I have been reading DV for quite some time and the latest one (Aug. 16, 2000), “Why Bahujans remain divided“, by Nagesh Choudhary impressed me.
The 85% of the oppressed Bahujans can be united on a political and economic programme which guarantees them land, shelter, education, employment and health-care within 5 years.
The programme is to be implemented by the empowered poor, as they alone are the true wealth creators in the country and given an acre or two of land, financial help for a year or two, they can transform every village into an economic unit which ensures enough food, and shelter and other necessities.
Elites causing poverty: The elites of India always say that the country is poor because there are 1,000 million people and there are not enough resources and so nothing can be done to solve the problem of hunger and poverty. This is totally incorrect.
Our poverty is not because of its over-population but because the elites of India deprive the large masses of productive resources to make an adequate living.
India has the second largest spread of arable land in the world at 169.7 million hectares after the US, which has 187.8 million hectares. China has only 96.0 million hectares of arable land.
Per capita arable land availability in India is 0.19 hectares. Others have much less land but are much more prosperous. Per capita availability of land in other countries are (in hectares) China 0 08, Japan 0.04, Germany 0.15. U.K. 0.11, Israel 0.08. Land-wise India is more endowed than many other countries of the world and if others like Japan and Germany are not poor, because they have much less land per capita, then why should India despair.
Water-wise also India is rich. Annual withdrawal of water per capita in India in cubic metres is 612 while it is 461 in China. 582 in Germany and 205 in the UK.
Pro-upper caste policies: While India on 169 mn hectares of arable land produces around 205 million tons of foodgrains per year China on 96 m.ha produces around 450 million tons. If India can achieve China’s productivity India can produce over 600 million tonnes of foodgrains and not only feed all its hungry but also of the world.
India because of its anti-poor and pro-elite (upper caste) policies deprives a large portion of its productive people any share in the productive wealth of the nation.
Therefore, India’s yields in agriculture are very poor. Thus paddy yield in India per ha is 2820 kg, while it is 5870 kg in China, 6770 kg in Japan and 3460 kg in. Vietnam. Wheat yield in India is better at 2420 per ha but it is 3320 in China and 2530 in the US.
Cotton in lint yield in India is 300kg while 804 kg in China and 800 kg in the US. Groundnut yield per ha is 1000 kg in India while it is 2690 in China and 3000 kg in the US.
So, India has lots of untapped potential which can be tapped only by mobilising the poor people whether Tribals, Dalits, all Backwards Castes, minorities and even the poor upper castes.
India ranks first in the world in cattle population, in production of milk, ghee and butter and tea, second in rice, groundnuts, sugar, 3rd in wheat, cotton, tobacco, 5th in cement, 6th in iron ore, potatoes, India. can increase it’s ranking further if the productivity of land and people is raised.
Skilled craftsmen: India’s people are highly skilled in traditional arts and crafts like metallurgy, leather tanning, pottery, weaving and spinning, baskets making building and construction, and also have a wealth of knowledge in agriculture and herbal medicines which awaits tapping. India receives sunshine almost throughout the year, has plentiful water resources through rain and snows, a great river systems, very long sea coast and all sorts of climate for different crops.
Just now we have 40 million tonnes of foodgrains in storage and instead of using it to create employment through public works like itrigation storage, roads, houses, schools and clinics we are raising the prices of foodgrains, depriving the poor of a square meal.
We have to shed the approach that people are a problem, actually people are the solution. They have wisdom to solve these problems but they are denied the chance by the system. Unless land question to the poor is solved there cannot be any solution to the problems faced by this country.
Therefore, all the political parties of Bahujans whether the Bahujan Samaj Party or any other, should have the above facts in India. This country will rise only when the poor Dalits, and Backward Castes take the destiny in their hands and devise a culture and a system which will be their contribution to mankind. And themselves.
