Drizzling sops

A drizzle of sops has begun with the central government announcing Monday that the Ujjwala Yojana is being extended to all poor households. The same day, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath signed the order to waive farm loans up to Rs2 lakh in keeping with a pre-poll promise of the party. In Maharashtra, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated development projects to the tune of Rs41,000 crore. Although reports suggested that the government was unlikely to go for large-scale waiver of farm loans, sops in other forms are likely to be offered. Freebies, waivers and other concessions have come to be viewed as political necessities that parties religiously announce to get popular support as elections approach. Doles and polarisation are thought to be short-cut means of ensuring electoral victory. Most parties (and the governments they form) follow the same approach when the electoral train chugs in, while important matters of long-term national interest are forgotten. It was evident from what leaders were saying ahead of Assembly elections in the three key states that no party had any clear vision or plan to address farmers’ issues after the short-term relief of farm loan waivers. ‘Free’ gas, that too in a limited slot, is being extended to poor families, whether they have anything to cook and eat with the gas provided or not. The Below the Poverty Line (BPL) card becomes the basis for inclusion of a family for such government doles. It is common knowledge how, in many cases, these cards are given in return for small bribes or favours by so-called leaders at the grass-roots. Sadly, governments in India have never planned long-term. Growth has remained stagnant despite claims of development and GDP numbers. Taxpayers’ money is used to pay back NPAs and waste on non-productive popular measures. People are still not convinced about how an additional card like Aadhaar has helped the economy, what with enormous amounts of taxpayers’ money going into the programme. It is claimed that jobs will be created in sectors with the coming of technology. What is being ignored is whether people are willing and able to accept and adopt these technologies. If the government focuses solely on such sectors, it will be leaving behind a huge segment of the populace that is not in sync with that model of misdirection. India still needs to focus on agriculture, cottage and small and medium enterprises. The need for loan waivers is due to long term neglect of the farming sector. Farmers are the backbone of the economy and save the country from spending billions of dollars on food imports. Waivers will not solve critical problems of shortage of cold storages, failures in market linking, low MSPs, lack of irrigation facilities, low technology backup in farming and other such issues. Although perceptions persist among political parties that sops determine voting pattern, it may not be wise to underestimate the electorate of India. Indira Gandhi had lost at the peak of her power, the Congress led UPA II government got wiped out following multiple charges of corruption and high-handedness against its leaders. Similarly, the BJP seems to be losing ground despite all efforts to both threaten and placate voters. The beauty of the Indian democracy is truly mesmerising. While parties and governments strategise on how to hoodwink and confuse voters, election results have seen right solutions at the right time in this country, notwithstanding sops or threats. Let’s hope this time round too, people know exactly what to do.