Election Freebies: Good or Bad?

In every election season, political parties across India promise free electricity, monthly allowances, laptops, ration, scooties, and even foreign trips. These are commonly referred to as “freebies” or “revdi culture”.

But the big question is:

Are election freebies a boon for the poor or just vote-buying tricks that hurt the economy?

Let’s look at both sides.

✅ Arguments in Favour of Election Freebies (10 Points)

1. Helps the Poor
   • Freebies like ration, education, or healthcare provide basic support to poor families who need it the most.
2. Reduces Inequality
   • Distributing essentials bridges the gap between rich and poor, especially in rural and backward regions.
3. Empowers Women & Youth
   • Scooties, skill programs, or smartphones given to girl students or youth can improve their independence and opportunities.
4. Encourages Education & Health
   • Free cycles, books, and healthcare schemes help improve school enrollment and reduce dropouts.
5. Temporary Relief
   • In tough times like inflation or COVID-19 recovery, freebies act as economic boosters for struggling citizens.
6. Boosts Local Economy
   • When people get benefits like free electricity or cash transfers, they spend more — which helps small businesses.
7. Creates a Social Safety Net
   • Not every Indian has a secure job. Welfare freebies provide a minimum safety cushion.
8. Democratic Right
   • Citizens pay taxes. Giving back through schemes is a way of redistributing wealth fairly.
9. Brings New Voters into the System
   • Schemes motivate first-time or marginalized voters to participate in democracy.
10. Can Be Need-Based & Conditional

• Not all freebies are wasteful — if targeted properly, they can build human capital (education, health, nutrition).

❌ Arguments Against Election Freebies (10 Points)

1. Burden on Taxpayers
   • Freebies are funded by public money — leading to fiscal deficits and long-term debt for the state.
2. Not Sustainable
   • One-time cash or gifts don’t create jobs or long-term solutions — they’re short-term populist moves.
3. Vote Bank Politics
   • Parties use freebies to lure voters instead of offering real development or governance plans.
4. Discourages Productivity
   • Free money or services can reduce the motivation to work or upskill, especially among youth.
5. Diverts Funds from Infrastructure
   • The money spent on laptops or cash transfers could be used to build schools, roads, or hospitals.
6. No Accountability
   • Often, there is no audit or tracking of whether the benefits reach the right people or are misused.
7. Creates Dependency Culture
   • Voters may start expecting free benefits in every election, leading to a mindset of entitlement.
8. Unequal Distribution
   • Benefits are often targeted to specific communities or states — not uniformly available across the country.
9. Inflation Risk
   • Pumping free money into the system without productivity can increase inflation.
10. Bad Precedent

• Competing political parties keep increasing the scale of freebies just to outdo each other — creating a dangerous race.

🧠 Balanced Conclusion

Freebies are not always bad — if well-planned and focused on education, health, and upliftment.
But random or excessive giveaways for vote banks can hurt the economy, create dependency, and weaken democratic responsibility.

India needs welfare, not wasteful populism.
The real focus should be on job creation, skilling, infrastructure, and sustainable growth.

📌 Quick Summary Table

❓ FAQs

Q1. What is the difference between welfare and freebies?

• Welfare = Long-term support to build capacity (e.g., free education).
• Freebies = Short-term benefits for votes (e.g., TVs, cash, etc.)

Q2. Is giving free electricity or ration illegal?
Not illegal, but the Supreme Court has raised concerns about the fiscal impact and misuse of taxpayer money.

Q3. Which states offer the most freebies?
Popular states include Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka, where free schemes are a big part of politics.