
Economist Arvind Panagariya, who serves as the Chairman of the 16th Finance Commission, cautioned citizens to carefully consider the trade-off between enjoying freebies and investing in essential infrastructure. Following a discussion with key officials in Goa, Panagariya stressed the delicate balance required in allocating funds for development projects while avoiding potential misuse for distributing freebies.
Panagariya expressed concern over the alleged diversion of funds meant for infrastructure towards providing freebies to the public, emphasizing the importance of utilizing allocated funds for their intended purposes. Despite this, he acknowledged that the ultimate decision on fund allocation lies with elected governments and that the Finance Commission cannot directly control state expenditures. The economist underlined the responsibility of voters in making informed choices between prioritizing essential public services like roads, water, and sewerage systems or opting for monetary benefits in their bank accounts.