Farmer's labour: who wants to use it for making profits

In India, the small time  farm markets provide the non-farming people with daily need of green produce(fruits and vegetables). There are many middlemen or small businessmen who procure the farm produce and bring it to markets for selling. Their livelihoods depends on the moving of produce from the farm to the table of the consumers(farm to fork) If a retail chain  take over this market, then the livelihoods of these middlemen are at stake. Right now, the government is trying to make a policy for direct foreign investment for the retail marketing.Foreign Investment in making of retail shops will bring more capital inflow, and make the economy function better. But other politicians have future election in their agenda and want votes of the middlemen/businessmen.The profits in farming sector will be reaped by the retail markets, and the small time businessmen would have lost their businesses if the new policy is allowed. Strong forces are not allowing the implementation of this policy.
We have not thought about how the farmer will benefit. He will be forced to produce more and in keeping up with the rising expectations. He does not have the technology to keep up as industrial mode of production is not here yet. If foreign investment goes into modernising the mode of production, while keeping the farmer’s role as the chief stake holder, we may become successful both ways. But all attention is on the questions of: big retail giants or small time shops? Who wants to profit from the labour of the farmer?who doesn't?The labour of the farmer is a resource which all want to grab for their own selfish benefit(profit).

Pre-industrial farmer in modern post-industrial Era

We moved on to post-industrial era when computer age commenced. And with coming of the mobile phones we move on to post post-industrial ultra modern Era. It is anachronistic to find the farmer tilling the soil with plough and driving a bullock cart to sell his produce. But it is happening here. When rich rural farmers log on to the net (AGMARNET) and see the demand for specific commodities, they purchase the poor farmers produce at very cheap price. The poor farmer cannot farm profitably and gives up. And the difference among the rich and poor rural India widens. Protests come from rural unrest--uprising against SEZ(Special Economic Zone), rail-blocks, road blocks, farmers led or misled by glib politicians, and they go on. No social welfare schemes work out well and address to the needs of the poor farmer from the older civilisation. By giving them rights over their fields, by making proper land records, their plight can be addressed. If he moves to cities, there is no place for an unskilled farmer in urban India. Where will he live?What will he do?These are the issues of the present era--dealing with an old civilisation while modernising. 

Importance of agrarian cooperatives

Rural people cooperate with one another and try to increase their farming areas. In 1981, 26% of cultivated land was held by cooperative farming and in 2004, it had increased to 46%  of all cultivated land. They had some help from cooperative banks. But now, that is mostly replaced by core banking facilities, by the proliferation of post offices and post office accounts, by mobile banking, and by the bank accounting opening schemes (facilitated by UIDAI). Previously, only cooperative banks were there as the source of credit loans for the small farmer;but now there are impersonal sources which give credit but are not aware of the fragility of the farming profession.Farmer should not get sunk in debts from these impersonal organisations.After the 10th five year plan, share of cooperative bank in marginal farmer's source of credit is only 25% than the previous period when it was 62%. The farmer with limited land  struggles to survive, as he is not able to step up production as he can manage only so much given the traditional technology. Unless industrialisation of farming techniques takes place, the precarious state of the farmer will not change. Those who merge their farms with others and are farming very large fields with industrial mode of production,can become successful.We can make appropriate land policies, make quick technology transfers and build the basic infrastructure for making of modern farms. Only then, farming will be profitable for the farmer.Till that is done, we will be paying higher and higher price for our fruits and vegetables.

In today's ultra modern net market, the farmer is caught with old world technology. Alienated in remote areas, the simple people are not aware of today's industrial farming and are totally isolated.We must rescue them and bring  them up to the standards of today's world. 
  

Cooperatives are needed for others also.Not just farmers, but artisans, crafts men, and weavers and so many are living in inaccessible places, and have not come into to the modern world's fold. They can use their creativity in manufacturing products because the era of simple artisans has ended.They should truly inherit the land and also participate in the making of modern India. They are the real Indians--those who have been practising a simple way of life of work and worship, those who symbolically share the harvests of the land, those who are one with the culture and religion of the land.We must help these people to survive and prosper.

