New Delhi, Nov 13 (UNI) Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu on Wednesday called for increasing the purchasing power of labourers and farmers, saying they not only contribute to the economy through hard work, but also create demand in the economy as consumers.
Addressing the 100th birth anniversary function of late trade unionist Dattopanth Thengri here, he said it was therefore "necessary to increase their purchasing power to give a further fillip to the inclusive development."
Talking of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, the Vice President asked trade unions to prepare the workers and farmers for this new challenge ahead. “Institutions like Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh and Bharatiya Kisan Sangh should spread awareness about various Government programmes and should train the workers and farmers in new technologies,” he said.
Frowning on concentration of wealth in a few hands as it led to disbalance in economy and resentment in society, he urged for equal distribution of resources to create a stable and inclusive economy.
Stressing that both capital and labour were important for wealth creation, the Vice President called for cooperation and harmony between the two. He also called for respecting every person who contributed to wealth creation, be it worker, manager or investor, as all of them had important roles in the production chain.
Referring to Mahatma Gandhi’s concept of trusteeship, Mr Naidu said wealth is not for individual luxury, rather it was collectively owned by the community and should be used for the welfare of public.
Speaking on the global economic changes, he said "in tandem with the global economy, we too are changing our economy. New legislative architecture is being created for a transparent, sustainable, efficient, high growth inclusive economy." India, he said, had the third largest pool of Start-ups and new Start-up actors were emerging in our economy, adding that "we are witnessing constructive disruptions in the economy."
Describing Thengadi as "a great intellectual and Karmayogi", Mr Naidu lauded that he built the most powerful nationalist trade union in the country. “It is remarkable that he never gave a call for bandh and also never made the trade union indulge in violence,” he pointed out.
Thengdi was an inspirational person, Mr Naidu said as for him, nationalism was about taking views of all sections and their interests. “He never believed in class hatred and class wars and rendered the very notion of class itself as irrelevant”, he said.
Lauding various organisations created by Thengri such as – Akhil Bhartiya Grahak Panchayat, Bhartiya Adhivakta Sangh and Sanskar Bharti, he said democracy should not merely remain limited to casting of votes, rather people should be actively involved in national affairs.
Such organisations help in giving a constructive voice to people’s aspirations, he added.
Prof Om Prakash Kohli, former Governor of Gujarat & President, Dattopant Thengadi Janm Shatabdi Samaroh Samiti, Dattatreya Hosabale, Joint General Secretary, Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh, Badri Narayan, General Secretary, Bharatiya Kisan Sangh, C K Saji Narayanan, President, Bhartiya Mazdoor Sangh and Shri Satish, Organising Secretary, Swadeshi Jagran Manch were among those present, an official statement here said.
UNI SD SY 1953