“If You Keep Offering Freebies, People Will Soon Expect a Welfare State!” – R. Prasad I Bell Curves I Economic Times
Words Rusen Kumar
In Economic Times’s “Bell Curves,” R Prasad discusses the potential dangers of this approach, warning that a sustained pattern of giving away freebies could set expectations for a full welfare state.
Welcome to India’s most vibrant circus—the Freebie Fest! Political parties line up, promising free power, free water, free Wi-Fi, and if you’re lucky, maybe even free air next! What started as a humble gift to the voter has grown into a spectacle. In his latest satire, R Prasad paints a quirky picture: if we keep this act going, we might just stumble into the magical land of Welfare Wonderland, where every wish is granted—so long as you vote right.
Freebies Galore: The Voters’ Lottery
Picture the excitement: elections roll around, and the voter is the honored guest at a lavish giveaway bonanza! From rice to riding lessons, political parties outdo each other with extravagant promises, each hoping to outshine the last. And who could resist? With every freebie handed out, the voter’s basket grows fuller. Yet, as R Prasad jests, will the basket get so heavy that it becomes too much to carry? Or is it a setup for a grand expectation—one that leads straight to a welfare fantasy?
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The “Kindness” of the Politicians: The Art of Gifting Wisely
1. The Empty Treasury’s Generosity
Ah, the treasury! In every freebie tale, the government’s vaults become a mysterious, bottomless pit from which endless delights flow. Politicians, brimming with ‘generosity,’ love to imagine this pit as boundless, forgetting the real expenses waiting for some serious funds. Roads, hospitals, schools? Secondary! Why spend on infrastructure when you can distribute gifts and bask in the warm glow of adoration? After all, the voter’s applause is much louder than the silent call of an empty treasury.
2. The Voter’s Entitlement: From Gifts to God-Given Rights
Once the gifts start pouring, a curious transformation occurs. Freebies, once simple tokens, become rights, and any attempt to change the system becomes political heresy. Elections turn into gift-giving competitions, where promises get bolder and manifestos richer. Soon, it’s no longer about votes but about “fairy godfather” politics, where every citizen deserves a magical wand waved over their needs. Is this democracy, or are we on the verge of our very own enchanted kingdom?
3. The Tale of Self-Reliance: A Myth Lost in the Freebie Forest
Some odd voices whisper of “self-reliance.” Politicians nod approvingly as they announce yet another subsidy. Why spoil the party with talk of self-reliance when a perfectly good welfare state lies ahead? As R Prasad quips, if self-reliance isn’t as shiny as a freebie, why bother? Thus, the tale of self-reliance is slowly forgotten, buried under the heap of shiny “gifts” waiting to be unwrapped by eager voters.
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The Social Side Effects: When Freebies Rule
1. The Race to Nowhere: Public Dreamers in a Freebie-Filled Land
With each freebie, voters fall deeper into the dream of easy entitlement. Schools, jobs, or building skills? Outdated pursuits! Why dream of climbing up when the elevator of free services awaits? Like a theme park where all rides are free, citizens get used to receiving without effort, leading us ever closer to a society that’s parked comfortably at the station, forgetting it was meant to be moving.
2. The Unseen Price of “Free”: The Kingdom of Waste
If everything is free, why bother conserving it? Free water? Leave the tap running. Free electricity? Turn on every bulb. The kingdom of freebies quickly turns into the land of waste. Politicians marvel at their benevolence, but even this enchanted vault has limits. As R Prasad slyly points out, perhaps the voter will one day wonder why the “freebie fountain” has run dry. Until then, waste remains an uninvited, yet inevitable, guest.
A Happy Ending or an Endless Freebie Fantasy?
As the curtains draw on each election, we’re left wondering: will the Freebie Circus return next season, or will India one day wake up from this extravagant dream? R Prasad’s satire reminds us that while freebie culture can be a crowd-pleaser, it’s also a diversion—a performance that risks overshadowing real progress and development. Perhaps one day, we’ll look beyond the glittering facade and remember the true power of democracy: a country of self-reliant, empowered citizens who don’t just wait for a handout but work toward a future they build themselves.
So, as the Freebie Fest marches on, let’s keep one eye on the show and one on reality, just in case our little circus runs out of magic tricks.
Image Source: Economic Times, Nagpur, 24 Oct, 2024
(Rusen Kumar, is the Managing Editor at India CSR)
