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B-15 Jyotikalash Society, Ahmedabad. Centre backtracks on MBP

Kashmir Times. Dated: 2/23/2017 2:06:30 PM

Dear Editor,
It refers to central government compelled to restrict The Maternity Benefit Programme (MBP), which was part of Prime Minister' s televised address on New Year's Eve. Since the amount of Rs 2,700 crore set aside for MBP in the Union Budget 2017-2018 was insufficient, the scheme providing rupees 6000 for each pregnant woman has now been revised to cater to the birth of the first child alone rather than the two as earlier planned. Law-abiding tax-paying public had been much critical of the announcement which was not at all necessary.
Policies of providing freebies are in themselves are not proper. Such policies are either for vote-bank politics or for hiding some unpopular steps. It is indeed surprising why and how such an announcement was made at a time India is amongst the countries with problem of increasing population in a country with limited land and resources. Any such freebies at central or state levels should be announced only after getting nod from some non-governmental central agency to avoid political misuse. Goal should be to abolish subsidies and such existing freebies so as to reduce indirect burden in form of avoidable taxes for getting money for such populist political schemes. It is otherwise also improper to make people used to freebies rather than working hard to earn money.
—Madhu Agrawal,
1775 Kucha Lattushah Dariba Delhi.