Swadeshi not a mere slogan or campaign: Sri V Bhagaiah, Sah Sarkaryavah
4th July 2020,New Delhi: Sah Sarkaryavah of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh V. Bhagaiah ji has said that Swadeshi is not a slogan or just a campaign, but it is the basis of overall eco system promoting peace, prosperity and security. Following the current economic model of development, structures have been created for indiscriminate exploitation of nature for the consumption of humans, due to which world has been experiencing increasing unrest, mistrust, anarchy and discontent. Due to the crisis caused by this model, the societies are desperate to take U turn from this system.
He said that to change this destructive model of development, Swadeshi Swavalamban Abhiyan has been started by Swadeshi Jagran Manch. He said that apart from the organizations of the Sangh Ideology, many other organizations including Gayatri Parivar, Jaggi Ji Maharaj and many others have already owned this campaign as their campaign. On 26th April, Respected Sarsanghchalak ji has also given a call for Swadeshi. Except for the last 250 years, India has always been a country of thriving villages. The steel used to be exported to England from the villages of Telangana, the cloth was exported from the villages of Bengal and Tamil Nadu. Recently, an organisation in Vijaywada has successfully produced cow based products worth ₹ 5 crore. The objective of this campaign is that agriculture should be made the basis of development which will be village centric. Objective of the campaign is that this change in mindset of the government towards self reliance and Swadeshi, should also be reflected in the policies of the government.
Bhagaiah ji was expressing his views on the occasion of online release of the booklet ‘Swadeshi Swavalamban Ki Aur Bharat’ (Hindi) and ‘India Marching Towards Swadeshi and Self Reliance’ (English) written by Satish Kumar, Coordinator of Swadeshi Swavalamban Abhiyan.
Swadeshi Swavlamban Abhiyan (Swadeshi Self Reliance Campaign) was started since May 20, 2020 by Swadeshi Jagran Manch. In the first phase of this programme, an exercise was started for digital signatures, with people taking pledge to boycott Chinese goods. Up to now more than 10 lakh people have already taken pledge in this regard and number is fast rising.
The objective of the ‘Swadeshi Swavlamban Abhiyan’ is to arouse awakening and commitment for Swadeshi and Self- reliance. Self Reliance would be achieved by rejuvenating indigenous industry, including small scale industries, small businesses, artisans, rural industries including food processing industry and other non-farm activities with an aim to generate inclusive growth with impetus on employment.
We could reach out to nearly 700 districts in the country. During this period, the surveys, organised by TV Channels, Civil Society organisations, also show that almost everybody in the country is taking pledge to use Swadeshi and boycott everything Chinese. Government had already imposed restrictions on Chinese investments, by making it mandatory to follow approval route. After that several restrictions have been imposed on imports from China, tenders by Chinese companies are being cancelled in big number and a few days ago 59 Chinese apps have been banned with immediate effect.
In the last nearly one and a half months of the Abhiyan, a process has started involving people from all walks of life including workers, farmers, small scale entrepreneurs, academicians, technocrats, and industry and trade leaders, for the purpose of rejuvenating small industries. With the cooperation of various organisations and associations, we are reaching out to people and will make them aware of the benefits of promoting swadeshi/local products and distribute lists of swadeshi/local products. District level committees are being constituted involving people from industry, trade activists for this purpose.
There is general awakening that it is a time to revive those local industries that were taken for granted in the era of globalisation. It is also time to usher in economic policies that produce welfare, sustainable incomes, help job creation and, all in all, put faith in the people.
There are more than 700 MSME clusters in the country. These clusters have a long and prosperous history of industrial development. Many of these industrial clusters lost their sheen due to unfair competition from China and unfair import policies. They have to be supported and strengthened by all means so that they not only create employment opportunities but also produce high quality products in the most economical cost. More such industrial clusters are being identified at district level all over the country for ushering in future growth in manufacturing.
Rural crafts and agro based products can also play an important role in Bharat becoming self reliant. There are unlimited avenues available in rural areas to create employment opportunities through agro based activities, including food processing, poultry, dairy, fishing, mushroom farming, bamboo farming, floriculture, horticulture and others. Integrated rural development is the need of the hour. Awareness is being created and efforts are being made to encourage integrated approach to rural economy.
Under this Swadeshi Swavlamban Abhiyan, this is the time for handholding of local, small scale manufacturers, artisans and small businesses. Swadeshi Jagran Manch has already made several cluster studies to identify problems for industry. In several cases intervention of SJM has proved to be of critical importance. More such studies would be carried out in a mission mode to revive domestic industry in tune with the present day push to local industry.
Successful experiments in rural areas would be publicized among the rural folk to encourage them to go for food processing and other agro based activities.
