The politics of money
Many in India love to believe that politicians here are “inefficient” and don’t deserve to be paid any salary. But there are others, who feel that the current breed of politicians is the result of poor salaries, before the long awaited hike took place. It is well-known that the corporate sector in India has got the best talent due to the attractive salaries it pays. Now with a steep hike in salaries of MPs, will politics become a viable career option for youngsters? Can fat pay cheques draw them to join politics?
Pukhraj Singh, an estate consultant says, “Yes, it will make a good career option for youngsters. A handsome salary and power together will be a favourable combination. After becoming an MP you won’t only get money, but power as well, which is not possible in well-paying companies.”
Since politicians are public servants elected by voters and are committed to serve the country, they should be given the kind of salary and perks that other public servants get, reasons Rajat Goswami, a filmmaker.
He adds, “Politics has power, money and an opportunity to govern. In a high paying job we may get paid better, but we don’t have a say in policy-making. But here the government listens to what you have to say.”
The prospects of a well-paying job always attract youngsters, even if it means entering politics. “A hike in salaries will definitely lure many to pick politics as a career option, which will provide them good money as well as power. That’s a different thing if power and money corrupts these new breed of young politicians like their predecessors,” explains Akshay Malhotra, a software engineer.
But there are youngsters who beg to differ saying that politics is a mechanism to get things done in a democratic set-up and not a profession. “People don’t enter politics for money as there are many other less elaborate ways to do that. People join politics for power and for a sense of leadership. It is high time we scrapped the shadow of something murky, unclean and corrupt with the word ‘politics’. It is not a profession. It is a way of life. What politicians do for their party is politics and what they get paid for is for ‘law making’ and governing,” says Neha Lahoti, a law student.
Handsome salaries of MPs can be an incentive, but politics should not be considered a profession like law, engineering and medicine. Aashima Malik, a PR executive thinks that though money is important and everybody goes for the best available package, politics is not a game. “If youngsters start joining politics only for money then they would be no different from the already money making drones. But big money may attract youngsters, who earlier aspired to become politicians, but didn’t take the plunge as it was not well-paying enough,” she says.
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