Myth of "Common Man"--A Cunning Invention

The myth of the “common man” was invented by the ruling class to appeal  to the cause of the deprived or the poor. To rope in the votes of the deprived people,this convenient and myth was created. The truth is that we Indians never empathised with the ordinary poor man.Ruling class pretends to feel for the predicament of the poor.We did not allow people have any equality in any walks of life and always kept the poor man suppressed. Why was there no equality in India? Because there was always an upper class which wanted to retain its position of direct access to resources and deprive the ordinary people of important resources. In the past, there was a systematic suppression of the less privileged. Today, established aristocracy does does not want to let its power out of its grip. Name sake reforms, propagation of false claims of progress, and inculcation of ideology are ways by which the established class of upper strata of hierarchy maintains itself. But the truth is that power of the people will assert itself even when the upper class aristocracy defines its identity as “the superior people” with its privileged status. Changes will come violently in form of protests. Conservative mindsets have to be changed and new ideas have to be introduced for the established upper classes cannot maintain their statuses permanently. With its strong influence, upper class dominates in the maintenance of the power system—and that is to pay big money to elected persons and other persons in power. When this lucrative nexus of the conservative aristocracy and ruling elite is threatened, they resort to other methods of holding on to their power, for they know how to hold on to their status. There are definite limits to the equalising role of democracy. However we may try, the dominant behaviour of man will manifest itself in some or other form.The myth of the "common man" was their cunning invention to pretend to sympathise with the poor.The myth of the "common man" will work for a while and soon people will know how they are being fooled. We have to constantly to counter check the accumulation of power in hands of the more privileged.Otherwise existence of  governments themselves will be threatened; protests may overthrow them 
Inequality suppresses the free mind. There should there be a free mind and no constraints imposed on the mind, so that we can think about innovations. Indian mindsets will have to change so that they can think. Change can bring out intelligent and talented individuals amongst our population who can contribute to growth of the society, nation and humanity. Why is it that we Indians did not invent anything like the telephone, car, TV, air plane, Internet, or the mobile. We have had always a very large population but had no geniuses; we had forever  suppressed many people by allocating lower statuses by not allowing access to resources. We had always kept our people’s mind in bondage of caste, class  and creed and denied big mass of our population any opportunities to think. People who are in the low status cannot innovate as their thoughts are in day to day exigencies in which they have to survive.Poverty or “denied access to resources” does not allow the full development of the individual. That is why there were no geniuses, no inventors and there was no renaissance. Our older civilisation made sure that we were a docile people; we were vulnerable to foreign invaders (British).And we were prone to become a slave society which British made out of us. Even now, we are a docile timid people and live in a humble manner. This is the mindsets of the masses.And that is why they easily believe in the ruling elites' promises to the non existent "common man". In India we have the super rich and the super poor and there is no 'common man'. 

Winning Trust of people is a truly successful state

The state of Assam has won the trust of its people.The government in Assam is constantly modifying and changing meet  more new exigencies. The concept of people's government--"Raijor Podulit Rajior Sarkar" has worked out very  well here.The elected leaders make sure that the welfare schemes reach the ordinary people.Grievance redressal cells has been made in every government's department and lapses dealt with immediately.Surprise checks are made by leaders visiting government departments to make sure that there is transparency at all levels.The militant groups which had been active for decades are now having talks with the government and resolving all issues. And their problems are heard and solutions are arrived at. People are pacified when their needs are heard.There are fewer crimes and fewer missing people. People can trust police instead of being pushed around by them.Generally all are willing to vote for a government which would reduce crimes like riot, theft and kidnapping but people are not really concerned with overall petty crimes. People also vote for those leaders who can increase the wealth of their state, and be able to make infrastructures like roads.The ordinary people cannot envision larger infrastructural progress but can see only the day to day needs like power and water.  Electricity for all households, proper roads and drinking water are the bare necessities that people expect from their government.That can be delivered easily.When conditions are right, people make a way of living for themselves.Assam's good climate has ensured prosperity to tea estates here.And establishment of good schools has brought out a whole new generation of young people who want to work for the betterment of their state. Many who had studied outside the state also return to make positive changes here in their home state.The new generations love their state and have great empathy for their people.And most noteworthy of all is the fact that they are egalitarian in their outlook.It is this spirit and pride in their state and devoted commitment to their people that has brought success for Assam--the evergreen state of India.May it always be green.It is an ideal state and it would progress further in future India for it has the best and dedicated governance.

