In India, even the poorest members of society—people who sometimes struggle just to secure two meals a day—still pay taxes. Whether they realize it or not, every person contributes to the government’s revenue through GST, fuel tax, road tax, tolls, excise duties, and countless other hidden charges. Even a poor daily wage worker buying a packet of biscuits is contributing to the national exchequer. The irony is that those who contribute the most, in proportion to their income, often receive the least in return.
To understand the present, it helps to remember the past. Under the British Raj, Indian peasants paid “lagaan”—heavy land taxes extracted ruthlessly. Even earlier, during kingdoms and empires, ordinary people paid taxes in the form of grain, crops, or labor. In every era, the masses paid, and the rulers enjoyed. There was no question of equality, no access to fair governance, and certainly no expectation that common people could ever match the lifestyle of kings.
Today, India proudly calls itself democratic and independent. Citizens have the right to speak freely, earn as much as they can, and spend as they wish. But one thing hasn’t changed: the heavy burden of taxation. The difference is that now people pay taxes believing they are contributing to nation-building. They imagine that the money they give will help build better roads, better hospitals, better schools, better infrastructure, and a dignified standard of living.
Yet, after paying these heavy taxes—often 30–50% of their income in direct and indirect forms—what do citizens get? Far less than expected. Public hospitals remain understaffed, government schools remain poorly funded, roads remain broken, public transport remains unreliable, and essential services struggle with inefficiency.
And this leads to the biggest question of all:
If people are paying so much, where is the money going? Who takes the credit for it? Who are the real “creditjibis”?
India’s Tax Reality: The People Pay, the Rulers Take the Credit
India’s population is approximately 1.4 billion. Even if only a fraction of them pay direct income tax, every citizen contributes indirectly through consumption. GST alone brings in roughly ₹20–25 lakh crore every year. Combined with other taxes, India’s total annual public revenue is far higher—comparable to or even larger than the GDP of many European nations.
With such enormous revenue, one would expect that India would easily be able to provide:
- world-class hospitals,
- world-class education,
- efficient public transport,
- reliable water supply,
- clean cities,
- and a decent standard of living.
Instead, what we often see is that public money gets diverted towards political, not public, priorities.
India’s welfare schemes, development programs, and subsidies could indeed improve lives—but the problem lies in how they are presented. Instead of being described as public initiatives funded by taxpayers, they are branded as personal gifts of political leaders.
This brings us to the modern phenomenon of credit seekers—the “creditjibis.”
The Creditjibi Culture: Schemes Named After Politicians, Not Citizens
Look around and observe carefully. Every welfare scheme launched in India is branded not as a national effort but as the personal generosity of a Chief Minister or Prime Minister.
- “CM Health Scheme”
- “CM Food Initiative”
- “CM Free Laptop Scheme”
- “PM Awas Yojana”
- “PM Kisan Samman Nidhi”
- “PM Shram Yogi Pension Scheme”
These names imply that the political leaders are paying from their own pockets. In reality:
Every rupee is taxpayers’ money.
Every scheme is funded by the public.
Every benefit comes from the people’s hard work, not from the rulers’ generosity.
Yet the government projects these schemes as evidence of their personal benevolence. They inaugurate these programs as though they are distributing their private wealth. This is the height of credit-seeking politics.
The truth is simple:
The people fund the schemes. The politicians take the credit.
This is classic “creditjibi” behavior.
The Illusion of Generosity: Where Does the Money Really Come From?
Whenever there is a tragedy—such as a road accident, natural disaster, or industrial mishap—politicians immediately announce financial compensation:
- ₹1 lakh for the injured
- ₹5 lakh for the deceased
- ₹10,000 for victims of a flood
- ₹50,000 for those whose homes are damaged
People thank the politicians. The media praises them. But no one asks the fundamental question:
From where does this money come?
The politician does not pay from his own salary. He does not sell his assets. He does not take a personal loan.
The money comes from the treasury, which is funded by the same public who is mourning the victims.
So why does the politician become the hero?
Because the whole system is designed to make the people forget that it is their own money returning to them in tiny fragments—but credited to someone else.
This is not generosity.
This is rebranding of public resources as political kindness.
