Gandhi Government woos the voters

Press, 10 September 1984, Page 30

Gandhi Government woos the voters

NZPA-Reuter New Delhi

Four months before national elections are due, in India, Mrs Indira Gandhi’s Governmment has started to shower benefits on Indians. The bonanza affects a wide range of people—from farmers to railway workers, from soldiers to Government clerks. New Delhi’s benevolence is mainly focused on the villages. Official purchase E rices for rice, due to be arvested from October, have been sharply raised and farmers have been told the Government will buy -the last lots to prevent .".distress sales. Railway workers are receiving bonuses, Government staff are getting big increases in inflation-linked „ allowances and India’s one million troops have been offered a package of concessions, including upgrading of ..posts and new promotion ; s ° P 5J rt a Ü broader front, prices of wheat, a staple food, have been cut and edible ‘ piW?re being imported inj , larfp quantities to ease

domestic shortage. The Government has also liberalised imports of colour television sets and said it will open new transmitters to increase television reception areas. The government is also trying to curb inflation by a tough monetarist policy and by supplying essential commodities through the public distribution system. Half of India’s 700 million ©people live below the pov-

erty line and even moderate inflation could influence voters in the election which must be held by January. A record release of more than 1.2 million tonnes of sugar in the last two months from Government stocks has lowered sugar prices. Trade sources said New Delhi had also decided to halt sugar exports this yearto keep prices down. The government has imposed export limits on tea, a big source of foreign exchange, as part of its strategy to contain prices inside the country. But some analysts criticised the concessions for the long-term impact they would have on the economy. The widely read magazine, “India Today,” said in an editorial, “With a few months still to go before the polling date, the trickle (of benefits) will inevitably become a flood . . ~ “Both the opposition and the press must play their role in building a climate of public opinion where the Government finds it difficult to profligate with public funds in distributing preelectiowlargesse.”