Deprecated (16384): The ArrayAccess methods will be removed in 4.0.0.Use getParam(), getData() and getQuery() instead. - /home/brlfuser/public_html/src/Controller/ArtileDetailController.php, line: 150
 You can disable deprecation warnings by setting `Error.errorLevel` to `E_ALL & ~E_USER_DEPRECATED` in your config/app.php. [CORE/src/Core/functions.php, line 311]
Deprecated (16384): The ArrayAccess methods will be removed in 4.0.0.Use getParam(), getData() and getQuery() instead. - /home/brlfuser/public_html/src/Controller/ArtileDetailController.php, line: 151
 You can disable deprecation warnings by setting `Error.errorLevel` to `E_ALL & ~E_USER_DEPRECATED` in your config/app.php. [CORE/src/Core/functions.php, line 311]
Warning (512): Unable to emit headers. Headers sent in file=/home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php line=853 [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 48]
Warning (2): Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php:853) [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 148]
Warning (2): Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php:853) [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 181]
LATEST NEWS UPDATES | EC may allow freebies in manifestos if targeted at weaker sections -Bharti Jain

EC may allow freebies in manifestos if targeted at weaker sections -Bharti Jain

Share this article Share this article
published Published on Aug 19, 2013   modified Modified on Aug 19, 2013
-The Times of India


NEW DELHI: Accepting the argument of political parties that poll promises or "freebies" are related to the Directive Principles of State Policy, the Election Commission is considering a pragmatic set of guidelines that would allow freebies as long as they are targeted at the economically and socially weaker sections, religious minorities, women and populations living in remote, border or insurgency/disaster-hit areas.

Directive principles are broad policy guidelines considered fundamental to governance but which have no legal force.

In other words, across-the-board freebies like mixers, grinders and colour TVs to each household would be curtailed as they tend to benefit even the non-deserving by default.

The view in the EC is that a blanket ban on freebies may not be desirable, given that most parties are in favour of these doles as they help uplift or rehabilitate disadvantaged sections like BPL populations, scheduled castes and tribes, categories of women like single mothers and widows and residents of unrest-prone and disaster-hit areas.

Instead, the proposed guidelines could focus on ensuring that while freebies to the deserving are not held back, the non-deserving should not be included as beneficiaries just for the sake of votes.

The EC is discussing various categories of freebies that may be included in poll manifestos. The "valid" poll promises with financial implications that may be retained in manifestos are:

* Provision of drinking water, road connectivity or setting up schools and hospitals

* Freebies covering BPL families such as Antyodaya Anna Yojana

* Freebies covering people living in remote or border areas. Residents of villages located within 60 km from the international border could be considered valid beneficiaries. Special action plans for infrastructure development in Naxal belt of Chhattisgarh may be allowed

* Special action plans relating to rehabilitation of single mothers, widows and families hit by natural disasters

* Special benefits meant for weaker sections like SCs/STs and minorities may be dovetailed in line with Directive Principles of State Policy.

"A poll promise with financial implications that seeks to rehabilitate the disadvantaged sections is a freebie in line with Directive Principles of State Policy. However, across-the-board freebies do not distinguish between the deserving and non-deserving and are possibly aimed at only maximizing votes," a Nirvachan Sadan official said.

The EC had, after being directed by the Supreme Court last month to frame guidelines to regulate poll freebies, chaired an all-party meeting on August 12 to elicit views. Almost all parties, barring the BSP, opposed curbs on poll manifestos, saying it was the parties' prerogative to outline policy initiatives and programmes and that neither the courts nor the EC could intervene in the matter.

The EC has sought written views of all recognized national and state parties by Monday before finalizing its guidelines for poll manifestos.


The Times of India, 19 August, 2013, http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/EC-may-allow-freebies-in-manifestos-if-targeted-at-weaker-sections/articleshow/21906532.cms


Related Articles

 

Write Comments

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*

Video Archives

Archives

share on Facebook
Twitter
RSS
Feedback
Read Later

Contact Form

Please enter security code
      Close