Mumbai: Infosys co-founder NR Narayana Murthy has condemned the practice of political parties offering freebies to win elections, stating that such handouts do not contribute to poverty reduction.
Murthy emphasized that job creation, not freebies, is key to eliminating poverty in India.
Murthy warned that no country has ever successfully eradicated poverty through free giveaways, urging a closer look at whether these handouts lead to meaningful outcomes. He suggested that any benefits should be paired with incentives or conditions to encourage positive actions.
Using the example of free electricity up to 200 units per month, Murthy proposed that governments conduct random surveys after six months to measure the impact, such as whether children’s study time has increased or if parents are more engaged in their children’s education.
While acknowledging his limited knowledge of politics, Murthy offered these recommendations from a policy perspective.
