The Goa government’s decision to subsidise LPG cylinders raises a simple question: why now? There is nothing wrong with helping families cope with rising cooking-fuel costs. Governments must protect people from economic hardship, especially the poor. But when assistance is extended broadly across income groups just before elections, the line between welfare and political largesse becomes difficult to ignore.
Goa does not have a shortage of money; it has a shortage of priorities. It is also highly indebted. Squandering public money through arbitrary measures without adequate justification exposes the scheme as an afterthought and raises questions about its credibility. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant could have introduced a targeted programme for poor and lower-income households struggling with food, rent, education, healthcare and employment. Instead, a universal or broadly distributed cylinder benefit treats the wealthy and poor alike. That is not social justice; it is misgovernance at its worst.
People do not need charity from their government. They need decent jobs, affordable housing, accessible healthcare, good public education, reliable infrastructure and protection from the commercialisation of the state’s resources. Subsidised cylinders cannot compensate for failures in these areas. Many Goans may also reject the idea of being treated as beneficiaries needing charity. They have worked, paid taxes and contributed to the state for decades. A pre-election handout can feel less like welfare and more like a demand for political gratitude.
The timing matters. If LPG assistance was genuinely needed, why was a targeted scheme not introduced earlier, with savings directed towards healthcare, education, employment and social security? The answer may lie less in economics than electoral arithmetic. But the people are not fools. They may accept a subsidy because it helps their household budget, without forgetting who owed them justice, development and dignity in the first place.
Ranjan Solomon via email