Fuel economic growth and development

We import 80% of our petroleum from foreign countries. We have to pay 40% tax on it also And state government levies more tax in addition to central government tax.LPG (used as cooking gas) diesel for tractors, and kerosene were not taxed.Two weeks ago petrol prices were increased by Rs.1.80 per litre. Allowing high fuel prices meant that oil companies charged as much they want and the price rise strangulated the people.The government allowed it. We cannot function without fuel, tractors have to plough,trucks have to deliver goods, people have to go to work, and children must travel by bus to school.We had to buy fuel at higher rate  than international price. The Indian public has been tolerating the raising of fuel prices.In 2011, it was raised six times. 
Government awakened when its future was at stake- questioning of the rise of cost of petrol.When the issue of increasing price of fuel was questioned repeatedly, new ways to deal with the crisis were explored.When there was small reduction of fuel prices in the world market, government passed on the new low price to the  the people. We are now relieved.The three oil companies will meet to make guidelines for reduction process under government's supervision. Government is the chief stake holder in these companies.The government 's oil ministry was noting the exchange rate of the Indian Rupee and bulk rates of crude oil.Brent North sea crude reduced 61 cents to a 113 Dollar barrel,reduced price 23 Cents in a 97 Dollar barrel and Singapore market dropped  to 115 Dollar barrel from 125 Dollar a barrel. This made us realise that our oil companies are making big profits while pretending that there is an international price rise of crude oil. Activities of oil companies have to be constantly checked to see if they are doing correct changes.We have to depoliticise the oil companies and government has to be counter-checked also.Only uniform mindset is the "pretending or show of concern for the common man" for only then votes can be obtained.
Who will pay for the lapses? Always,its the people who pay for mismanagement of the government.Any change in the economy of the world, and the poor class in India are the worst affected.Fuel makes a major part of our incomes(12%); next to expenditure on food.We cannot cut down the cost of transport as we have to travel for work.Although only 1% of India owns cars, one  percent of a big population like ours is a big number. And 5% depend on two wheelers which need fuel too.  
Cost of fuel must be monitored and monopolies must be checked. If economy has to grow and industrialization has to take place basic needs should be fulfilled and fuel has become our basic need.International fuel prices were very low six months ago but we have no facility to store it. Private oil companies dealings have to be tracked. Raising fuel prices and decontrol  of market prices and fooling the public will not be tolerated by the educated public. The politics of petrol price rise would be the cost of progress, making of the infrastructural projects would be delayed and the ordinary people will become more impoverished.This would be the result of faulty fuel policy.

Birth of a Great Saint is celebrated

Today is celebrated as birthday of our saint Guru Nanak Guru Devji. He was the first of the ten Holy Saints in  India, he showed people how to live. Sikhs pray only their Holy Book, "the Granth Sahib Ji".The Sikhs are a courageous people who had mainly lived  in the state of Punjab.Now they have migrated to other parts of India and to other countries.Today,there are 26 million Sikhs all over the world. They firmly believe in equality and unity; they pray together in their "Gurudwara" which is their temple. They celebrate the birth anniversaries of their Holy Saints.And after prayer they share meals at a community dining place called the "langar".Their view of God is different from Hindus. They call their God,"Vahiguru" and their God is represented by their holy book.They believe that God is shapeless, timeless and unseen(no idol worship).The only way to see God is by seeing with the inner eye by deep meditation.That does not mean one has to renounce the world and take up asceticism.The religion  teaches its people the need to live simple life of a householder.One of the Sikh Gurus, Guru Teg Bahadur decided to make his followers  who were 'Sikh',meaning learners, into a community of 'fighters'. In their baptizing ceremony, boys are named as 'Singh' or lions.And girls are given last name as 'Kaur' or princess.They are a brave and valiant people, they had defended India against foreign invaders and saved the timid people of India from cruelty. Even today they show preference to military service. They excel in all fields and show perseverance, skill and hard work in any profession they choose.Their 'Gurubani' or the holy songs are highly inspirational, and elates listener to a higher spiritual sphere. They remember all their ten Gurus and learn from their life stories in their Holy Book.They make their livelihood honestly  and always work very hard to succeed. Long live the Sikhs, may they continue protecting us all as they had through the centuries..

