Party Time Post Election, Who’s Paying the Bill?

Within hours of taking oath and assuming the office of chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, Akhilesh Yadav on Thursday rolled out a hamper of gifts for the youth and Muslims of UP. The TWO together are stated and understood to be the factors behind Samajwadi Party’s clean sweep in the recently concluded UP state assembly elections.

Among other sops, the ‘pack of gifts’ has laptops and tablets for young students, unemployment doles for the middle-aged unemployed and a special grant for Muslim girls, which is estimated to cost the state exchequer about Rs 22,000 crores over the next five years.

One important question that still remains unanswered is “Where will the money come from?” Moreover, “how good will it be?” the government spoon feeding youth. That’s apparently like killing the zeal and strength of youth for struggle. Similar wrongs have pushed the one time mega economies of the world towards disaster. Generation of opportunities is always advisable than a pampering support.

Briefing media at the end of the meeting that finalized the ‘Youth Gift Package’, UP Chief Secretary Anoop Misra said, "All students seeking admission to class XI after clearing high school or the equivalent level from other streams including the Madrasa would be entitled to a tablet computer. Likewise, those clearing Class XII would be given laptops."

According to Misra, "About 25 lakh students were estimated to benefit under each of the two categories every year, costing about Rs 3,000 crores to the state exchequer."

Unemployment allowance, which was given much prominence in the Samajwadi Party election manifesto, will go to those above 35 years of age.

Pertinent to mention here, since the very day of announcement of results in UP, millions of youth have been thronging employment exchanges across the length and breadth of the state trying to get themselves enrolled for the same allowance.

According to him, "About 9 lakh beneficiaries were already listed under the scheme, requiring an annual financial outlay of about Rs 1,100 crores."

" The state government has also decided to give a special incentive of Rs 30,000 to every Muslim girl who passes Class X and goes for further education," Misra said. The decision would benefit about 1 lakh girls and would put a burden of about Rs 300 crore on the state exchequer.

While all political parties claimed to attract young voters in Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, the results proved that the youth were with the Samajwadi Party.

Earlier in an interview, Akhilesh Yadav had said, “Unemployment is the big challenge before us; the problem is so deep and pervasive. I had never expected the huge turnout of youth to get registered with the employment exchange.”

“Whatever the enormity of the problem of unemployment, come what may, my government will fulfill the promise made in the party manifesto,” he said.

Not many expected that the decently educated and apparently wise enough young politician would actually resort to such spoon feeding measures. Leadership is very similar to parenting. Kids may crave for and be glad to have that lot of candies but we know it well how good the candies are in the long run. Father of three - Akhilesh - is expected to remember the same.

Obama too promised relief for youth of America facing acute shortage of employment opportunities. But he opted to carve out the opportunities instead of distributing relief. That’s what vision – a macro level one – is all about. Indian politicians need to take some cues for sure. That’s where the difference lies. 

Where will the government generate this money to feed people? It will obviously come from more taxes and levies imposed on the same society. That’ll lead to inflation and that ways the entire system falls in trap of a vicious cycle.

Being populist is obviously required in any and every democratic system but maintaining a balance is the tight rope walk that leaders need to take. Our leaders should take cues from other side of the globe. If what Akhilesh is doing would have been absolutely right, Obama could have done much more extensively as they have undoubtedly have resources way beyond our imagination.

Its high time Young leaders! Don’t repeat the mistakes predecessors have and pushed the state of affairs to where we are. Do tighten your belt and put the best foot forward; which in immediate terms may not appease all or many but will reap benefits bigger and better in the long run. That’s what leadership is all about.