Tamil Nadu: In the land of the freebies

[prasad1]

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With political parties aiming to outdo each other by showering sops on voters all the time, Tamil Nadu might well be the ultimate freebie state.
While giving sops and doles to voters has been the in thing in this southern state for decades, things started going a bit overboard a couple of decades back.

The DMK opened the gates of this freebie culture in 2006 after the state Assembly elections by distributing colour television sets as per its poll promise, and the AIADMK in 2012 went a step further by giving away laptops, mixies, grinders and table fans.

DMK spent over Rs 3,340 crore on 1,52,80,000 14-inch TV sets with each costing an average of Rs 2,456. They were distributed in five phases between 2006-10. AIADMK spent Rs 1,200 crore in 2012-13 on procuring 7,84,000 laptops for students and is expected to spend Rs 10,200 crore in the next five years.
On mixies, grinders and table fans, Rs 2,000 crore was spent by the ruling AIADMK. 3.5 million beneficiaries were recipients of this scheme. In 2014-15, Rs 1,250 crore was spent on the same once again.

- See more at: Tamil Nadu: In the land of the freebies, sadly power is never a poll promise | The Indian Express

 

[sadasivam.sridharan]

There is no morality or justification in doling out freebies except the ulterior motive of the party in power to keep the their vote bank in tact at the cost public exchequer. The money spent could have been utilised in public welfare schemes ,employment generation , agriculture etc etc It appears that there is no scope for redemption from this deep rooted and ever growing malice. Very sad.indeed.

 

[V.Balasubramani]

Sometime during June 2013, Supreme Court of India has observed that promising freebies by the national and regional political parties during election in their respective election manifesto ‘shake the roots of free and fair polls’. And hence has directed the Election Commission to frame suitable guidelines regulating the Political Parties coming out with their manifesto and its contents

Election Commission also accordingly held meetings with the representatives of National and State level parties in this regard. It was also reported that the Commission personally heard their representations and noted their views.

What was the outcome?????

 

[CHANDRU1849]

Tamil Nadu is not the only State doing this. Recently, UP Govt. donated Lap Tops. Many States may follow.

 

[V.Balasubramani]

Politicians don't make differences whichever State they belong,they all have imbibed qualities, especially those who have tasted the power will see to retain it by any means.

Freebies or cash or gold ornaments or silver articles, etc etc

They think better to catch the votes, but they don't do better when come to power.

 

[Brahmanyan]

It is a shame people are induced by freebees to vote a political party to power. Thus these politicians convert the common people to become dependent on political paties for their normal needs. In the process they kill the pride of labour .
For a change let us compare what the British did at the time of the "Great Famine" in 1876-78 known as தாது வருஷ பஞ்சம். To provide famine relief work, the Duke of Buckingham extended the existing canal known as Cochrane canal by 315 km along the Coromandel Coast to Pedda-ganjam, on the Krishna river in Andhra , and 103 km south of Chennai to Marakkanam, north of Puducherry. In 1875, he ordered to bring 5,00,000 bags of rice from Orissa to Madras using the canal. Two kinds of relief were offered: "relief works" for able-bodied men, women, and working children, and gratuitous (or charitable) relief for small children, the elderly, and the indigent. Sir Richard Temple, who was Famine Commissioner for the Government of India, in keeping with the belief of the time, felt that any excessive payment might create 'dependency' among the famine-afflicted population.

Ofcourse we may not agree the motives of our colonial masters of the past, but we must appreciate their respect for dignity of labour.

Brahmanyan,
Bangalore.

 

[sadasivam.sridharan]

They were the real rulers and what we have now are looters.

 

[V.Balasubramani]

They were the real rulers and what we have now are looters.

And it is the general public who select these looters after a waiting period of five years!

 

[talwan]

They were the real rulers and what we have now are looters.

Then why the 'real rulers' were driven out of our country in the name of freedom fight?
Alwan

 

[sadasivam.sridharan]

So that local looters can loot and amass wealth for generations.

 

[sadasivam.sridharan]

And it is the general public who select these looters after a waiting period of five years!

It is true.But unfortunately there is no choice.

