Don’t call it Free. Call it Smree!!!

joe fernandes
Jul 28, 2017 · 3 min read

Yesterday, i bumped into an old friend Ashok. After the usual pleasantries, he says to me “Congratulations on AAPs new Smree”.

“Huh? Sm..what?” I said, not knowing what he was talking about. He went on. “Don’t tell me you’ve not heard about AAPs latest Smree”.

Seeing that I still looked puzzled, he continued. “Your first notable Smree was in free water. You see, while it was free, it did two other things. First, it incentivised metering. Second it penalised excess consumption. That combination increased both revenues and conservation. This saved much more than the cost of free”

“Yes, yes”, I interrupted him irritatedly. “Of course I know all that. Anyone with common sense would have also realised it. But what’s this Smree that you’re talking about”

Ashok was enjoying my discomfiture. “Before I tell you” says he. “Let me tell you about another one. Mohalla clinics are another Smree”

I decided to stay quiet and let him finish.

“You see” he continued “while Mohalla clinics are free,they’ve brought down the government cost of basic care from ₹ 500, which was the cost in hospitals and expensive health centres to less than ₹ 100 at the clinics. This saved the government a lot more money than the cost of free.” He then continued. “So now do you get Smree”.

I decided to try “Savings and Free? Is that it?”

He grins and said “Good guess. But that’s not it. Smree is Smart Free”. “Smart” he paused. “And Free”

“SMREE….!!” he completes again with a dramatic flourish.

“I get it” I say, getting excited by this enthusiasm. “So what’s the latest Smree?”

“Why?” he says. “It’s simple. It’s free private surgeries.”

Without waiting for me to interrupt, he continued. “You see, while the surgeries are free, they only take place if the government hospital cannot get it done within the next 30 days.”

Now he’s waving one hand around “I bet you that for every free private surgery that’s performed, the government will achieve many more surgeries at no extra cost in those 30 days from their existing hospitals.”

He goes on “And remember that they’re already spending so much money in those existing hospitals. Think about the benefit of getting much more for that money”

“You’re absolutely right” I shout out, getting as excited as he. “It’s an awesome Smree. I love Smrees”

“That’s not all” says Ashok. “Here’s something more. With all of these Smrees, the Indian Dream is not too far away for AAP to deliver.”

By now, I too was caught up in Ashok’s passion.

“Go on, Go on” I said, a little forcefully.

“Well” says Ashok “The American Dream is what the U.S. government achieved for their people in difficult times. A promise to live a good life, save money, and improve the future for their children”

“Ok, Ok.” said I “I got that. But what’s the Indian Dream that AAP can deliver”

“Am so glad you asked” says Ashok gleefully. “What better way than by reducing taxes, that you’ve already achieved, and creating Smrees across water, universal healthcare, education, and other services, than to help the Indian earner save a lot more, and improve the future for their children. And that is the Indian Dream?”

“Oh my goodness” he then says, glancing at his watch. “So sorry, I’ve got to run”

Leaving me with a lot to think about based on what he had shared….On Smrees and Dreams.

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