In defence of freebies

Recently, the Bihar government announced free electricity for household consumption of up to 125 units per month.

- BY MANISH KUMAR

This move has once again reignited the debate around the so-called 'freebie culture'. In this case, the scheme is expected to benefit approximately 1.67 crore households, with an estimated annual cost of around ₹18,000 crore. However, this is only one way of looking at the scheme—a rather narrow and simplistic perspective. In virtually every state, as well as at the Centre, political parties across the spectrum have, at various times, introduced welfare schemes that have subsequently been criticised by their opponents as irresponsible 'freebies'. Ironically, most parties have themselves adopted similar strategies when in power. Unfortunately, rather than being assessed through a serious economic lens, such schemes have largely become instruments of political opportunism.