Goemkarponn desk
PONDA:
As 2022 Elections draw closer, the Poltical Parties in Goa started announcing freebies, luring the common to vote for their party.
At least three political parties, the Bharatiya Janat Party (BJP), the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Goa Forward Party (GFP), have so far shown the carrot to the voters.
However, as we know, Goans are literate, and many feel these freebies are unwanted.
“The announcements are impossible to implement,” people opine.
Moreover, they say, it will only overburden the taxpayer.
“Why should a rich or Government employee get free electricity and free water?” they asked.
Voters say there is nothing called free, and it is just a gimmick to win the election.
“If Government starts providing one commodity free it will increase the taxes on other commodities to recover the cost of freebies. Finally, the poor will have to pay more taxes for free electricity to rich and Government employees. The free power, water should be only to weaker sections,” voters say.
Instead, today’s voters demand that political parties promise to eliminate corruption and offer services and commodities at reasonable rates and freebies to only weaker sections.
Wise voters suggest that they do not expect freebies.
“Freebies are not possible for debt-ridden governments. Political parties should promise to eliminate corruption,” say voters.
Rocky Dias, Sandeep Parkar at Khandepar, Sandesh Naik at Marcaim, Subash Kerkar at Curti, Sintia Giri at Usgao and Viraj Sapre at Ponda City gave their views on freebies to Goemkarponn.
They said instead they should check whether people are getting a regular water supply, electricity. Political parties should not fool them.
“Fookat Nakach. Who demanded free.? Instead, we want the Government to give us good roads conditions that are in the worst shape in Goa,” they said.
They said that Government needs revenue to run operations of various facilities.
“Political parties wishing to provide good governance should promise to eliminate corruption. If corruption is stopped, then Government would provide services at affordable rates. If freebies are offered wealthy would benefit, and the poor will suffer. Political parties should offer services and commodities at reasonable rates and freebies to only weaker sections,” they said.
Finally, they say, there is no application of mind in declaring those schemes nor plans how the money would come to clear those schemes. “Rich would benefit from freebies, and Aam Admi would suffer from it. We have seen how petrol prices were offered to keep stable at Rs 60 by former CM Parrikar; however, now those reached to Rs 100 and what if they hike it at Rs 125 to 150 to recover the freebies or what about prices of pulses, edible oil etc. increased. The common man would not afford to buy them,” they said.
People want Govt to bring down inflation,
reduce petrol, diesel, gas prices
Voters in Goa say that if any party wants to provide freebies, it has to be on petrol, diesel and Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG).
“The cost of petrol, diesel and LPG is going beyond the reach of the common man. Why is no party talking on these issues?” voters asked.
Goans say it is becoming difficult to even cook with rising LPG prices.
“If the trend continues, it won’t be long before people start using kerosene stoves and woodfire for cooking,” they said.
Voters say this Government has no money to pay the salaries of employees and takes loans every month. If it starts providing freebies to govt employees and the rich, it will be a burden for and poor.
Voters say Government servants get Dearness Allowances; what about the common man?
The government employees have got benefits from the Seventh Pay Commission; hence why should they get freebies? They ask.
“If freebies have to offer, it should be provided to weaker sections like SC, ST, OBC and economically poor people. If rich are offered free electricity, water, then Government would hike taxes on other commodities,” they said