The Most Dangerous Freebies: Burdening Billions to Please a Few
Before elections, political parties compete in offering “freebies”:
- Free electricity
- Free gas connections
- Free cycles
- Free scooters
- Free laptops
- Free monthly cash deposits
- Free ration for years
- Free bus rides
- Free TV sets
But nothing in this world is truly free. Someone pays for it. And that someone is:
- every taxpayer,
- every working citizen,
- every honest contributor to society,
- every future generation who will inherit the debt.
Freebies are not magical gifts; they are redistributed taxation. Politicians spend these massive amounts to buy votes. But the bill is paid by the entire nation.
It is like taking money from a large group of people and giving it to a smaller group just before elections—then demanding gratitude.
This is not democracy.
This is manipulation.
A responsible government should:
- create jobs,
- build industries,
- improve skills,
- provide quality facilities,
- raise incomes,
—not simply distribute small amounts of money in the short term.
Because when freebies become the norm:
Billions of taxpayers are burdened to pacify a few voters.
“Creditjibism” in Indian Politics
Why does this happen?
Because Indian politics is built on credit-seeking.
Every leader wants to attach their name to every scheme, every road, every bridge, every building, every welfare program. They want history to remember them as the givers, the providers, the saviors.
But the truth is:
- They do not pay for the schemes.
- They do not build the infrastructure.
- They do not generate the revenue.
- They do not personally sacrifice for the nation.
The people do.
Politicians simply claim credit for what already belongs to the nation.
This is the culture of creditjibism—where leaders continuously seek personal credit for public-funded initiatives.
Democracy or disguised autocracy?
India calls itself a democracy, but if power is concentrated in individuals rather than distributed among citizens, what kind of democracy is that?
In true democracy:
- Power belongs to the people
- Politicians are temporary servants
- Decision-making is transparent
- Public money is used responsibly
But in India, we see the opposite:
- Politicians behave like kings
- Bureaucrats act like royal advisors
- Public institutions become personal tools
- Taxpayer money becomes political capital
- Welfare schemes become vote-buying strategies
When leaders chase absolute power, when they want their photo, their logo, their message on everything, democracy becomes only a word—not a reality.
If this continues unchecked, India risks sliding gradually into an autocratic model hidden under the mask of elections.
The Taxpayers: The Forgotten Backbone of the Nation
Who truly deserves credit for India’s development?
Not the politicians.
Not the bureaucrats.
Not the credit seekers.
It is the:
- farmers,
- laborers,
- shopkeepers,
- teachers,
- small business owners,
- salaried employees,
- daily wage earners,
- and entrepreneurs
who work day and night and pay taxes honestly.
They are the ones funding:
- schools,
- hospitals,
- railways,
- roads,
- public infrastructure,
- and welfare programs.
But no scheme is named after them.
Imagine if we had:
- People’s Healthcare Scheme
- Citizens’ Education Fund
- Public Development Mission
- Taxpayers’ Welfare Yojana
Instead of schemes branded under a politician’s name.
Wouldn’t that reflect true democracy?
Wouldn’t that honor the real contributors?
The Urgent Need to End Creditjibi Politics
India needs a fundamental shift in political culture. We need a government that:
- stops naming schemes after individuals,
- stops distributing freebies for votes,
- stops misusing taxpayer money for political branding,
- stops projecting public funds as personal generosity,
- and starts acknowledging the people as the true source of national power.
Power should not be concentrated in individuals or families.
It should belong to the citizens.
Politicians should not chase personal glory.
They should serve quietly, responsibly, and respectfully.
If We Continue This Path…
If creditjibi politics continues:
- Democracy will weaken
- Public money will be misused
- Freebies will destroy economic stability
- Politicians will grow more powerful
- The public will grow more dependent
- Future generations will inherit debt
- The nation will stagnate
We must not allow this cycle to continue.
Conclusion: Power Belongs to the Public
India must remember a simple truth:
The nation belongs to the people, not to its politicians.
Taxpayers—not leaders—fund the country.
Citizens—not rulers—hold the real power.
The public—not politicians—deserve credit.
It is time to end “creditjibism.”
It is time to end schemes branded under political names.
It is time to restore democracy to its rightful owners — the citizens of India.
The future will be shaped not by those who seek credit, but by those who seek justice, fairness, accountability, and truth.
If Indians demand transparency and reject credit-based politics, real change will finally begin.
If they continue to worship leaders as givers, the cycle of dependency will never end.
The choice belongs to us.
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