Exploring Perceptions and implications: Freebie Culture, Government Guarantees, and their Long-Term Impact on Development and Welfare in Karnataka

The culture of freebies is nothing new. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru won the first Lok Sabhaelections in 1952 with a sizable majority. The practice of political parties offering free rationsand midday meals in schools to entice votes began in the 1960s. Later, in the 1980s, the partiespledged to offer free televisions, sarees, Chapple’s, and other items to entice voters duringelections. These days, political parties have made promises to provide five guarantees namelyfree bus travel for women (Sakthi), free rice distribution (Anna Bhagya), 200 units of freeelectricity (Gruha Jyothi), Rs. 2000 per month to women (Gruha Laxmi), and Youth fund forunemployed graduate’s (Yuva Nidhi). In this project proposal, we will discuss Freebies inKarnataka and Siddaramaiah, the burden on state finance, how freebies are affecting economic,growth of India.