|| SHANIWAR SAMWAD || 08-10-2022

 Just we celebrated Vijayadashmi along with Navratri and Durga Puja, with this we also got another round of rate hikes by RBI. The expert commentary on this and the reduction in the rate of growth of our GDP is discussed in full length by everyone. The rating agencies, the IMF, and the world bank has reduced our growth rate for the current financial year. 

The above-said thing making headlines for a long time. But we are going to discuss the proforma which was published by the Election commission of India on freebies, which is sore point for political parties.

The Supreme Court, which is hearing a PIL on freebies, has directed EC to reply on this.

Before, anything we do let's look at the present scenario in which there is a restriction on this. The restriction is only on paper as EC does not have any power to act on this.

If we see the immediate past we saw the state elections in five states, and the manifesto for this had full of freebies, which were or are unsustainable due to the pandemic and poor financial health of the respective states.

The financial condition of our states is in poor condition with some states having deficit that is on the verge of collapse.

The SGDP and loans both on and off-budget borrowing are more than their revenue generation altogether.

The statuary obligation of the government is getting differed due to the unavailability of funds.

The reaction to above said proforma is expected, as our political parties are not giving details of funding to the EC, first the cash donation of Rs.20000/- was allowed now it has been  Rs. 2000/- with cash component should not be more than 20% of the total receipt.

Some parties are declaring 100% cash declaration and all is received from an unknown source.

The attitude of political parties is nearly similar on the above-said issues as they do not want to give details of their funding.

The proforma which was published by the EC has made very elaborate which will give not only the funding freebies but it will give the netizens of the country to access the depth of knowledge of the respective political party about the economy and their plan to expand the economy with productive expenditure. How these expenses will be done and the timeline for completion of the project.

Nothing is free for anybody, it is well known but the politics of freebies is means of enhancing corruption in ordinary citizens which allows big bang corruption to be done and kept as normal practice.

The current status should be changed and it should be taken to its logical conclusion by both the SC and the EC.