Bhagwat said a “controlled consumerism” is necessary to ensure that there is no exploitation of natural resources.
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat said on Sunday that if dependence on China increases, we will have to bow before it.
After hoisting the national flag at a school in Mumbai on the 75th Independence Day, the RSS chief also said that ‘Swadeshi’ means doing business on India’s terms.
“We use the internet and technology a lot. We do not have native technology in our country. It comes from outside,” said Bhagwat. “No matter how much we as a society shout about China and boycott Chinese goods, but where does whatever you have in your mobile come from? If dependence on China increases, (we) will have to bow down to China,” Bhagwat said.
Economic security is important, he said, adding that the adaptation of technology should be based on our terms. “We have to be self-reliant”, he said. “Swadeshi does not mean ignoring everything else. International trade will continue, but on our terms,” he said. For this we have to be self-reliant, he said.
“What we can make at home should not be brought from the market,” he said. He said that the economic vision should be to produce more and there should be competition for the best quality of production.
“We are not against international trade and commerce but our production should be in villages. It should not be mass production but production by the masses,” he said. A decentralized production would help India’s economy to generate employment and self-employment opportunities, he said.
With more producers, more people will be self-sufficient, he said, adding that the revenue generated should be distributed equally. Bhagwat said that industries should get encouragement from the government. He said that the government should act as a regulator and not do business on its own.
“The government will appeal to the industries to manufacture things important for the development of the country and make policies to encourage industries,” he said.
“We do not believe in complete nationalization but it is also not true that the nation has nothing to do with industries. All of them should work together as a family unit.”
Small industries should complement large industries, he said, adding that the focus should be people-centric and not profit-oriented. He said that the focus should be on research and development, MSME and cooperation sectors.
“Treatment of economic unit as a family will help the economy to generate employment,” he said. The job of the government is to support and encourage industries. He said that the government should be instructed to produce essential things for the development of the country.
Bhagwat said a “controlled consumerism” is necessary to ensure that there is no exploitation of natural resources. The RSS chief said, “The standard of living should not be determined by how much we earn, but by how much we give back.”
“We will be happy when we consider the welfare of all. To be happy we need strong finances and for that we need financial strength.”
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