, in the fight to become US President, made impractical and illogical promises like wavering on education loans, homes for people, and free health care services to which reports cited that free stuff promises made by Bernies Sanders would have cost the USA $30 Trillion[3]. In a report published in June 2022, the RBI associated the precarious state of State finances with freebies; Punjab had debt equivalent to 53% of its GDP and was the highest in the nation[4]. The supreme court waded into the debate recommending the creation of an expert body to examine the matter. Prime Minister’s remark anguished what he called the “revadi” or the freebies culture. This came immediately after the widespread concerns among domain economists, including the report of RBI on State finances highlighting the debt stress on states.

[1]DNA Web Team, How dangerous is the politics of freebies for a country?, DNA India, July 27, 2022, DNA Special: How dangerous is the politics of freebies for a country? (dnaindia.com)

[2]Ankit Chanpuriya, Freebies VS Welfare: A confusion that need to be clear, Linkedin, (23 September, 2022, 22 9:50 PM), (13) FREEBIES VS WELFARE : A CONFUSION THAT NEED TO BE CLEAR | LinkedIn

[3]James Pethokoukis, And the Price Tag for Bernie Sanders’ Free Stuff? $30 Trillion, American Enterprise Institute, Feb.16, 2016, And the Price Tag for Bernie Sanders’ Free Stuff? $30 Trillion | American Enterprise Institute – AEI

[4] Reserve Bank of India, “State Finances: A Study of Budgets, (Ministry of Finance, 2021-22)