Freebies In Indian Politics A Nightmare For Taxpayers. The Short-Term Gain, Long-Term Pain And Why The Voters Are To Be Blamed?

It’s election season in India—when political parties roll out their best “offers” or “freebies” like they’re running a discount festival. Free electricity, monthly stipends, free laptops, gas cylinders, and sometimes even goats—if you’re in Tamil Nadu, you know what I mean. The art of wooing voters with freebies isn’t new, but it’s reaching absurd heights. And while it might seem harmless or even compassionate on the surface, the reality is far more troubling.

Let’s talk about what this obsession with freebies is doing to us as a nation.

When Votes Come with a Price Tag

In Delhi, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) promises free electricity and water. In Rajasthan, Congress unveiled the Yuva Udaan Yojana, where unemployed youth are entitled to ₹8,500 a month. Tamil Nadu? They’ve taken the freebie game to legendary status—laptops, mixers, TVs, and even livestock. These schemes are great if you’re looking for instant voter gratification, but scratch the surface, and you’ll find the cracks.

Take Congress’s Yuva Udaan Yojana. Sure, it’s comforting to hand unemployed youth ₹8,500 a month, but here’s the problem – Why would they want to find work if the government is handing out cash? How do we expect to foster a work ethic in a country already grappling with unemployment?

And AAP’s free power and water schemes to fiscally draining handouts of cash to women? Do They sound progressive? They are in reality bleeding state finances dry. Punjab, for instance, is already drowning in debt, yet they’ve extended these schemes. Where’s the logic?

The Economic Fallout

You don’t need to be an economist to know that freebies aren’t free. Someone pays for them—and spoiler alert, it’s us, the taxpayers. States offering freebies often borrow heavily to fund these schemes. This means higher fiscal deficits, and in the long run, this debt snowballs into a massive economic crisis.

Take Punjab again. It’s one of India’s most indebted states, yet it spends over ₹20,000 crore annually on subsidies. And let’s not forget, this money could have gone into building better schools, hospitals, or roads. Instead, it’s being used to foot electricity bills for those who can often afford to pay.

Inflation is another hidden cost. Pumping money into the economy without increasing productivity creates demand without supply, leading to price hikes. Freebies might win votes, but they don’t fix inflation or unemployment—they worsen them.

The Allure of Freebies in Indian Politics And The Pitfalls

Implementing large-scale freebie schemes requires substantial public expenditure. States often resort to borrowing, leading to increased fiscal deficits. For example, Maharashtra, India’s wealthiest state, raised its fiscal deficit target to accommodate significant welfare programs, thereby straining its finances.

To fund these populist measures, states may cut spending on essential infrastructure and development projects. This reallocation hampers long-term economic growth and the creation of sustainable employment opportunities. Analysts have noted that such practices could upset fiscal stability, affecting urban infrastructure and development spending.

Increased government spending without corresponding revenue generation can lead to inflation, eroding the purchasing power of citizens and disproportionately affecting the economically vulnerable.

Freebies distort the democratic process by influencing voter behavior through material inducements rather than informed decision-making based on policies and governance. The Supreme Court of India has observed that promising freebies during elections is a serious issue that may influence the electorate and affect the fairness of polls.

The Social Damage

Now let’s talk about the culture this creates. When governments give away money or resources without demanding accountability, it erodes the work ethic of the population. Why strive for self-reliance when you can rely on handouts?

The Congress Yuva Udaan Yojana is a prime example. By paying ₹8,500 a month to unemployed youth, we’re not solving unemployment—we’re incentivizing it. Instead of creating jobs or investing in skill development, we’re teaching young people that sitting at home pays.

And then there’s the issue of equity. Freebies are often distributed with a political agenda. Specific voter bases get the benefits, while others are left out. It’s not about empowering people—it’s about keeping them dependent.

Populism Over Progress

What’s tragic is how these freebies overshadow real issues. Take the Delhi government, for example. While they’ve spent crores on free power, water, and bus rides, the state’s air quality remains among the worst in the world. Infrastructure is crumbling, garbage everywhere and public schools, despite some progress, still have a long way to go.

Or look at Tamil Nadu. Decades of freebie politics have left the state with massive debt and limited funds for long-term development. It’s a classic case of populism over progress—choosing short-term wins over sustainable growth.

Is There a Way Out?

It’s easy to criticize freebies, but what’s the alternative? After all, some welfare schemes are necessary in a country with vast inequalities. The key is targeting these schemes to those who genuinely need them and ensuring they’re accompanied by long-term solutions.

For example:

Skill Development Over Stipends: Instead of giving cash to unemployed youth, invest in vocational training programs. Equip them with skills that make them employable.

Subsidies with a Purpose: Free power and water should be limited to those below the poverty line, not extended to everyone.

Focus on Job Creation: Use public funds to invest in industries, infrastructure, and entrepreneurship. A strong economy is the best welfare scheme.

The Role of Voters
Ultimately, the responsibility lies with us. As voters, we need to demand more than just freebies. We need to ask tough questions:

How will these schemes be funded?
What’s the long-term vision for the economy?
Why aren’t we seeing investments in healthcare, education, or infrastructure?
It’s time we saw through the gimmicks and demanded real governance.

India’s freebie culture is like offering candy to a starving man—it provides temporary relief but does nothing to address the root problem. Our leaders need to stop treating voters like customers and start treating them like stakeholders. And we, as citizens, need to stop falling for these short-term bribes and start thinking about the bigger picture.

The question isn’t whether freebies can win elections—they clearly can. The question is, at what cost?

Why don’t we look at sustainable governance instead?

For a democracy as diverse and populous as India, sustainable development should be the cornerstone of governance. Instead of resorting to short-term populist measures, political parties should focus on ‘what is important’ after all its not rocket science!

Instead what should be the goal – building robust infrastructure can spur economic growth, create jobs, and improve the quality of life for citizens. Equipping the workforce with relevant skills can lead to gainful employment, reducing the need for financial handouts. Creating an environment conducive to business can encourage self-employment and innovation, driving economic progress.

Implementing targeted social security measures for the truly needy can provide a safety net without encouraging widespread dependency.

The Last Bit. Rethinking Populism

While freebies may serve as a quick-fix solution to garner votes, their long-term repercussions on the economy and governance are dire. The focus must shift from immediate gratification to sustainable growth and empowerment. As voters, citizens must hold political parties accountable, demanding policies that address systemic challenges rather than superficial handouts.

Here the onus also lies squarely on the the voters who get swayed by these small pennies thrown at them.

The road to a truly prosperous India lies in creating opportunities, not dependencies. Political parties and the voters must rise above the temptation of populism and chart a path of inclusive and sustainable development.