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Ssc SOCIAL STUDY CIRCLE di (ESTD
1982) www.dalitindia.com ssc@dalitindia.com *********************************************************************** |
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Updated: December 7, 2002
SSC: Banglore Center
Globalisation, Liberalisation,
Privatisation and Disinvestment
Amidst the frenzy of
Liberalisation and Globalisation, Disinvestment and Privatisation are
inevitable. Whatever We SC&ST
Dalits may say, reason out, argue about, cry against and protest or weep,
Liberalisation and Globalisation, as well as Disinvestment and Privatisation
will take place. Rather, they will all
be hastened up, and their Momentum will pick up in leaps and bounds. No doubt, Liberalisation and Globalisation
as well as Disinvestment and Privatisation are not good, not only for We
SC&ST Dalits, but also for the whole Society, and in fact for the entire
Nation. In fact, Liberalisation and
Globalisation, Disinvestment and Privatisation are more dangerous to the
Country at present, particularly what the present state of Politics is. So, something has to be done in this front,
that too at the earliest and urgently.
But, today We SC&ST Dalits are helpless and powerless. Reasons, for such a state of affairs may be
many. But they are not the issues here.
We must seriously think and
contemplate, on the issues of Liberalisation and Globalisation, and the dangers
of Disinvestment and Privatisation. We
must also see what We SC&ST Dalits can do now. Sure helpless We are.
But, that does not mean that We can not act, or do anything else. Atleast what We could not stop, we should
either try to make use of, to the extent possible, or try to adjust ourselves
and be careful, least We are run over, and or are marginalised. What We SC&ST Dalits must do now, We
must Think! Think, We must -
individually, with friends, in groups and publicly in a collective manner. We have very little time left with us to
act.
Liberalisation, and opening up of
the economies to the private sector including MNCs and foreign MNCs these days,
is widening everywhere the gap between the rich and the poor. Therefore, Liberalisation and the associated
Globalisation, Disinvestment and Privatisation have to be deftly steered
appropriately, with extreme care and due caution, to ensure that they serve the
Social Aspirations, Needs and Development of the People, apart from the
commercial interests of the private sector.
Extensive and detailed Planning, at least as comparable to that the
FMNCs do to increase their profits, power, influence, range and horizon, has to
be ensured. Only this can help focus
that, investments in business, trade and industry lead to, Programmes that
suitably address long-term Development, Growth and Welfare of the whole
Society, to benefit all. The Role of
the Govts should be, to guide and regulate the pace and extent of the
Liberalisation Policies, focus Foreign Direct Investments towards investing
more in Socially and Environmentally safe and sustainable Developmental
Processes and Growth Initiatives. This
is the most urgent task before all of us, particularly the educated and well
employed SC&ST Officials.
Privatisation always violates and
go against the Interests of –
·
all People, particularly the Weaker Sections such as the SC&ST
Dalits, most Backward Classes including the Minorities - more specifically the
Muslims – the poor, labour and in general most Women and all the Working
Classes with out really any exception
·
Economy, Education, Society, Justice and Peace Movements, HealthCare,
Human Rights, Leisure, Social Welfare, Sports etc
·
Agriculture, Food Security, Heritage Centres, Historic Places, Public
Properties, Common Assets and Common Ownership of Community Centres Land and
other Properties
Here now, are some Issues and
Reasons behind them - for every one of ours kind consideration, discussion, criticisms,
additions, alterations and improvements –
·
In the regime of Liberalisation, Globalisation, Disinvestment and
Privatisation, Power and Responsibility for Decision making shift to private
sector, particularly MNCs; and hence rests with many private individuals
·
Private Sector and MNCs, are invariably interested in making Profits -
Huge Profits, that too quickly and in a short time
·
Interested in huge quick profits, all that the private sector work for
is to ensure huge and unreasonable profits
·
On an average, private sector desire to make a very heavy profit, at
least 25 to 30 % so that, they can recover their investments, along with
interests there on, and also make profits for their leisurely luxurious but
wasteful lives, with in a period of 5 to 6 years
·
Profits can always be made, only when the Customers are exploited,
Workers are squeezed, Suppliers are harassed, Govts are cheated, and the People
at large in the Society are swindled and comfortably kept in darkness and taken
for a ride, down the garden path
·
Money will keep tinkling in the coffers of any industry or business or
enterprise, only when the needs aspirations and interests of the elites in the
Society, Bureaucracy, Political Parties and Govts are met
·
The poor and poorest, even amongst the most marginalised, neglected and
exploited Minority Backward Weaker Sections of the Society, become easily
vulnerable with Development and Time
·
With the private sector making huge profits, they have grown stinkingly
