Throughout the world today many groups of people are in urgent need of relief. They are suffering from physical, psychic and spiritual deprivation because the different socio-economic systems in vogue only pander to particular sections of society, neglecting those in need and society as a whole.
In Marxism, for example, the state is for the welfare of the Shudras or proletariate. The non-proletariate are suppressed or oppressed. This is the rule of the Shudras, but actually there cannot be any rule of the Shudras. The very concept of proletariate dictatorship is unrealistic, impractical and unscientific, hence Marxism is a utopian ideal having no roots in the soil of reality. In 1977 there was a great change in the constitution of the USSR and it gave up its stupid bogey of proletariate rule and declared itself a welfare state.
Nevertheless, Marxism is like a house of cards that will fall apart after a light hammering. It will leave no impact in this practical world.
In capitalism or democracy the state is theoretically for the welfare of the majority. But in practice it is the rule of the minority of Vaeshyas or capitalists. Other groups of people are forced to become second grade citizens.
In the PROUTistic social order the state is for the welfare of all - sarva jana hita'ya. Nobody is suppressed or oppressed. PROUT supports the rule of Sadvipras. Only Sadvipras can guarantee the all-round welfare of all groups of people as they represent the interests of all classes in society.
Until PROUT is established, however, special efforts should be made to protect the interests of backward classes. For example, tribal people are among the most deprived of the backward classes. In Tripura and many parts of India, and in other countries of the world as well, tribal people are poor and illiterate. Special steps should be taken immediately to enhance their socio-economic development. Such steps should include the removal of all educational inequalities; the widespread establishment of cottage industries; proper agricultural facilities, especially irrigation water; self-reliance in energy production, like electricity; and communication facilities like telephones and railways.
In addition to this, the population of several other groups in the world is rapidly decreasing and they are in danger of extinction. Immediate efforts should be made to save them. These groups include the Zulus and Pygmies of Africa; the Lodhas of Bengal; the Málas of Máldah; the Angars of Rohatas in Bihar, whose language is Bhojpuri; the Ladakhis of Kashmir; the Romansh of Europe; the Maories of Australia and New Zealand; and the Scheduled Castes of Kinnaur. Although the Kaevartas of Ráŕh and neighbouring regions are not in danger of extinction, their rate of population growth is less than the normal rate.
In some countries of the world job reservation has been introduced to provide employment to backward classes and ensure their economic advancement. However, job reservation is not in tune with the ideology of PROUT. That is, when PROUT is established nobody will feel the necessity of job reservation because everybody’s progress is guaranteed in PROUT. In a PROUTistic system, people will not seek jobs-jobs will seek people.
In the present socio-economic circumstances however, the following preferential system should be adopted as temporary measure to alleviate the suffering of the people:-
- Poor people coming from backward families should get first preference in the fields of services and education, irrespective of their birth affiliation.
- Second preference should go to the poor people coming from non-backward families.
- Third preference should go to the non-poor people coming from backward families.
- Last preference should go to non-poor people coming from non-backward families.
Here, ‘backward’ means families which did not get any services or education in the past. Such families should continue to get these facilities until there is no poverty in the country- that is, until the minimum requirements are guaranteed.
Thus the criteria for receiving preferential services and education should not be birth affiliation but a person’s economic condition. A so-called pariah or low caste shoe-repair man may be economically rich thus the advantage of job reservation is superfluous for him and misleading for society. There is no need of job reservation in these circumstances. On the other hand there may be a Maithili Brahmin who comes from a so-called high caste family but is economically very poor. Job reservation is essential for him, and would increase the economic standard of the entire society.
Many undeveloped and under developing countries are struggling to elevate their backward classes. For, example Bihar state is at war on the question of backward and forward. If the above system is followed it would certainly end all possibility of struggle amongst backward and forward classes in India and other countries of the world. At the same time it would automatically provide people with the opportunity for social justice and economic self-sufficiency.
Without giving any consideration to caste, creed, religion, race, language or sex, governments would be able to create a suitable environment for the all-round and quick development of all local people, providing them with food, clothing, housing, education and medical care. This would eliminate any feeling of inferiority complex from their minds, and all would have the opportunity of earning their livelihood on the basis of their capabilities. [excerpted from PROUT in a nutshell – Part XV by Shrii P. R. Sarkar, on June 1979, Calcutta.]
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