Smartphones for women and 5 freebies Ashok Gehlot is giving out to people in Rajasthan

"Tum maangte maangte thak jaoge...main dete dete nahi thakunga (you'll get tired from asking more and more but I won't get tired giving it to you)," this is what Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has been saying during his rallies these days.

मैं देते-देते नहीं थकूंगा! pic.twitter.com/sJNagUIwY9

— Ashok Gehlot (@ashokgehlot51) June 14, 2023

During its state budget in February 2023, the Rajasthan government had announced many schemes and freebies. This also included the announcement to give smartphones to 1.35 crore women in the state.

However, CM Gehlot on Thursday (June 15) said the state government is considering giving a certain amount to women for the purchase of a smartphone of their choice instead of giving the device.

Giving smartphones to the women is not the only freebie that the state government in last one year. There were many other announcements like this made to woo the people of the state. The 2023 Rajasthan legislative assembly election is scheduled to be held in or before December 2023.

Free emergency care

The Rajasthan government's Right to health (RTH) Bill has led to widespread protests from doctors in the state. Under the proposed law, every resident of the state has the right to get emergency treatment care without the payment of any fee at any healthcare establishment, including private ones.

The government would later reimburse the institutions the cost of emergency healthcare and that of transferring the patient to another institution.

The Bill says that free healthcare services, including drugs, consultation, drugs, diagnostics and emergency transport, will be provided at all public health institutions and select private facilities.

The protesting doctors have also alleged that the Bill, passed on March 21, ignored the amendments that private healthcare stakeholders and doctors had suggested, reported India Today.

Free electricity up to 100 units

Taking a cue from the Delhi government, the Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot on June 1 declared that families will get free electricity for up to 100 units, while a fixed rate for the next 100 units will be provided.   

"The first 100 units of electricity will be given free of cost to families who consume more than 100 units per month. That is, no matter how much the bill comes, they will not have to pay any electricity charge for the first 100 units," he tweeted.

The scheme, which will cover all sections of the people, will come into effect from June 1, the CM said.

महंगाई राहत शिविरों के अवलोकन व जनता से बात करने पर फीडबैक आया कि बिजली बिलों में मिलने वाली स्लैबवार छूट में थोड़ा बदलाव किया जाए.

- मई महीने में बिजली बिलों में आए फ्यूल सरचार्ज को लेकर भी जनता से फीडबैक मिला जिसके आधार पर बड़ा फैसला किया है.
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- 100 यूनिट प्रतिमाह तक बिजली… pic.twitter.com/z27tJRuyaf

— Ashok Gehlot (@ashokgehlot51) May 31, 2023

LPG cylinder at Rs 500 to the poor

In December, CM Gehlot announced a scheme for providing cylinders to the poor in the state at the rate of Rs 500 each. "The state government is continuously taking public welfare decisions to provide maximum relief to the poor. In this direction, the state government is now coming up with a scheme to provide LPG cylinders to the poor at a cheaper rate," Gehlot said

He said under this scheme, those coming under the Below Poverty Line (BPL) will be able to get 12 cylinders in a year at the rate of Rs 500 each.

"With the implementation of the scheme, from April 1, 2023, at the rate of Rs 500 per cylinder, BPL and poor people enrolled for the (central government's) 'Ujjwala' scheme will be able to get 12 cylinders in a year. This will reduce the financial burden on the common man in this era of inflation," the CM tweeted.

योजना लागू होने से 1 अप्रेल, 2023 से 500 रूपए प्रति सिलेंडर की दर से उज्जवला योजना से जुडे़, बीपीएल और गरीब लोगों को वर्ष में 12 सिलेंडर मिल सकेंगे। इससे महंगाई के इस दौर में आमजन पर आर्थिक बोझ कम हो सकेगा।

— Ashok Gehlot (@ashokgehlot51) December 19, 2022

Free scooters for girls from economically weaker sections

The Rajasthan government has said that it will distribute scooters to 30,000 meritorious girl students of the state in order to motivate them to stick to education.

CM Gehlot approved the proposal to increase the number to 30,000 from 20,000 in April. The state government will spend around Rs 390 crore on this in FY24.

Health insurance cover increased to Rs 25,00,000 per family

During the state budget, the Rajasthan government also increased the health insurance cover from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 25 lakh per family in the state.

The government also increased the insurance amount to Rs 10 lakh from Rs 5 lakh in the Mukhyamantri Chiranjeevi Durghatna Bima Yojana (Chief Minister Chiranjeevi Accident Insurance Scheme).

Rajasthan's rising fiscal deficit

The fiscal deficit in Rajasthan has been rising in recent years. In 2021-22, the fiscal deficit was 4.36% of the state's gross state domestic product (GSDP). This is higher than the 3.98% fiscal deficit target set by the government.

However, this hasn't stopped the state government from announcing freebies and welfare schemes.