Today is the 115th birth anniversary of loknayak Jayaprakash Narayan (known throughout the world still today as JP). He combines in himself the essentials of Marxism and Gandhism. The quest was the core of his personality, characterising all three phases of his life: (i) A militant fighter for national independence, (ii) A democrat and (iii) A non-violent revolutionary.
JP pleaded for a massive programme of rural industrialisation. He felt that the rural Industries hardly touched the fringe of the problem. Small scale industries had hardly entered rural areas. large scale industries had done more harm than good. A balanced agro-industrial economy had to be built up so that urban exploitation structures do not get a foothold in the rural areas. Such a kind of rural development would produce a salutary effect even in the urban sector. For this he made the suggestion for the setting up of a Rural Industrialisation Commission as an apex decision making body. In regard to the used power and technology in rural industry, he held that a balance should be maintained between employment and efficiency and certain social values such as those of self-management and social equality and avoidance of exploitation should be promoted.
JP concluded that rural industrialisation would be able to transform the lopsided agricultural communities into balanced agro-industrial communities. This would, however, require a dose of rural education suited to meet the needs of the emerging situation. It cannot be possible without far reaching educational planning. Thus rural industrialisation is a process of educational and cultural development. For this the entire process of planning has to be geared to the process of rural industrialisation. As far as possible private profit interest should not be allowed to exploit the field of rural industry. Necessary protection has to be provided for the products of rural industry to save them from competition of large scale urban industries. As far as possible these industries should be run by cooperative and panchayat institutions. For this purpose, it would be necessary to set up appropriate agencies at the district, state and central levels. This would do away with fragmented and piecemeal approach to rural industrialisation (Problems of Rural Industrialisation in Brahamannd (Ed.): Towards total revolution, Vol.III).
JP was highly critical of the efforts made in this direction, and made three very useful suggestions:
(a) The planning commission (now Niti Aayog) should initiate studies into all such possible industries so that the operational for rural areas;
(b) Immediate research must be undertaken to improve the technology and manufacturing processes used in rural industries. He was thinking in terms of intermediate technology the application of which would make rural industries more productive and profitable;
(c) In view of the scarcity of electric power alternative non-conventional sources of energy should be actively explored. He deprecate the flight of enterprise from the village to the towns leading to the dearth of entrepreneurial talent in the village. It was necessary therefore to provide training in business organisation, promotion and management to educated rural youth in regional languages.
Taking the clue from JP in this direction. Rural Industries Projects (RIPs) were started by the Government of India as centrally sponsored schemes in September 1962 in selected regions of the country on experimental basis. The main thrust was to undertake intensive development of small scale industries based on local resources and skill in rural areas and evolve effective techniques and methods for rapid growth under different sets of conditions. In 1977 RIPs were replaced by District Industries Centre (DICs) and presently 707 DICs are at work in the country for which JP will be remembered. The Government of India deserves recognition for its foresight in drafting the national policies on skill development for the youth of India on the JP’s vision.
(The writer is a Social Scientist, formerly a Senior Professor of the B-Management Institute, Ranchi, and JRD Tata Chair Professor of Tata Steel).