rich powerful, arrogant even if they are otherwise publicly polite, and become
a force to reckon with in their own rights, developing their own vested
interests
·
As the private sector becomes powerful, they tend to influence the
Govts’ Priorities, Decisions, Actions and control the Govts of the day
·
As the private sector grows, the individual units compete - not with
each other, but at the cost of common individuals first, then groups of people,
local community, whole society, economy, the Govts and Nation – to become MNCs
and Global Players, by regulating their own Govts to control the Govts abroad,
as well as their decisions policies and actions in their favour and easy
profits
Privatisation only promotes,
·
artificial demands too far and too fast than the purchasing capacity of
the People and the society, and the carrying capacity of the area
·
large and perpetually increasing needs and shortages, as well as
increased consumption by the People and the Society, particularly the rich
influential and the powerful
·
rapid use of resources including the limited scarce water, fertile lands
and power
·
increasing rates of wastages
·
avoidable pollution
·
dangers of Urbanisation and
Centralisation – bribery, corruption, emergence of underworld, growth of mafia,
organised crime, robbery, theft, white collar crimes
·
alcoholism, arms running, drug peddling, trafficking in women etc
·
all round penury, human indignities, homelessness, landlessness,
relative poverty and absolute misery
All MNCs, particularly foreign
MNCs, in the end analysis, go against the Interests and Welfare of the
People. They and their actions
adversely affect the local, regional, National and Global Environment – in that
order - by over exploitation and indifference, resulting in ruination of Social,
Economic and real Interests of the People, since all the three are
inter-related. In view of the above We
must ensure that -
·
All International Treaties, Conventions and Mechanisms are carefully and
meticulously studied and evaluated, on the basis of social economic and
environmental issues
·
All Agreements and MOUs are addressed suitably and at the earliest, to
uphold the National Interests and Welfare of the whole Society, particularly
the Weaker Sections
·
The Decisions and Actions of MNCs and FMNCs are closely and constantly
monitored, for sustainable and effective Management of Resources
·
Sustainable Management of Resources is done with the participation of all stake holders – in the decision
making, as well as management of clearly available resources
·
Close watch is kept at all functional levels of managing resources,
including optimal utilisation of all man-power
·
Every legal means available to the people are fully made use of, in an
extremely diplomatic manner, as the private sector have powerful battery of
attorneys and jurists, as well as legislators and administrators on their sides
·
All National Decisions are vigilantly scrutinised with utmost care and
caution, to strengthen and support every form of Democratic Institution and
Forum in the Society, as emergence and involvement of independent Democratic
Institutions generally lead to better and more Sustained Management of
Resources
·
Private Investments does not replace direct Involvement and Mobilisation
of Funds by the Govt for Social Development, since No Development through private
investments will reach the Weaker Sections of the Society, particularly in
Sectors relevant for the poorest
·
Private Investments at best are only additives to Social Development and
Welfare of the People themselves, which is only possible with the active
catalytic role of the Govts, and not as a replacement for Developing the
Society as a whole, at any time
·
Every Development Process preserves and opens up for All People Access
to safe potable water, balanced diet, clean air, better sanitation, viable health
care
·
Future leads on to better physical and social environment and rationally
liberal education to every citizen, as basic Fundamental Rights
·
Special Measures are taken to enforce effectively and immediately just
Laws, beneficial to the Welfare of all Citizens, without any exceptions, and
bring specifically the leaders, administrators, jurists and rich, feudal forces
in uniform within the ambit of Law, Courts and Justice
Whatever We may achieve or however
much We may succeed in the above spheres, We must urgently address ourselves to
the Problems of –
·
Fighting all forms of Injustices, taking a leaf from the life of our
Messiah, Baba Saheb Dr BR Ambedkar
·
Educate our Children to face Challenges, beyond the immediate things
they can see or visualise
·
Prepare all our Children to effectively meet the Challenges of others,
in the so-called competitive Liberalised World, particularly in the cut-throat
culture of the private sector
·
Help our Girl Children and Women to handle diplomatically and with
extreme care, the wolves in the academic institutions, private sector, public
sector, police, Govts, Judiciary and also in the public places
·
Prepare our Boys and the best of our educated to carefully deal with,
the World of calculative Girls and Women, from falling prey to all their
flirtations, temptations and allurements
Note: This
topic needs more and continuous discussions. Please send your views and
suggestion to improve this paper.
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