Poll push

The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) is the latest in a series of schemes launched with an eye on the polls. Increasing awareness of the distress in the rural sector and its likely impact on the political fortunes of those who seek the farmers’ votes have no doubt brought about greater attention from the political class. Prime Minister Modi has launched this assured income support scheme for small and marginal farmers, which will give a yearly income of Rs 6,000. Congress president Rahul Gandhi has not named the sum he promises to dole out, but at the same time has taken digs at the Rs 17 per day figure proposed by Modi. It is competitive politics at the cost of the exchequer, which will be left to foot the estimated Rs 95,000-crore bill.

Remunerative prices and help in the form of guidance for better farming choices and techniques, rather than doles, is the answer to the farmers’ woes, as The Tribune has pointed out time and again. The rural sector lags in infrastructure, education and health facilities, besides being economically a laggard, but politicians tend to treat it as a vote bank, to be tapped near the polls, rather than take a holistic interest in the wellbeing of the vastness which is home to most Indians. This leaves young rural residents bereft of schooling and skilling that is necessary for improving their prospects, besides issues of access to proper health services, etc. 

Even as polls are round the corner, the effort to notch ‘successes’ is visible. However, the challenges to the economy remain. The government has not been particularly successful in repairing bank balance sheets, the rupee valuation has been uninspiring, and even the recent, and populist, cut in the GST rate for affordable housing has received only mixed reviews. The approaching election season will mark further marginalisation of the fundamental issues, even as various so-called welfare schemes are doled out, by both Central and state governments. The politics of sops for voters is here to stay, yet everything that can be done must be done to expose unhealthy decisions that will cost the taxpayer dear. Political success should not be at the cost of public money without commensurate benefit to the public.