When wealth’s creators, and not its accumulators, get to benefit

With huge unemployment prevalent, I do not think that we are making meaningful progress in the empowerment of India. Attractive balance sheets of the corporate sector, showing high profits, do not create a good impression when the press reports daily about the suicide of some breadwinner because he was unable to feed his family. It saddens me when I see tribals starve to death. I always feel that the accumulators of wealth are the cause of poverty and destitution of our teeming millions.

India claims to have no money to generate more jobs but there is no dearth of money when it comes to vulgar display of wealth at the marriages of the rich. Despite election rules, there is no shortage of funds for some political parties. Crores in public funds are pilfered by bureaucrats and corrupt politicians. Money laundering by the top strata of society is yet another instance of the drain of national resources. If these are used to improve the quality of life of the common people, the country can advance in the correct direction.

Democracy cannot really benefit the people unless the power of money and muscle is forcibly broken by a popular movement. The social backwardness of the poor is allowing this inhuman exploitation. Conscious elements in the society must come forward, develop the social consciousness of the powerless. Real awakening among them will generate a powerful force to make India empowered.

Today those who own the means of production are the empowered strata of society while those who toil to produce goods and services do not enjoy any power. The empowered strata are in a position to corrupt the bureaucracy to their advantage and strengthen their empowerment. They at the same time add to the poverty of the common people and adversely affect human development.

Communal forces preach hatred against other religions and divide people. Without combating these forces effectively, India’s march towards empowerment will become ineffective. Casteists elements also play a divisive role and damage the cause of national interest. They have to be countered.

As long as women face gender discrimination, the empowerment of the country will only be a mirage. Sexual harassment of women at the workplace continues to increase despite Supreme Court rulings. Dowry deaths, torture, child marriage etc. underline the need for stringent action against perpetrators of such crimes.

Social oppression of dalits, tribals continues unabated. Unless they are organised and there’s a determined struggle against social oppression, this downtrodden strata will not see the light of empowerment.

India continues to engage the largest number of child labour in the world. This shame cannot be eradicated unless their parents are given wages above the poverty line, allowing them to send their children to school instead of making them work in unhygenic conditions.

The toiling masses of India can open the vista of their empowerment only by organising themselves and fighting the prevalent social injustice. Only through a determined struggle can they overthrow the yoke of money power and become masters of their own destiny.

Trade unions and other mass organisations play an important role in this historic struggle. However, one cannot ignore the fact that vested interests can carry out nefarious activities through political parties. To fight the political empowerment enjoyed by these parties, the toiling masses of India must have their political party without which they cannot fight the money power and the mafia.

I do not agree with the advocates of partyless democracy. They deny the right to have a political weapon, to politically fight the policies of tycoons who are bottlenecks in the struggle for empowerment of the common people. I am convinced that it is only the people of India who, with their struggle against the usurpers of power, can empower themselves and India.