Month: November 2019

Sacred Economy in the real world and it’s positive impacts


Let’s look at some live cases of Sacred Economic jobs that are creating impact, giving livelihoods, with creation of products that are creative, eco-friendly, while at the same time, embracing the Indian tradition that makes these products really unique. 

These products were displayed at an exhibition that took place at Chowdiah Memorial Hall, Bangalore, October 19, 2019.

Stationary Product Stall 

At this stall there were

Boxes made out of cloth, banana fibre. Pens made out of recycled paper, cloth bags, photo frames made from handspun banana fiber yarn and cloth. Notebooks made from handmade paper. 

Notice, there are designs on the products, they have all been created by employing human labour. The Organisation that is marketing these products, Chetana, trains people with different disabilities with skills so that they get the required skills to create these products and earn a living.  This has empowered these people with disabilities to lead a life of purpose and dignity.

Products made out of bamboo fibre

At this stall there were –

Various baskets, boxes, bags made out of bamboo fibre. 

These products are made by rural people including women giving them livelihoods. Local raw materials are used to make these products, and it has been made by hand again so these products do have a special value. 

Dress stalls 

These clothes sarees, kurtas, shirts, bags, quilts are made using naturally dyed cotton handloom fabric. They are products of Charaka, a rural handloom co-operative. These products are sold in Cities through Desi outlets.

Charaka, began in 1994, the aim was to give the people of the hilly region of Bheemanakone alternative jobs, as people were excessively dependent on agriculture that caused damage to this Western Ghats region that was once filled with lush green rainforests. 

Now, Charaka is giving livelihoods to many rural people including women. Notice the simple elegance of the lady wearing Charaka’s orange saree along with full sleeve white blouse.

Handicraft products

This stall comprised of handcrafted toys from  Channapatna – wooden toys, vases, traditional games, toy fridge magnets, plant vase magnets and more…  This is the pride of Karnataka, as Karnataka State got represented in the Republic Day parade 2015 through Channapatna toy display!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6rqE_yhuII

Maya Organic is the non-profit that has assisted artisans with the product design/development of these handcrafted toys displayed in the stall. Many new artisans particularly women were trained with skills to design toys and products that attract the current market. 

All these handicraft products are eco-friendly made using natural dyes. Notice, there is also our country’s traditional games here, something we have forgotten about now.

Another stall had salwar cloth material.

The designs you see, are all made by hand labour.

Same is the case with these bags on  display, they are stitched by hand and the designs on them are patiently stitched by workers who created this bag.

There were also products like stainless steel straws, bamboo stand for cell phone that amplifies sound and many other cool stuff that are artistic, creative, innovative and eco-friendly.

These are live examples of how Sacred Economy creates jobs that can give livelihoods to many people who would  have otherwise remained neglected and unemployed . They also use local raw materials, like the baskets made of bamboo grass showed in an photo above and are environmentally friendly. These products don’t make use of chemicals that can pollute our water bodies. There is a value and uniqueness  in these products because its made by hands patiently and involve the use of creativity as well. Lastly, there is Indianness in all this, because these jobs were an intrinsic part of India, and is a proud traditional identity of India.

We should remember that there was a time when India was famous for its handicrafts, handlooms and used to even export.

 Reviving Sacred Economy, would revive our rural India and would alleviate Urban India’s stress from excess population and unsustainable growth that has damaged Urban India’s environment, while many people are still not getting livelihoods and are in poverty.

 

As a concerned Indian, what we can do is consume these products that promote the growth of the Sacred Economy. These products are eco-friendly, they give livelihoods to workers in rural India and are Indian in flavour. So, think about your consumption pattern from the dresses you wear, the toys you buy for your children, the food produce you buy etc ,  there are more sustainable products that are of value and don’t damage our environment. Embrace them, spread the word and support movements like Gram Seva Sangh’s Satyagraha movement to revive the Sacred Economy.

Echoing the need for India to embrace Sacred Economy

Gram Seva Sangh specializes in organizing artistic and cultural programs that show case issues ailing our country and recently Gram Seva Sangh organised such programs to showcase the philosophy behind the “Sacred Economy”.

