Minister Dharmana Prasada Rao is a senior politician and with reasonably good oratory skills. However, of late, the minister has been running into controversies and people are wondering if he is in his senses. Recently, he spoke to the beneficiaries of Aasara pension scheme.

The minister said that it was not fair on the part of the beneficiaries to enjoy the fruits of various welfare schemes being implemented and at the same time, criticizing the YCP government. He said that there was no point in the argument “Is Chief Minister Jagan Reddy spending money from his pocket for the schemes?” He claimed that their government had been able to cut down corruption due to the direct benefit transfer mode of payment. “It is for the beneficiaries to decide if the schemes should continue or not. You have to take a decision,” he said.

Dharmana missed the point that there is no rule insisting that the beneficiaries should not criticize the welfare programmes through which they are benefiting. It is true that Jagan is also not pulling out currency from his pocket and spending it, he is implementing the schemes with the money accumulated through taxes. Every government – be it Chandrababu Naidu, Jagan or the Congress, does the same. Dharmana seems to have forgotten this point while making this statement.

The main issue that needs focus should be – Are the funds allocated for the schemes really reaching the beneficiaries?

There is no rule that all the beneficiaries benefiting from the schemes should vote to the ruling party. It is the government which keeps implementing the welfare schemes constantly but not the political parties.

One other point that needs attention is the people did not ask for implementation of the welfare schemes. It is the political leaders who have introduced these free schemes for their own benefit and vested interests. It is the same schemes that have become a huge burden to the government. Neither can the governments be bailed out of this burden nor will the people be ready to do away with the habit of taking the benefits of these schemes.

Hence, there is no point in the minister’s argument that the beneficiaries should vote for the political parties implementing the welfare schemes.

Tags Dharmana Prasada Rao

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