NR Narayana Murthy Discusses the Impact of Freebies on Poverty and Job Creation
Amid the ongoing debate on free facilities being provided by political parties to win elections, Infosys co-founder NR Narayana Murthy stated on March 12 that it is not freebies but job creation that will help eliminate poverty in the country. Speaking at an event in Mumbai, Murthy said that if entrepreneurs can establish innovative enterprises, poverty will vanish like morning dew. Addressing a group of entrepreneurs, the 78-year-old billionaire businessman said, "I have no doubt that each one of you will create millions of jobs and in that way, you will solve the problem of poverty. You cannot solve the problem of poverty by giving free things; no country has succeeded in doing so."
Murthy, who sparked a debate last year by suggesting that youth should be ready to work 70 hours a week, stated that while he does not know much about politics or governance, he has made some recommendations from a policy perspective. He suggested that in exchange for providing benefits, incentives or other measures should be sought. Murthy gave the example of free electricity of up to 200 units per month and said that the state could conduct random surveys in such households after six months to check whether the children are studying more or whether the parents' interest in the children has increased.
The Supreme Court had also criticized the practice of political parties promising free gifts ahead of elections. During a hearing last month, the top court remarked that people are not willing to work because they are receiving free ration and money. A bench of Justices BR Gavai and Augustine George Masih asked, "Instead of making them a part of the mainstream of society by contributing to the development of the nation, are we not creating a class of parasites?" The bench said, "Unfortunately, these free schemes like 'girl sister' and others, announced just before elections, are making people unwilling to work." While hearing a case related to the right to shelter for homeless people in urban areas, the court said that people are receiving free ration and money without working. The bench further stated, "Would it not be better to make them a part of the mainstream of society and allow them to contribute to the development of the nation?"
India, the world's most populous country, allegedly provides food to over 800 million people through monthly cash transfers.