The idea behind the Sacred Economy is also based on many of Mahatma Gandhi’s principles, which is why Gram Seva Sangh began their hunger Sathyagraha in support of Sacred Economy on Gandhi Jayanthi, the 150th birth anniversary of Bapuji. Here is an article written by  Gram Sangh Seva founder, Prasanna on Gandhi’s economic philosophy or economic wisdom. 

https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/mahatma-gandhi-economy-rama-rajya-jawaharlal-nehru-narendra-modi-6076656/?fbclid=IwAR3Z8bG9mOBTKoATtRTVezrtG_dhGPKI824BHJ64rM47zCtaPnl9mNMs5zw

Currently, our economic system is designed on achieving growth through over production for which, much of consumption is stimulated, it benefits a few giving them excess profits which does not get distributed to the masses. Youth are being groomed to manage businesses of Corporates in this economic system, they are not trained to manage jobs of Sacred Economy – farming, handloom, organic soap production, oil production, weaving, handloom, khadhi and a lot more. 

Meanwhile, the segments of  the Sacred Economy mentioned above don’t get the required knowledge or assistance from Government and our system to develop and sustain themselves. They are neglected, while Corporates, industries and banks are supported by the Government. It is only fair that small  and local industries are also supported by Government as they are labour intensive segments of our economy that have potential to employ and provide livelihoods to many people.

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/encourage-small-industries-prasanna/article29810482.ece

There is more emphasis on encouraging automation in the current system which has taken away jobs of many people. The current economic system has also damaged our environment by chopping away our greenery, spoiling our natural resources of river, forests, air etc.  There is no space here for farmers, textile workers,small vendors and other marginalized groups of the Sacred Economy. 

This is therefore a Monster economy, leading to centralization of power in the hands of Corporates and industries while Nature is being exploited by them.  This goes against the principles of our Constitution as well, as this does not honour Article 39 of our Constitution summaries that – 

Everybody has a right to an adequate means of livelihood and that wealth, material and natural resources should not be concentrated in the hands of a few.

(Scroll down to page 21 of this link taken from the Indian Government website and read the full particulars of Article 39.)

The alternate Sacred Economy, takes care of those now ignored groups giving them jobs that cause the least damage to our environment.This system makes use of local labour and raw materials which is healthy for the growth and development of our rural and  domestic economies along with their ecologies. There is a need to decongest urban India that is suffocated with over development which has strained Urban India’s natural resources of land, water etc. Sacred Economy would bring that much needed balance to India benefiting both rural and urban India.

Protection of Nature, giving jobs to all people and having the village and the urban civilisations connect and co-exist in harmony is what Sacred Economy stands for.

Below is a link of cultural program “Mushaira”, where literary enthusiasts and talented poets narrated verses, proses and sung songs resonating with wisdom, stirring feelings to protect nature, greenery, revive India that is ailing with problems of – joblessness, corruption, exploitation, rural disintegration and more, by living the philosophy of our Bapu, Mahatma Gandhiji. The poems showcased how many of Gandhi’s wisdom and philosophies are relevant today to develop the sacred economy by promoting and growing India’s rural and age old, sacred, alternate economy  that gives space to farmers, textile workers, khadi fabric manufacturers, fishermen, sherperts, small vendors, toy makers, small scale industry workers and entrepreneurs, artisans, weavers and others of the Sacred economy category to exist and earn their livelihoods.

https://www.facebook.com/gramsevasanghindia/videos/2414457608591717/UzpfSTEwODMxNjU0MDk6MTAyMTYwOTczMzM0NDExMDc/

The poets who enlightened us with their soulful literary flavour at the program were – Sharifaji, Usha Raniji,Fathima Zehraji, Shakira Harem, Ratoun Kumar ji,Kavita Panyaji, Kanada poet Sri Girish, Pramula Sahab, Gyan Chand, Zanar Mansur Shahab, Shahiba, K Sharifa ji, Gufram Ahmed, Shahita Yusufji.