Against all odds

Opinion on the Union cabinet8217;s decision to ban all state lotteries must remain in suspended animation till a host of related aspects are addressed. That lotteries are a social evil is an undisputed fact. Just a look around the office, the tea shop on the corner, the alleyway where the magic numbers are announced would confirm the widespread financial enslavement wrought by this thriving industry as millions sink their meagre earnings in the hope that one day the numbers game will finally swing their way. This hope is often shadowed by more than the odds imposed by probability, what with unscrupulous operators fixing the draw and resorting to a host of shenanigans to get cuts from lucky winners. So, there can be no argument with the cabinet8217;s intent to pass legislation to withdraw the state from this dubious, albeit lucrative, endeavour or to engage state governments in working out a consensus on passing laws in the assemblies to also ban private lotteries.

While the will is laudable, implementation may notbe that easy. Lotteries are a major source of revenue for many states, especially in the Northeast. For instance, the Mizoram government8217;s revenue receipt from lotteries in 1997-98 was Rs 16.08 crore. The Centre says it is considering a scheme to compensate the seven sisters who together stand to lose an estimated Rs 50 crore per annum. But stumbling blocks are not limited to the Northeast; the effect will be palpable across the country. The Kerala government, which gets 20 per cent of its non-tax revenue from lotteries, has already lodged a protest that 250,000 jobs in the state are at stake. Others are sure to follow suit. Yet, even if these snags are successfully tided over and the relevant laws enacted, it would be extremely ironical if underground lottery operators are allowed to move into the space vacated. In that event, not only will precious revenue be gifted to wily dealers, but the social evil will also be exacerbated as even the pretense of regulation will stand shattered. Bans are all very well,but they have to be effectively put into force.

Besides, the malaise runs much deeper; it8217;s not just a matter of a piece of paper with a number stamped on it. A person addicted to trying his luck seeks every avenue available. And there is no shortage of options: the satta bazaar, the bookie network. Crores reportedly change hands everyday on bets ranging from the date of the advent of the monsoon to the margin by which an MLA will win his seat. Then, there is the biggest moneyspinner of all: cricket. Revelations from players provide a glimpse 8212; no doubt, the tip of the iceberg 8212; of the monies involved and the related illegalities: match-fixing, money laundering, etc. And with the World Cup around the corner, it is now boom time for the bookies. So, as the government states its resolve to enforce public morality, it must work out a multi-pronged approach to deal with these rackets. Otherwise, ending one evil will merely give succour to more pernicious ones.