Mahavira Jain Vidyalaya Rajat Jayanti Mahotsava

Author(s): Mahavir Jain Vidyalaya Mumbai
Publisher: Mahavir Jain Vidyalay

Page 200

SILVÅR JUBILEE
P FOR PLANNING
When we have that power, power to implement our planning which only a strong, stable, sympathetic and national state can do, it will be the paramount duty of every one of us to try to remedy these defects.
Why do we need planning at all? Negatively speaking, we do not want planning for an export-economy nor do we need it for a war-economy. We do not have a territorial ambition. We certainly do not cry for Lebensraum. We do not aspire for economic nationalism or autarchy. Our planning has three clear objectives: (1) Give everyone food, clothing, shelter and minimum necessary amenities of modern life (2) increase the standard of life through maximum production utilising our vast Indian resources (3) Solve our problems of poverty, population and unemployment. These are our immediate objectives. Thus our planning becomes a necessity ---necessity to live, necessity to survive and necessity to enjoy life as human beings.
Under modern economics the best, the quickest and the easiest way to increase the standard of life is through industrialisation. But this requires unqualified, full-fledged, unhesitating, unstinted Protection. Under the capitalist economy the incidence of this will fall on the poor and comparatively the rich will benefit the more -- but we cannot help it. It is useless to argue in this way. 'Industrialise or perish' should be our motto and watchword. To quote Mr. Amery, the secretary of State for India India is a sub-continent and is not a Holland or a Belgium'--though he spoke for different reasons. Our model in planning should be U. S. A. in some respects and Japan in other respects. Our comprehensive planning should include large scale, small scale and cottage industries within its compass. It should be a co-ordinateci and co-operative policy with state as the guiding and inspiring force. The proper industrial policy, rightly executed should make India fit to be called United States of India. Vast resources of manpower, raw materials and potentialities coupled with traditional skill and genius of the people should help us in this.
But, today, the problems cited above are heart-breaking and heart rending. The state, the politicians, the industrialists, the economists, all have to face these problems. The New World Order may come after the war and India is the best training ground for the same to make it a unit of the new order, economically and politically. This new order is not going to bring paradise overnight. No Swaraj, also will solve these problems by a magic