There is a proverb in Hindi that ‘Bandhe distributes revdi, pays to his own.’ Their leaders have changed this proverb with their conduct that ‘Andha bante revdi, only payable to himself’. These days our ruling parties keep distributing government ravadis only to benefit themselves. Nowadays, almost all the political parties of the country keep distributing different things as gifts to the voters in the greed of getting bulk votes. These are such things, without which even crores of people can live comfortably.
Many state governments have given free saris, gold chains, utensils, mix-grinders to their women voters and computers, clothes, food etc. to the children free of cost. Many state governments have also gifted free cycles. Are all these things very important for survival? They are not there, yet they are distributed for free because the image of governments and leaders is created. What is the result of this? What happens is that our provincial governments are neck-deep in debt.
If they drown, they drown, the leaders who distribute free ravadis go away. Nowadays our provincial governments spend about 15 lakh crore rupees. are immersed in debt. They are in a hurry to overtake each other in distributing the ravadis. Some governments have even announced to provide free electricity and water to their citizens. Bus travel has been made free for women. The result of this is that our governments have lagged far behind in strengthening the country’s infrastructure.
The country is dominated by poverty, unemployment, disease and hunger. There is a fierce debate going on in the Supreme Court of India these days. A petition has demanded that those political parties whose governments distribute free ravadis should be declared illegal. In this case, the Supreme Court is of the opinion that it is the job of Parliament, not the Court, to decide.
The Supreme Court has formed a committee, in which representatives of many important institutions apart from the central government will give their suggestions. The Election Commission has refused to become its member, as it is a constitutional organization. The truth is that this is a very complicated matter. If the governments do not do the politics of relief, then they will be of no importance.
If the governments do not distribute food items in the flood affected areas, then their living and non-living will become equal. Similarly, can anyone call the free food grains given to 80 crore people a bribe during the pandemic? In fact, in a developing nation like India, whatever relief is given to the public to make education and medicine universal, it should be considered commendable but all the rest of the ravadis should be weighed on the scales of justice before being served.
