FM for debate on growing freebie culture by several States
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has called for a debate on the growing freebie culture adopted by several States which she felt will not augur well for the country's economy.
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Visakhapatnam Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has called for a debate on the growing freebie culture adopted by several States which she felt will not augur well for the country's economy.
Speaking at the legendary actor and former Chief Minister late N.T. Rama Rao's centenary celebrations organised at GITAM, a deemed to be university here on Friday evening, she said indiscriminate borrowings without proper planning will lead to fiscal discipline and subsequently to a debt trap.
She said if loans are borrowed indiscriminately to implement freebie culture, time will come when further loans have to be obtained to repay the burgeoning interest.
Building trust in people is crucial for good governance. The FM said while delivering NTR memorial lecture on 'Empowerment-Road to Good Governance,' said that" today, the way we have adopted technology is ensuring that benefits reach the common public, one of the goals of good governance has been achieved. Good governance is about looking for instruments with which you are able to implement the objectives."
The FM also invoked the messaging of 'Minimum Government,Maximum Governance', and said there should be adequate presence of a government where required, and no more.
Speaking on the occasion, Jaya Prakash Narayana, founder, Loksatta and former IAS officer said that there is a need to balance between development and welfare. He pointed out that borrowing money and investing on
welfare schemes is an election tactic and governments must utilise that money for infrastructure development. Indian School of Business Dean M.Pillutla said that governance means trying to make the best use of resources, and shepherd the resources in a way that you can get the best possible outcome. Ultimately whether a society chooses to provide opportunities to the poor, vulnerable, is the moral choice.
Among the dignitaries present were Mathukumilli Sri Bharat, President, GITAM (deemed to be university), Symbiosys Technology CEO Naresh Kumar and sons, daughters, daughters-in-law and
grandchildren of NTR. NTR's daughter and BJP leader Daggubati Purandeswari was also present. K. Niveditha, granddaughter of NTR, proposed a vote of thanks. The NTR centenary celebrations concluded with the felicitation of three social workers.