A Growing state with a strong will to succeed

Long ago(3decades back),the 'white revolution', that is production of milk and processing it through a network of cooperatives had started here,in Gujarat.Now there is 'green revolution' as farmers have merged their farmers to make Cooperative Farms which are large and have modernized the mode of production.For some states growth seems very natural, so industrialization comes easy for Gujarat.It has the highest GDP compared to other states and the national average.Gujarat has had double digit growth for several years in a row. But growth or progress is not just measured by wealth, but many other indices: growth in agriculture, education, governance, infrastructure and macro economy. It has most factories, big industries, oil refineries, because the government is attracting industrialists to invest here. 
Gujarat grew and grew.Traders from Gujarat live all over India and world, want to invest in their own state.Gujarati traders who want to invest here and take this opportunity to gain identity in their home state.More than anything else, industries thrive here because there is mass poverty which spells cheap labor force.The poor people are extremely docile,who have to earn daily wages for daily bread; and the industrialists are extremely ambitious business men who can make best use of abundant labor.This combinations is just right for speedy industrialization. The grueling poverty seems like a pre-condition for industrial growth. Industrialization is taking place fast.
Industries are cordially invited.'Maruti-suzuki' had plans to move to Gujarat from Haryana state where there were strikes; 'nano' has set up factory in 14 months here when it took 28 months in West Bengal(where new land policy has driven out 'nano')Physical infrastructure has been delivered by governments as framing of  positive policies, and the governance is excellent. Government can be accessed by anyone on-line, and  any question can be asked.Here,anyone can go meet the leader who was elected.As soon as changes in the IT Act 2000 as new 'Rules framed in 2011' are made, they will be updated here first.To improve efficiency of power in the state 'eUrja' is to be implemented soon.The leaders here are one step ahead ushering in progress.
Urbanization came in leaps and bounds here.Within a span of two decades, villages became towns; and towns into cities.People are very active and the conditions were right for growth.People are tuned to work. Women work from home making small scale cottage industries.Men were active outside-- working and trading.
Few lapses.Education and health are indices in which it lags behind.Gujarat's workforce exhibit weak predisposition, their health has deteriorated as number of anemic cases have become very very high now.But social infrastructure does not indicate progress.Democratic organizations should empower people and raise living standards of all.White revolution still used old mode of technology. In traditional homesteads,women milk the cows  and take the milk to cooperatives' collection centers in pots carrying it on their heads.There are no modern dairy farms with milking machines and tankers. Industrialists here  know how to use toiling women  for making ultra modern milk processing units and packaged milk products. Perfect example of modern methods to exploit masses who are willingly engaging in tasks involving drudgery.Instead of industrializing Dairy farms, they are using the innocent people squeezing them out completely pushing them to the limits of existence.They know how to make perfect network of exploitation. The true success of an effective industrial policy is in modernization of the mode of production with.Wealth and industries do not indicate progress.Collective movement to development is a true growth paradigm, not just growth of one section of society(the rich industrialists only).The new manufacturing policy has plans for new industrial clusters planed for Gujarat, so there is going to be great development in Gujarat;hopefully the simple people's lot will  improve too. To succeed by all means is meritorious, but not at the cost of the weak and poor. The weaker class will have a poor quality of life and shorter life-span but the state will be fully industrialized. We want all to develop and have healthy long life.

