Pruning subsidies

The NDA may be in a clear majority, but it needs to tread with caution as its responsibility increases twin-fold in the absence of a strong Opposition. Empowering States through trimming subsidies has to be methodical and uniform. There seems to be unusual haste without informed debates. Subsidies cannot be trimmed in one go. While they are meant to reach the poor, their implementation depends on effective monitoring systems put in place that ensure that the deserving get the benefits. Any attempt to change policies should always be done after continuous debate and with a proper understanding of the pros and cons. The government needs to think about the poor and the downtrodden and make sincere efforts to better their lives.

Balasubramaniam Pavani,

Secunderabad