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Udyamita Vidyapeeth
Human being is a
unique creation of nature. He is end wed with two special characteristics.
One is empathy and the other is creativity. While consumption remains his
primary need, it is not his destiny. His innate feeling of empathy makes
him unhappy if the finds anyone in misery. Similarly, he feels
automatically happy when he finds others relived and content. Because of
these two special traits, he is capable of being a source of happiness for
everyone around him.
To be able to develop these inborn qualities, he needs two things: proper
upbringing and education with compassion. Without these two inputs, he
becomes just as other animals, confined to eating, drinking and act of
reproduction. So, to become humane, he must learn the art of maintaining
balance between his bodily above mentioned two inputs.
Existence of human beings primarily depends on agriculture and industry.
While agriculture provides food for it’s sustenance, industry meets its
other needs. Both these vital requirements of people are wholly dependent
on natural resources. Therefore, maintenance of continuous supply of
natural resources is the primary need of mankind.
Industrialisation
There are four natural resources for obtaining raw materials for
industrial growth:
(1) Agricultural Products
(2) Forest Products
(3) Minerals and
(4) Animal Products.
Industry and technology came into existence basically to ensure
fulfillment of human beings and not for only profit making.
Supply of Natural Resources
Human existence is continuous for all times to come. It means that man
needs an uninterrupted supply of natural resources should be used with
utmost care.
These natural resources are of two kinds. One is renewable and the other
is non-renewable are essentially minerals. While planning development and
extension of industries and technology are creating disparities. The whole
world is divided into three board categories. Some of them are highly
developed, others are developing and the rest are un-developed. Thus the
present trend of industrialization has become a disintegrating process,
creating disparities amongst the nations of the world.
This macro-level situation in the world is equally visible in the
micro-level scene within every country. In our own country, such regional
disparities, as mentioned above, are quite on the rise.
One cannot account for these disparities on the basis that natural
resources are lacking. In fact, one cannot conceive of a region which does
not have any worthwhile natural resources. Still, if it is happening it is
because of inhuman attitude of the persons at the helm of affairs.
It is this inhuman attitude of leadership of all kinds which is at the
root of all imbalances growing everywhere. In spite of the 'so-called'
planned development of last fifty years, disparities, unemployment and
poverty are growing unabated. But, if ever the humane outlook comes to
prevail, the situation will change automatically.
Even among the countries which today are at the peak of industrial and
technological development, all these problems have taken deep roots due to
their rapacious and demoniac tendencies. For example, the problem of
pollution has already assumed dangerous proportions.
Whereas the development countries should have tried to find out suicidal
alternatives to the prevailing problematic industrial patterns, They
somehow are continuing to compete with one another for achieving more and
more wealth, adding fuel to the fire.
Our Responsibility
To imitate or adopt the same pattern recklessly will prove suicidal for
the newly-independent countries. We shall have to find out our own
alternative models of industrialisation is to serve the people through its
quality production and not to earn more and more profits only.
Humaneness
An inborn special quality of all human beings is to practice compassion
and empathy. This very specialty alone shall lead us to achieving
co-existence, which is essential for every human being. In nature-animals,
birds, rivers, mountains, forests etc. which means countless animate and
inanimate creations of nature have been living in harmony from time
immemorial. Man is just one of them. All that exists in the universe
stands basically in complementary relationship with one another. To imbibe
the spirit of complementarily is the cardinal need of mankind. Therefore,
even for his own existence and comfort he should not become harmful for
others. On the contrary, he should bring into practice both compassion and
creativity for the good of all. That alone will encourage him to find out
alternative pattern of industrial and technological advancement.
Social Obligation
Togetherness is basic need of human beings. He lives as a part of the
family just as the family find its secured life being a part of the
society. Hence, he is an inseparable part of the society. Villages, towns,
cities and the countries are the manifestations of this togetherness of
human beings. However, villages alone abound in and natural phenomenon.
But the cities are prone to be artificial. They lack natural environment.
Even the trees and plants in the cities have to be pruned to be able to
suit the artificial life style of cities.
Rural Development
Villagers are fed and maintained mostly on agricultural produce. Even the
population of the cities depends on the villagers for the basic need of
their food. So, the development of real India must get the top priority.
Large-scale industrialisation has become the order of the day. So wherever
modern and capital intensive industries come up, they take the shape of a
city. However, their production and prosperity depends on supply of raw
materials coming only from rural areas. Consequently, the available in and
around villages only. Therefore, to ignore the development of villages
goes against the growth of industrialisation ultimately.
Humanistic Pattern
This reality should make it clear that it is far from desirable to
concentrate industries in some particular areas of the country. It is
essential to spread the production of finished goods on an extensive basis
where the raw materials are available. The objective of industrialisation
is two-fold. One is to provide required finished goods to meet the needs
of the people in general and two, to provide employment to all able-bodied
men and women. Our population lives mostly in villages. The above two
objectives can be realised only if we decentrialise the industrialisation.
It becomes cheaper and more convenient if the production centers are
nearer the place where the raw material is available. The smaller the
production units, the more are the persons employed. In addition, the
production of raw materials itself gets due incentive and this leads to
prosperity of the region. This will in turn reduce regional disparities.