Festival for Remembering Sacrifice

Today, "Eid" was celebrated by followers of the Islam. There are 14 million Muslims in India. They had celebrated by going to the 'Eidgah' and mosques for morning prayers. There is peace and serenity in the silent way they pray;and there is unity and discipline in their way of worship together. After prayers, they wish each others 'Eid' greetings and hug to convey feelings of brotherhood. They remembered their prophet who had offered his son to their God. And God asked for a sacred goat instead.They shared their 'Eid' feast with relatives.They make sure to give money for charity. After their prayers the children seek blessing of their elders who give them money to spend at the markets nearby. At a single festival, we can see their feeling of brotherhood among the Muslim people, their spirit of sharing with the poor, their joy of  feasting with relatives, their love for children, and their deep reverence for their prophet in the prayers. Such a joyous festival is the most admirable among all common festivals.They are a peace loving people who value love for family, who value brotherhood, who have empathy for less privileged and who have great reverence for God.
Muslims in India are an integral part of our national life,many are surgeons, many are judges,many are scientists, lecturers artists musicians and so on. In any field they choose,  Muslim people will excel and will reach the top for they are perfect scholars. And they are very honest in any businesses they engage in.And they are devoted artists.They exhibit perfect skills in several professions.
In India, the Islamic people have cohabited the subcontinent with us for one thousand years(since the invasion of the Ghaznavids). Although one of the followers of prophet had come to India and settled in Kerala, Islam had spread later only.We have a common culture which cannot be distinguished(separated) now; Persian words have been incorporated in our language, Hindi. Most of legal terms are Persian; terms for land holding, land revenue are also Persian in origin. Our most enjoyable 'Ghazals',and popular songs are in Persian too. The monuments made by the Muslim kings have added crowning glory to the Indian architecture.Indian cooking has also incorporated Persian delights; our dress was from their culture too('salwar-kameez'). Hindi's most courteous and beautiful words are 'Urdu"(Persian) in origin. So many  many Urdu words convey deep feelings .There is no aspect of our life  that we do not share with our Islamic heritage.We are truly  enriched by Islamic culture in India.

Land of coconut palms:An Example in Super-Industrial Society

The state of Kerala is located in the southern part of India. 'Kera' means coconut which is grown in abundance there.People’s culture determines how they take to development and industrialisation.Government's policies are most transparent in implementation in the state of Kerala.Largest number of bank accounts are here; it is called a ’remittance economy’ as citizens depend on remittances sent by their relatives working outside Kerala. It is ranked as the state with highest media exposure; they have highest number of cell phone contacts, they also have highly used broad-band connections. It has the highest Human Development Index comparable to the developed nations.


Best Education and welfare schemes work here. People of Kerala state are EXTREMELY hard-working; and they know that there is only important goal in life and that is to work to make money and send money to their homes in Kerala. They are highly educated (99% literacy rate). The people of Kerala migrate to all parts of India and the world to work as hard as they can and earn. They work in industries all over the world and have grown industries everywhere.They want their state to be clean of pollution and they have always blocked industrialization here. They do not even allow dams to come up; they had claimed that native species of monkey(simavalan) is an endangered genus and if a dam comes up in its habitat it will become extinct, so the “silent valley” projects became silent long long ago. Now legislation has been made to stop the usage of insecticides with chemicals like “endosulfan” which has harmed the health of the people in rubber plantations. Compensations were paid to the families of the affected. Even industrial farming (using inorganic fertilisers & insecticides) is harmful, affecting the people. Because the people are highly educated and seek the best solutions, their state remains green and the people are content. The welfare schemes have become successful and the poor are provided for basic amenities. Their society is diverse in culture (Hindu-56%, Christian-19%, and Muslim-24%) but they are a congenial people, and who are tolerant and peace loving. Out of living together they have evolved a common culture- the Keralite lifestyle.


