Throughout the three years of our Independence, the nation has made progress in lots of instructions and issues have been finished which, within the pre-independence days, had been exterior even the realm of schemes or plans. The enlargement of training and medical services, constructing new crops, dams, irrigation canals, and roads, the opening of scientific laboratories and virgin soil introduced beneath cultivation, these are a number of the achievements of this era apart from radical social laws by the central and the state governments giving equal rights to all residents with no distinction between women and men, excessive and low, wealthy and poor.
The Structure has additional set earlier than the nation a super of civil liberty and of equal alternative to all. The achievement of those targets is essentially the most tough job that has ever devolved on any nation within the very early levels of its freedom, however we’re struggling on in pursuit of an amazing excellent for which we’ve got lived and fought for therefore lengthy.
Gandhiji, via the Congress organisation beneath whose auspices we’ve got grown up, set that excellent earlier than us. We’re but very far certainly from realising it; we’ve got made solely a humble starting. We’d, as is simply pure, make errors and should retrace our steps if the circumstances so demand with a purpose to serve higher. Even when we fail or falter, the laudable excellent will ever stay earlier than us as a beacon gentle to guide us to particular person, social, political, and will I additionally add non secular progress.
However Independence has introduced in its wake a number of issues which weigh closely upon us. These are many, they usually deserve our consideration, however on this article I shall take care of solely two — meals and material. Their manufacturing, if tackled correctly, might nicely pave the best way for additional progress. Severe thought has been given to the primary, however the latter has not acquired the identical consideration. I don’t suggest to elaborate on the assorted facets of the issue of meals manufacturing, however I want to emphasise right here how we should always get on with the precise work to attain a particular consequence inside a prescribed time. We have now acquired sound schemes and ample funds positioned on the disposal of the departments involved. High precedence has additionally been given to it. Let me enumerate under a number of the important factors in regard to this downside: (i) The productive capability of the present land beneath cultivation to extend; save crops from drought and injury so far as attainable. (ii) Culturable and virgin soil to be introduced beneath cultivation. (iii) Authorities to supply needed means and assets as an help to implement the above. (iv) Cultivators to place their greatest on their very own initiative with out ready for presidency assist (v) Company to oversee and execute the scheme. An entire survey of each village must be the primary and most important a part of our scheme.
All this must be finished with navy precision. A military of land employees shouldn’t stay merely a slogan. Each cultivator must be made to really feel that he’s a soldier of that military and will report on the village panchayat how he’s faring with the work allotted to him. If we’re in proper earnest and ready to work arduous, we are able to achieve lowering our imports of foodgrains significantly.
Allow us to now think about the query of material. It will not be thought-about as essential as meals; but will probably be unwise to minimise its significance. It’s useless to emphasize that if we are able to handle meals and material for ourselves, there’s certain to be financial stability. Mills should produce the quota allotted to them. If they don’t cooperate, they need to be handled firmly and, if needed, new laws enacted to take care of them. Labour may even should bear its share of accountability and strikes must be eradicated. Khadi must be given the utmost encouragement and the folks inspired to make use of it even whether it is considerably pricey. Authorities must also patronise it absolutely. Khadi has nice prospects if it receives due encouragement from the federal government in addition to the folks.
We have now acquired a big inhabitants, of which an enormous share has no work or inadequate work. We will present them with work within the smaller industries. We must always not merely attempt to copy the West as our circumstances are completely different from them. Both we go in for speedy industrialisation via State or non-public company or, if that isn’t attainable, and I concern it isn’t, we should attempt to velocity up our manufacturing via small scale and village industries. If we need to make folks work-minded, engender a artistic spirit and educate them the dignity of labour, the best resolution is to go in for small-scale industries.
The specter of a world warfare stares us within the face. It might or might not come however the current stress is certain to have its repercussions. There can be an inclination in numerous international locations to maintain in reserve agricultural merchandise and different important commodities and we would not be capable of import in future as simply as we may do earlier than. Struggle, or no warfare, we should produce sufficient cereals and sufficient material to feed and dress our folks.
Lal Bahadur Shastri is India’s second prime minister
