A colloquium in Tamil on the ‘Ecological Economic Thoughts and Action of Gandhian Economist J.C. Kumarappa (JCK)’ was organised by SOLAI (Social Life Animation India), a non-governmental organization in Christianpet near here on Monday.
LPG regime
The event brought to fore the yearning among farmers, Gandhian thinkers and social scientists for aggressive efforts at protection of natural resources from the clutches of the LPG (liberalization, privatization and globalization) regime. It was titled, `Pasumayalargal Sangamam' (Greens Working Together).
U.R. Kaliappan, retired Professor of Sociology, Bharathiyar University, Coimbatore said that the development of science and technology has led to the setting up many industries by the capitalists, providing employment to many.
Sadly it has brought the decline of village industries. Over a period of time villagers who were running their own business ventures quit them. They joined the new industries as labourers.
Junk food
Dr. Kaliappan said that the promotion of junk food by foreign companies under the LPG regime has led to obesity among children. This is likely to become a big health problem in another five years.
“We should produce and consume the food we need, and the food industry should be decentralized as propounded by JCK”.
Realizing the dangers of chemical farming, more and more people are taking to organic farming, he said.
Agriculture hit
M.P. Gurusamy, Secretary, Gandhi Museum, Madurai and Kumarappa Research Centre, Dindigul said that the development of agriculture has been badly hit since colleges have come up on land meant for cultivation of pulses, a vital ingredient in the daily meal.
While JCK advocated the `economy of permanence’, the economy of the country is revolving round illegal activities such as the smuggling of sand and profiteering activities such as the dumping of cell phones on the poor labourers to enrich the coffers of the rich, he said.
Villagers lose self-dependence
Elango Rangasamy, chemical engineer said that the villagers are united in many issues, but they have lost the self-dependence which was once the unique trait of villages. They look to the government even to deepen a tank or pond, without doing it themselves.
They are dependent on the government for each and everything. This has destroyed the independence of the villages.
Strong leaders should emerge from the villagers to instil confidence and revive self-dependence of the villages, he said.
Value-added products
Rama Subramanian, president, Samanvaya, Chennai said that several farmers have shown the way in making agriculture profitable by producing value-added products from agricultural produce like coconut and through organic farming and marketing of organically produced vegetables.
R.T. Rajan, Director-SOLAI spoke on `Iyarkayai Kakkum Manidhanmai' (Human Trusteeship on Nature) wherein he highlighted the role of human beings in protecting Nature.
Colloquium was organised by the NGO SOLAI (Social Life Animation India) in Christianpet