The industrial society goes together with the nuclear family (man wife and children) but the Keralites live in a ‘super-industrial’ society as solitary man(and independent women) migrate to where jobs are and earning as long as they can;children also learn to value work, when they grow up leave Kerala to a place of their career destinations. That is how they have shaped their culture keeping up with ‘super industrial’ world. All women pursue careers working very hard; and men earn out side Kerala and talk about their favourite subject-politics(this is only a stereotype). They live all over the world and keep in touch with their culture by reading newspapers in their language and by linking with the media (in their language). And as a people they are united in their yearning(like the salmon fish in sea which returns to its home streams) to return to their home towns for the yearly festival of ‘Onam’. They feel on the day of 'Onam', their king, who is in heaven, visits his people to see if they are happy; and they call their homeland “God’s own country”, a fitting name for a land which looks like heaven—always green and beautiful. From air plane or on google maps Kerala looks like a shiny little green gem which it is.

Industrializing India

For rapid industrialisation many conditions are necessary. Many decisions by government are made for growth of industries like improving industrial relations (like minimum wages); and many policies are made on trade for making sale and buying of property easy; and new regulations regarding taxes are being re-made constantly. An amalgamation of several legislation which favour industrialisation went into the making of the 'manufacturing policy'. Formulation may seem very perfect but implementation has several road-blocks especially environmental clearance and land clearance which may cause delays. These can be transparently done by e-auction or e-procurement or e-tendering. For rapid industrialization,  streamlining the processes is very urgent now. Government had given tax-concessions but had delayed clearances. If there are unexpected losses, insurance can save industries. But loss of money due to delays will not be paid by any insurance. Labour laws may work against the newly born industries, causing more loss. Skilled workforce is not easily available; the time taken for training would cause some economic loss to new industries also.
Is industrialization creating new livelihoods? No. Employment generation is what the government wants from industrialisation. But industries grow because they keep minimum workforce as all possible work is fully automated. This will create very few jobs for few skilled people. Government will have to spend more on welfare measures as employment generation is not taking place while industrializing. For getting few jobs, big spendings on 'national policy' (which concentrates on only limited places) is not worth the expenditure. Growth paradigms can be shown as models, so that state governments can initialise steps to industrialise themselves.
If the total ‘loss and gain’ is calculated, more social tension, labour unrest, more inequality will result from the 'new' policy; while pleasing the industrialists the workers' plight will be ignored. Government will spend more on the making of schemes; and taxes that it will receive from industries would be very less. Environmental degradation cannot be erased, and exploitation cannot be addressed justifiably.
But the eternal march of civilisation cannot be stopped and industrialization will take place. We certainly cannot go back to older peasant culture, and industrialisation is here to stay. Overcoming the growing pains is the solution. To provide welfare for the workers--- for making proper homes, schools for making food and health schemes. Better plans are needed for better electricity and water supply, for better roads, for sanitation and waste disposal systems. These are the needs of the ever growing urban India. While industrializing  these have to be addressed to, for the making of future India.

Indians: at work and at prayer

The endless of hours of work occupies our all the moments of our lives,except few moments. We are thankful for all the blessings God us given us. On prayer days we take a break to worship. On the occasion of the “Chhath puja” or the sixth day after Diwali, the Sun and the river are worshipped for giving us life, and for well being of our families. In remote places folk traditions evolved and as people moved and spread to other places, they carried their prayers or their culture with them. This was one of the oldest prayers to the Sun. Although this prayer was not part of Delhi's culture, now it is here. Yesterday, the celebration commenced as prayers were made and sweet rice was shared. Today worshippers brought to the river banks small winnows holding fruits, flowers and sugarcane which were offered to the Sun and to the river. Standing half submerged in the river worshippers prayed, communicating with our creator and the Sun God, thanking for the bounties of the Earth and the water of the rivers. By re-enacting these prayers every year, we thank God for what he has given us. Today they prayed standing in the river facing the setting Sun. Tomorrow morning they will pray standing in the river just before sunrise and offer morning prayers as the Sun rises in the sky; they will be again offering the Sun God, flowers, fruits and sugarcane. We are grateful to the sun god for blessing us with these plants and the environment(Sun) to grow them in. We Indians are genuine worshippers of nature; we realise that it is from the Sun and the waters in the rivers we get food. We humans can survive because of the Sun. In our prayers, and their meanings, we are all united. Let us keep our rivers pure and our environment clean; and be thankful for the energy of the Sun which will always be shining upon us and blessing us.