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From
Tehelka Magazine, Vol 9, Issue 35, Dated 01 Sept 2012 |
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Governance suffers at the altar of populism
The Government’s plan to dole out free cell phones is the latest episode in the sop opera. It focusses on short-term gains at the cost of the country’s future
Jayaprakash Narayan Founder-president, Lok Satta Party
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Illustration: Anand Naorem |
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THE UPA government’s reported move to give free mobile phones to 60 lakh households is yet another telling instance of the freebies culture that has enveloped our politics.
In Uttar Pradesh, political parties vied with each other to offer all kinds of short-term sops to voters. In Tamil Nadu, the DMK and AIADMK indulged in breathtaking competitive populism. Blender, ceiling fan, washing machine, gas stove, colour TV, laptop, foodgrain and gold — all were on offer. In Andhra Pradesh, YS Rajasekhara Reddy came to power by offering Rs 2/kg rice to more than 2 crore families in the state.
Reckless populism has taken hold of political parties at both the state and national level. It is time we examined this phenomenon closely and took corrective steps before all governance is reduced to a combination of plunder and populism.
As people were increasingly disenchanted with governments, parties started wooing voters with money and liquor. As all traditional parties bought votes, large expenditure in elections became an entry fee to be able to seriously compete. It precluded the entry of competent and honest citizens into politics, and helped only those who could spend vast sums (Rs 5-10 crore per Assembly seat in states such as AP, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu). Large expenditure does not guarantee victory, but non-expenditure means certain defeat.
In addition, political parties have cynically started using public money to offer sops to poor voters. What started with Indira Gandhi spread to MGR, NTR and other populist leaders, and YSR reached the pinnacle of populism.
Parties argue that it is their legitimate duty to promote ‘welfare’, and they have a right to pursue schemes that benefit the poor. But it is a specious argument. The State’s first duty is to protect citizens by maintaining public order, delivering justice and enforcing the rule of law. The second is creation of common amenities and infrastructure — transport, power, water, etc. The third is delivery of quality education and healthcare. Without these services, birth and social status determine the future of a child, and poverty is perpetuated. After delivering order, infrastructure and human development, there is a case for welfare programmes for those who fall into the cracks and need special help.
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Our parties have lost the moral authority and are taking the path of least resistance |
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Sadly, parties have fallen into the lazy and cynical culture of neglecting their primary duties and are focussing on freebies to build vote banks. The rule of law and public order are in shambles, and often might is right. Our transport and power infrastructure have become a drag on the economy. The recent global survey on education places India in the 73rd position out of 74 entities. Our healthcare system is the worst among all large economies in the world. But in freebies, we probably outrank every other nation.
All parties are guilty, and the UPA government is no exception. Loan waivers, now free cell phones, employment guarantee even in areas where there is shortage of manpower, petrol, cooking gas and kerosene subsidies leading to mafia raj — all these are the Centre’s follies.
In this mad race for votes, people are treated as mere vote banks. Poverty and dependence are perpetuated. The voter has lost faith in the government’s willingness or capacity to deliver things that matter. In any democracy, there is a clash between short-term political price and the pursuit of long-term public good. Wise leaders learn to reconcile the short term with the long term. Our parties have lost the moral authority and leadership, and are taking the path of least resistance.
What is the way out? We need to decentralise power so that people understand the link between taxes and services, and learn to make painful choices with available resources. Centralisation breeds irresponsibility and populism. There must be a broad consensus on priorities of government; infrastructure and human development must come before populism. And we need to move towards better models of election like proportional representation, so that parties don’t risk loss of marginal vote when they pursue sound, long-term policies.
(The views expressed in this column are the writer’s own)
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