This will slide discourage migration of youths to cities, automatically
stopping the spread of slums. Not just that. This will definitely make the
villages and cities more complementary to one another. Besides, this will
reduce the prevailing socio-economic tensions and create harmony,
essential for growth.
Illusion of Progress
Now a days, in the name of technological advancement, a race is on, in the
direction of automation. Manpower is being increasingly replaced by
refortification. The unemployment problem has become wholly unmanageable
as a result of the 'socio-called' progress of technology. Increasing
disparity is the consequence. If this very direction of industrial and
technological progress is continued, human existence would be gravely
imperiled.
Welfare of All
For the welfare of the entire humanity, we shall have to change the
prevailing direction of industrialisation and the role of technology.
Welfare of the entire humanity must be the goal o0f all human efforts.
Otherwise, this magnificent edifice of humanity will crumble down.
Consumption is the primary need of every human being. Therefore, able
bodies men and women should engage themselves in one or the other
productive activity. A minimum number of people should be engaged in the
service sector, lest the balance between production and consumption gets
disturbed. Above arrangement is a must to accomplish the welfare of each
and every individual
Chitrakoot
To evolve a suitable pattern of industrialisation, Deendayal Research
Institute has chosen Chitrakoot as its centre for experimentation. It is a
small township in satna district of Madhya Pradesh, bordering Uttar
Pradesh. It was this very spot which was sanctified by Lord Rama's noble
venture of accepting 'vanavasa'. The entire area around it is extremely
backward, poor and neglected. It abounds in mountains and jungles. Tribals
form quite a chunk of its population.
This tiny town is situated on the picturesque banks of the Mandakini
river. Since this place is hallowed by the sacred memories of Lord Ram, it
attracts near about two lakes of pilgrims every month on the Amavasya
(night of no moon) day. On the day of Somwati Amavasya the number of
pilgrims exceed one million and on the day of Deepawali (Festival of
lamps) more than two and half million pilgrims congregate to offer
township of Chitrakoot is so popular that every month visited by thousands
of colorful groups of different hues with deep devotion.
Udyamita Vidyapeeth
Making the sacred Chitrakoot as its pivotal point; Deendayal Research
Institute has adopted an area falling within 50 kms radius around it to be
the laboratory in order to evolve an alternative pattern of
industrialisation to ensure prosperity for all.
The Institute has selected one hundred clusters of villages consisting of
approximately five thousand population of each cluster. Thus, the whole
project will cover around 5 lakes of population around Chitrakoot. Its
objective is to develop every family of the area as a self-reliant and
prosperous unit. With the help of agriculture and cottage industries no
family shall remain poor. No able-bodies person of any family shall remain
without gainful self-employment. Gradually the disparity between the high
and low diminish. Complementarily amongst the people will be a reality.
This training centre will impart industrial and management training to
every young man and women of the area. No educational qualification is
required to receive this training. Training courses are designed for the
duration of four, six and twelve months. Only one condition binds a
trainee, which is, to select a place in the area where he or she has to
start his or her own unit of production. Adequate arrangements are there
to provide them necessary know-how before they launch upon their activity.
The capital required to start such industrial units shall be made
available by Banks. Government departments also provide financial
assistance in the form of subsides. An outfit is also being created to
sell the extra finished goods outside the area of production by providing
training to another set of local youth. Priority is given to meet the
local needs of the people.
Unfortunately, till date no attention has been paid to transfer the extra
agricultural produce available locally into saleable forms to meet
requirements of the small farmers. As a result, multinational companies
are taking advantage of this lacuna. Many kinds of valuable fruits, herbs
and other raw materials are available in the Chitrakoot Jungles. If the
backward men and women of this area are trained guided for the utilization
of all these natural resources into finished products, the economic
condition of all poor and backward people can be improved considerably.
These are also many useful cattle found in this area. But over the
centuries no worthwhile development of the available cattle wealth has
been utilized in the direction of prosperity. If the cattle wealth is
scientifically developed and properly utilised the prosperity of the
people and the area can be ensured. Deendayal Research Institute has
already started working in this direction.
This whole region is hilly, beautiful and productive but completely
neglected. Hundreds of acres of land is lying barren, but no effort is
being made to make it productive. Many people rear goats and sheep. But
the wool produced here is being taken away by the traders for nominal
price. Based on the population of goats and sheep, it is possible to start
carpet-making as sufficient wool is locally available. But nobody has paid
any attention to this aspect till date.
Plan of Action
(1)
In the area falling within 50 kms radius of Chitrakoot, 100 clusters of
villages, as described earlier, have been selected. Out of these, the work
is going on in twenty one clusters in a planned manner. Both men and women
can be engaged in the industrial activity as their number in the
opportunity for women. For a prosperous family life, it is impartetive
that in the present times women are also trained in professional skills
leading to the setting up of their own cottage industrial units. Deendayal
Research Institute has adopted a novel method to attain this goal. Every
cluster of villages husband and wife team. Accordingly, twenty one such
couples were selected on 20.3.96. Both the husband and wife are graduates.
