Good or Populist?

VERY recently in one of the current affairs magazine I came across an advertisement of the Karunanidhi Government. It was celebrating its completion of one year in governance. The advertisement was titled 'Eventful one Year..Innumerable Achievements.' Obviously a sheet of 'achievements' of the government in the last 12 months followed.



I was taking a quick look at the achievements when an entry in the list caught my eye. It said 'Free color television sets for all needy families.' Needy families? Now how do you define needy families for color television-I dont know; maybe the Karunanidhi Government knows better. Whatever it is, spending a whopping Rs 685 crores of public money on buying color television sets for a 'needy' few in a country where thousands still die every year due to lack of food and clean drinking water seemed er.. not just ridiculous but a blatant disregard for the basic amenities that every citizen in a country has the right to ask from its government.



I wonder whether we have forgotten the basic duties and responsibilies entrusted in a democratic government. I will be not surpised if the next time someone comes up with the 'achievement' of distributing free DVD sets to 'needy' families. After all if you can have a TV set why not a DVD - maximum utilisation of resources, that is what we all want isnt it?

It seems the democratic form of government with all its distinct advantages has its biggest flaw-of trying to be populist. How would you otherwise justify steps such as these taken by succesive governments, always forgetting that there are more important issues: serious and requiring urgent attention that are continuously sidelined while frivolous achievents are drummed about in newspapers and magazines. Its time people in power knew what is governance. Its not a cheap publicity show that they are running, it is a question of life and death, literally, for some. Better take notice and act before its too late.