Freebies for voters

Thiruvananthapuram: The practice of offering freebies to voters, vogue in Tamil Nadu, is slowly creeping into Kerala too.

Cycles, saris and laptops and even kitchen utensils now find a place in political manifestos.

Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has long been practitioner of patronage politics. He also pioneered the mass contact programmes where assistance for various purposes was sanctioned on the spot. During the five years of his rule, Rs. 798.73 crore was disbursed to 7.89 lakh applicants.

The Chief Minister admits that he might have erred in some cases by sanctioning assistance to undeserving persons. However, if he went by detailed procedure, those many people could not be helped. “If mistakes are found, I am not averse to correcting him,” he used to say.

For quite some time, governments have offered free electricity and free water to the poor.  As land is the most valued asset among the poor in Kerala, the main political fronts in the State (United Democratic Front, UDF, and Left Democratic Front, LDF) have been promising land to the poor. This promise has been repeated by both the fronts this time also though they have always failed to give land to all the eligible persons because of shortage of land. Both fronts also routinely promise to increase welfare pensions.

However, offering consumer goods was not a practice in Kerala so far. Now, the ruling United Democratic Front has broken that norm by offering bicycles to girl students of Eighth standard, if returned to power. Dhotis and saris are offered to differently abled and free radio to the blind in the UDF manifesto. There is also promise of money for the marriage of girls from low income groups.

The Opposition LDF has stopped short of offering laptop to college students belonging to Scheduled Castes and Tribes.  “There is nothing wrong in providing freebies to the disadvantaged when the rich are cornering many benefits from the government. Items like laptops and cycles will help students with their studies. Cycles will also help them to keep fit,” says former Minister Benoy Viswam (CPI).

The LDF manifesto is a comprehensive document with a 35-point action plan and 600 proposals. The UDF manifesto has roughly only half that number of proposals. However, there is strong focus on security for the poor.

The government decided to provide free rations to the poor just before the elections were declared. It was already providing ration at Rs. 1 a kg to people living below the poverty line. The Election Commission initially objected to implementation of the scheme from April 1, but subsequently reneged on its decision.

Similarly, the government had sanctioned as much as Rs. 90 crore in the first two months of this year and an additional Rs. 52.50 crore in the first three days of March from the Chief Minister’s Distress Relief Fund. The daily disbursals had jumped 52-fold against average disbursals in the past five years by the time the elections were announced on March 4. As on that date, Rs. 44.54 crore was pending disbursal to a whopping 40000 beneficiaries. Though the Election Commission objected to disbursal of the remaining amount, the Kerala High Court permitted the payments, allowing petitions filed by beneficiaries.

The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance is yet to announce its manifesto and it may not be offering freebies. BJP spokesman J. R. Padmakumar says offering of freebies is not a healthy tendency in a democracy. “They will not make any significant impact on the beneficiaries. Instead of freebies, people should be provided with means for livelihood and infrastructure for overall development such as schools and transportation facilities.”

Businessman Biju Ramesh, who created a storm in the State by levelling bribery charges against then Finance Minister K. M. Mani, Excise Minister K. Babu and others leading to resignation of Mr. Mani, has emerged as AIADMK candidate from Thiruvananthapuram Central. He promises Amma canteens in his constituency and laptops, study materials and uniforms for school students with Tamil Nadu government’s support. “Amma (Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa) wants all homes in this constituency to have LCD televisions, washing machines and grinders,” he says.

However, whether Kerala voters will be significantly influenced by offer of freebies is in doubt. Many Keralites have a psyche rooted in leftist ideals. Even if they get freebies, they take it as a right and vote for the political party or candidate of their choice.

“I am dead against freebies,” says former Chief Secretary C. P. Nair. “It is a foolish and heinous act that belittles the voters. Manifestos should confine to statements of general policy. It may, however, be okay to promise specific solution to problems like distress of tribals.”

Dijo Kappan, Managing Trustee of Centre for Consumer Education, Palai, says that offering of freebies amounts to bribing voters.

“It may work in Tamil Nadu. But, will it work in Kerala?” he asks adding that there is also the question of whether promises in the manifesto will be kept. The BJP had not kept the promise to provide 50 per cent incentive to farmers.

The Election Commission of India, Mr. Kappen says, should intervene to stop the trend. Public money should not be allowed to be squandered like that.