We see this with electricity subsidies. Power subsidies in Punjab are responsible for wasting water, growing inappropriate crops that necessitate burning of residue and smother Delhi in smog in November every year. Power Finance Corporation, the nodal agency for implementation, used an automated process with online portals to monitor regular payment of bills and identify defaults. Continuous payments required are largely financed by cutting investment, the quality of public services, or shifting problems to future governments. The poor suffer the most and are kept poor since they depend on public services.

Source: The Hindu November 20, 2023 08:53 UTC