Lighthouse

Author(s): Udayvallabhvijay
Publisher: Pragna Prabodh Parivar

Page 24

spiritual needs of people. Strengthening of belief and satisfaction of dedication to the Lord is the main fruit of temple construction. Still, if the social output is the criteria, let us proceed on the same track. Ever since the foundation of a temple is laid, hundreds of people get their livelihood till the construction is complete. After the temple is constructed, several persons' livelihood such as those of poojari, security guard, flower vendors, servants doing cleaning and maintenance work in temple, guards, staff in the offices of temples etc. depend on the day-to-day activities in the temple. According to a rough estimate, the number of employees in Jain temples across just Mumbai would exceed 8,000 (the suppliers of various material to the temples are not included in this count). It is important to realize one significant issue. Even if we agree that in the present scenario, earning livelihood is not possible without education, no cause would appear greater than the cause of providing education. However, the situation is just the reverse. Today, the problem of unemployment is more prevalent amongst the educated rather than the uneducated. Higher the level of education, greater the instance of unemployment. The following statistics would prove this fact. The intention is not to say that education is not necessary. However, these figures challenge the top priority thrust regarding education as means of livelihood.
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