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 | Planning Commission cautions states against doling out freebies -Yogima Seth Sharma

Planning Commission cautions states against doling out freebies -Yogima Seth Sharma

Share this article Share this article
published Published on Jun 27, 2013   modified Modified on Jun 27, 2013
-The Economic Times


NEW DELHI: Before populism spikes in the run-up to the general elections, the Planning Commission has cautioned states against doling out freebies such as free laptops, tablets, and mobiles in the name of development spending and instead asked them to focus on schemes related to infrastructure development.

"This year's message is basically that states must have much more efficient functioning of the inclusiveness scheme. Since a lot of the inclusiveness is impacted by development of the right kind of infrastructure and not just handout schemes, we have insisted that states focus on developing the right kind of infrastructure that can facilitate implementation of important schemes," a senior Planning Commission official told ET.

Citing instances of distribution of free laptops in Tamil Nadu, followed by Gujarat, Rajasthan, Odisha and UP, as well as free mobiles in Orissa, the official said that the issue has been taken up with all the states barring Uttar Pradesh while finalising their annual plans.

The annual plan for Uttar Pradesh, which has been distributing free laptops in the name of internet-based progressive education, will be finalised next month. It would then be handed out a stern message.

Handout schemes are always from the state fund, but the commission in its role in finalising the annual plans of the states has cautioned them about the impact of such schemes on their fiscal deficit. There is a very thin line between development expenditure and such handout schemes.

For instance, distribution of free laptops has a social benefit attached to it and will also benefit companies manufacturing laptops. So the centre or the Planning Commission for that matter cannot and would not like to oppose these schemes upfront but they can always advice the states to focus on inclusive growth.

"Though states agree that the infrastructure development is the need of the hour, some take pride in handout schemes, which are not good," the official added.

Tamil Nadu was the first state to distribute free laptops after AIADMK's J Jayalalithaa was sworn in as the chief minister for the third time in May 2011. The state had earmarked Rs 10,200 crore for distributing 68 lakh laptops in five years.

Seeing the popularity of the scheme, the Pradesh Congress Committee in Gujarat, the Naveen Patnaik government in Odisha and Samajwadi Party announced similar schemes in their election manifesto to woo the youth. Even the Rajasthan Board of Secondary Education earmarked Rs 70 crore for distributing 44,000 laptops to meritorious students across different states.


The Economic Times, 27 June, 2013, http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/policy/planning-commission-cautions-states-against-doling-out-freebies/articleshow/20790247.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