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.
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.
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.
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.