By the end of 1999, all the 100 clusters of villages shall have such
dedicated husband and wife teams. They have been named the architect
couples of restructuring the society according to the present times on the
basis of our eternal values of life. They are being trained for the job by
the Institute.
(2)
These couples are collecting the following information in respect of
different traditional trades and industries:-
(a)
Which were the traditional industries in the area?
(b) To run these traditional industries from where was the raw
material procured?
(c) Through which agency were the finished products sold?
(d) Whether the industries were run by family units or collectively
by the villagers?
(e) What was the proportion of men and women engaged in these
units?
(f) When and why did these units become defunct?
(g) What are the present members of these artisan families doing to
earn their livelihood?
(3)
In the cluster of villages, a detailed inventory of the available raw
materials, based on agriculture, forestry, mines and animals, is being
prepared. Information is also being collected as to how much and in which
season this raw material is available.
(4)
A study is undertaken extensively to find out as to what steps should be
taken to increase the production of such raw materials. Evidently, the
quantity in which the raw materials will be produced in the achieved. The
local people are being encouraged in this direction. As a result, there
will be an increase in the supply of raw materials. It will also be
assessed as to what kinds of nontraditional raw materials can be produced
in this area. This possibility will also add to local prosperity.
(5)
A survey undertaken to determine the number of men and women between the
age of 18 to 35 years in the population, living in each cluster of
villages. All relevant information relating to their economic status is
being collected. How much monthly income is required to make a family live
in a reasonably happy situation during the present times, will also be
estimated. In cooperation with the local people, a well-deliberated scheme
will be prepared to determine as to what steps can be taken for improving
the monthly income of the families unable to maintain a reasonable
standard of life.
(6)
In the present circumstance and on the local basis, it may not be possible
to increase the income of all concerned to the desired level. Even
otherwise, the goods produced from the local raw materials may not be
enough to meet all the requirements of local population. Hence, a detailed
inventory will be prepared in respect of the goods and their quantities
that are imported during one year from outside into each cluster of
villages to meet the needs of local people.
(7)
An effort is being made to select such items which can be produced on the
local basis by importing raw materials from outside to meet the needs of
local people. Whereas it will provide more employment, it will help to
save the money from going out of the area. All possible efforts shall be
made to ensure that the locally produced goods compare with the imported
goods regarding their quality, aesthetic appeal and cost of production.
(8)
To insist that the technology used for transforming local or imported raw
materials into finished goods should be traditional one, may not be a
practical proposition. Which of the technology should, therefore, be
adopted will be discussed and decided collectively. There can be no
objection to accept even the most modern technology. But due precaution
has to be taken that such a technology when applied locally should not
throw the people out of employment. In addition, it should not create the
problem of pollution.
(9)
There are some essential items which have never been and can never be
manufactured locally. Hence, these will have to be imported. A thorough
survey is being undertaken to determine how many of these items and in
what quantity and at what price, are imported on yearly basis in the area
for the use to local people. It is most essential for the local population
to produce more or at least that much worth of goods which they are
spending on importing them to maintain the economic balance. Otherwise,
the region and its population will fall a prey to indebtedness and
increased poverty and worthwhile life will be impossible. Therefore, a
practical scheme will have to be worked out to determine which items can
be produced by the local people for export in competition with the outside
market.
(10) To accomplish the above tasks, Udyamita Vidyapeeth established at
Chitrakoot, has necessary arrangement to provide all type of industrial
and technological training to the young men and women from all over the
selected one hundred clusters of villages.
(11) Without undertaking effective family planning measures, expected
prosperity may not be achieved. But to make family planning purposeful,
economic condition of every family must first be improved. Therefore, the
tasks of industrial development and extension must be given top priority.
Greed is the Root of Disparity
It is but human to seek and create more and more avenues of happiness. Out
of this nature, man's greed to acquire more and more wealth grows. But
everybody does not able to collect more, men with lesser capacity suffer.
To effectively save people from this kind of tendency taking root among
them, it will be imperative that in addition to economic development, an
effective programme of social and cultural regeneration is implemented
skillfully and effectively to encourage the spirit of empathy and
compassion amongst the families and society. For this, it will be
necessary to develop interesting and effective educational programmes in
cooperation with existing schools suited to the needs of the people of the
area. The Samaj Swasthya Shilpi couples shall always be alive and active
in this direction. The use of audiovisual aids and media can be more
result-oriented in this respect. Deendayal Research Institute has made all
the necessary arrangements to utilize this medium of instructions.
Newly Independent India's immediate task is to reduce economic disparities
and improve the economic condition of the poor and neglected section of
the society. Every able-bodied young man and woman should, therefore, get
gainful self-employment. Pollution end and healthy working and living
environment be made available to one and all. For so long, it has been
only a dream because nobody was interested in doing work at grass roots
level. Deendayal Research Institute has experimented with all the above
mentioned ideas in actual field conditions through small projects for the
last twenty years. On the basis of the experiences gained through the
experiments, we are confident that if implemented on a wider scale, this
project will not only be a model of alternative industrialisation for
rural India
but for many other developing countries.
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