Lokavidya Samaj – Action
plan for LJA
an outline incorporating
Ghar Vapasi, Ghar se Kam
karo, Sab ki Aay Pakki, Lokavidya Bazar
Ghar Vapsi
Migrant
labour, all over the country, is comprised of, in the main, of vast
sections of Lokavidya Samaj; who, having been displaced
from their vidya
,skills
and
livelihoods have
been
forced to eke out a living in urban and semi-urban areas by
doing jobs quite alien to their vidya
and skills. Their labour
‘supports’
the urban economy and
lives and livelihoods of the urban population. They are economically
and socially enslaved. All problems associated with the plight of
‘migrant labour’ have arisen because of this
displacement; now
compounded
manifold by the current pandemic together
with
the wholly inadequate and unthought-out response of the ruling
classes to their plight.
As
a result of the lockdown their
response
has been Ghar
Vapasi !
The move of the government and civil society to stop this ‘reverse
migration’ is solely to safeguard this enslaved labour force, so
that they are ‘available on site’ after the lockdown.
It
is clearly uncertain whether the MSMEs, construction, food and allied
enterprises, petty transport etc will be actually able to survive the
lockdown and the aftermath of the Pandemic. So, Ghar Vapasi is their
real choice
and not a knee-jerk reaction.
It
could, however,
serve as a first step in
assisting
Lokavidya
Samaj regain control of it’s existence. A clear consequence of the
‘Ghar Vapasi’ movement would be: What do the ‘migrant labour’
do when they get back?
Ghar se Kam karo
Work from home
has become a popular slogan the world over and all enterprises that
can implement this strategy, are doing so to the extent possible. The
adverse effects arising out of the need to commute to work and/or
gathering in a workplace, on social health and environment, have been
brought to the fore. So, this concept seems to be gaining firm
ground.
Lokavidyadhars
are a large productive and service component of our population, who
largely work from their homes/villages. If their productive and
service activities can be revived and bolstered; the economic,
social,
cultural and ‘spiritual’ revival of Lokavidya Samaj becomes a
distinct possibility.
This
would involve a great rebuilding, extending, ‘modernising’ of
the
different productive and service activities that
this ‘returning population’ can engage in. Concomitantly, this
would involve widespread planning
to engage the increased numbers of Lokavidya Samaj (in every gram
panchayat comprising 5 villages or
about
a population of 4000). As also a restructuring of the local planning
and management of a reorganised Samaj.
The
demands on government/State
support would
be;
1.
One school for every 1000 population
2.
One PHC for every 1000 population
3.
Drinking water supply for each gram panchayat
4.
Revamped PDS for each 1000 of population and
efficient utilization of the distribution mechanism through agencies
such as ICDS/ Anganwadi workers.
5.
Revamping/establishing Local Markets to serve each 1000 of the
population
6.
Capital inputs as and when required by each gram panchayat
So
that the working members and children DO NOT HAVE TO COMMUTE TO REACH
THEIR PLACE OF WORK/SCHOOL
Sab ki Aay Pakki
Our
programme of ‘Sab ki Aay Pakki’ will
now find vast support among Lokavidyadhars. In
order to sustain the lives and livelihoods of the population, every
household must receive a minimum wage of say 300/- per adult per day.
Arrangements must be made under MGNREGA etc to provide the facilities
for work, if needed, and timely payment of wages ‘at
the doorstep’.
Lokavidya Bazar
The
concept that the Bazar(Local Market) as
a place for
exchange of goods and services primarily to sustain the lives and
livelihoods of the population
and NOT for generating surpluses through the mechanism of trade, can
also now be
popularised and
should find support among the Lokavidyadhars.
The
small trader/shopkeeper , who operates in the Bazar, is assured of a
minimum wage through Sab Ki Aay Pakki, while capital input( in cash
and/or kind) for inventory management has
to be planned and
provided.
Surplus
produce of foodgrains, vegetables, fruits etc of the farmers; and
goods of the artisans must be procured from the producers from the
local level and transported to godowns, markets etc by the state
(through FCI etc).
A
total revamping of local governance institutions is required so that
all the above stated activities can get established and function with
minimal external bureaucratic interference.
Krishnarajulu
13/04/20
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