 

[V.Balasubramani]

I would like to share a message recd thro' face book:

இலவசங்கள் தொடரும் வரை ஏழைகள் தொடருவார்கள் என்கிற பேருண்மை அந்தப் தலைவர்களுக்கு தெரியாதுபோலும்.
''பசியில் வாடுபவனுக்கு மீனைக் கொடுக்காதே... மீன் பிடிக்கக் கற்றுக...்கொடு!''
என்கிற மேலை நாட்டுப் பொன்மொழி இந்த ஏழை நாட்டுத் தலைவர்களுக்கு ஏன் புரியாமல்போனதோ?
தொலைக்காட்சி இலவசம்,
உடுப்பு இலவசம்,
அடுப்பு இலவசம்,
ஆடு இலவசம்,
மாடு இலவசம்,
அரிசி இலவசம்,
கணினி இலவசம்,
அம்மிக்கல் இலவசம்,
ஆட்டுகல் இலவசம்,
திருமணம் இலவசம்,
என அனுதினமும் ஓர் அறிவிப்பை வெளியிட்டு, கையேந்தும் பெருமக்களை பெருக்கிக்கொண்டே போகிறது இந்த அரசாங்கம்.
65 ஆண்டு கால சுதந்திரத்தில், இந்தத் தாய்த் தமிழகத்தை ஆண்ட சில இயக்கங்கள் இன்றைக்கு இலவசத்தை மகத்தான திட்டமாக வாய் வலிக்கச் சொல்பவர்கள், இத்தனை காலங்கள் ஆண்டும் என் மக்களைக் கையேந்தவைத்த கயமைக்குப் பொறுப்பு ஏற்பார்களா?
.
.இப்படிக்கு உங்கள் தோழி Divya Devi Follow Me

 

[V.Balasubramani]

Now, Vastra Bhagya for BPL families?

If all goes well, the State government will offer free clothes under one more of its ‘Bhagya’ series of schemes. It will go by the name of ‘Vastra Bhagya’, and will be for below poverty line (BPL) families in the next fiscal (2016-17).

Clothes would be given either free of cost or at subsidised prices during two or three major festivals. Minister for Textiles Baburao Chinchansur on Thursday said the department proposes to provide free dhotis and shirt or shirt piece for men, and sari and blouse piece for women.

The Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh governments have been distributing clothes to BPL families free of cost on festival days.
The State will study their models and implement them, he said.

The estimated cost of the scheme is Rs. 100 crore.

The Vastra Bhagya would be given during major festivals such as Ugadi, Ganesha or Ayudha Pooja. All clothes will be purchased from State weavers.

There are 1.25 lakh power-looms in the State and 10,000 weavers’ societies.

The Congress government has so far implemented Anna Bhagya, Ksheera Bhagya, Pashu Bhagya and Krishi Bhagya and Arogya Bhagya schemes to BPL and APL families in the State.

Read more at: http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/now-vastra-bhagya-for-bpl-families/article7307633.ece

 

[sangom]

The indian people have lived for generations ( if not millennia) under an alms- receiving mentality only. Even most of our prayers ask god to pbestow us with fish and not for fishing kits or rods! Personally I know many middle- and lower middle- class tabra families who have
truly benefited from the freebies like cycle, lap- top, tv etc. I therefore feel that giving such freebies may not be a completely evil step.

 

[V.Balasubramani]

Sangom Ji,

It is TASMAC’s revenue that supports for distribution of freebies to the general public of Tamil Nadu to some extent.

Now the Tamil Nadu Government’s move to TASMAC staff to go for aggressive marketing by fixing targets during festive season in order to augment its revenue is not an evil step?

TASMAC is Tamil Nadu Government's cash cow.

 

[vgane]

Dear Balu Sir,Do you think TASMAC shops that sell liquor can be banned..It is not a new habit...It has been there for several millennia..You cannot overnight ban it...It will have its repurcussions...Only some restrictions can be enforced

 

[V.Balasubramani]

Dear Balu Sir,Do you think TASMAC shops that sell liquor can be banned..It is not a new habit...It has been there for several millennia..You cannot overnight ban it...It will have its repurcussions...Only some restrictions can be enforced

vganesh Ji,

In Tamil Nadu, ‘Prohibition’ was lifted from 1983 onwards.

In fact, Tamil Nadu State has a long history of enforcement of prohibition?

It was enforced and lifted for a brief period earlier too.

While few other States can implement ‘Prohibition’, why not Tamil Nadu that is my question?

All that is required is good Leaders who have more concern for wellbeing of the society?.

Well, it can be done in phased manner like Kerala for example?

But here in Tamil Nadu , there is no slight sign of imposing any restriction in phased manner, but on the contrary, all out efforts are taken to boost sales of TASMAC products.

Where are we heading by introducing such evil habit to the young generation?

Even in TASMAC there is 'corruption' reported.

If time permits please go through this link.
Tamil Nadu's 'corrupt' cash cow TASMAC: How politics & liquor came to form a potent mix in the state

http://articles.economictimes.india...940995_1_tasmac-illicit-liquor-quality-liquor