The Union Budget 2008-09 unfolds a gamut of social sector schemes amounting to hundreds and thousands of crores of rupees. A farm loan waiver package of Rs 60,000 crore is the most attractive one. A few days before the budget session the Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan in a Kisan Mahapanchayat, a farmer rally has also announced many sops to farmers, which will cost the state exchequer Rs 5600 crore. An interest rate cut by 2% and up to 50% exemption on electricity bill are the major announcements.
More than sops and sympathy the farmers in Madhya Pradesh need the right environment to realise their full potential. Madhya Pradesh village life gives birth a wide range of economic activities, which are sustainable as well as eco-friendly. Here villagers have the skill and endurance to grow a variety of crops even in adverse weather condition. For generations, villagers in tribal district of Madhya Pradesh have been making exotic jewelleries, dolls, wood craft, dhokra craft, terracotta, handloom, painting which are popular in domestic and international market. In order to improve their living condition the villagers need a transparent marketing chain, which will add to their income. It is not necessary that villagers will always export their products. They can earn a lot from the domestic market within the country. Madhya Pradesh artisans who have contributed to the State's rich heritage for generations should not be treated as wage earners. They should get the share of profit they deserve from the handicraft sale in domestic and global craft bazaars.
Senior artisans must be identified and engaged in providing training to new generation of artisans. If ever state government wants to give so they should give pension to genuine artisans and senior farmers with rich farm knowledge. This would inspire young generation to achieve innovation. More than sops the state government should create awareness about the marketing of handicraft in domestic and international market.
For decades there are many middlemen operating in different forms who collect handicrafts from tribal artisans at throw away price and sale it in global bazaars at high price. Here the state government has to intervene and ensure that the profit reaches the artisans.
MP villagers have the skill to make varieties of village delicacies and have the traditional knowledge to prepare medicines from herbs and shrubs. Here the state government has to safeguard the tribal knowledge which is being pirated out by some unscrupulous agencies working in the garb of NGOs in interior tribal districts.
Madhya Pradesh forest offers a large number of minor forest products which have a ready market across the country. Here the state government has to ensure the collectors of minor forest products get the price they deserve.
Villagers have immense skill to collect minor forest products from deep forest. The flora and fauna in Madhya Pradesh can boost tourism potential in the state. The state government can prepare a tiger watch package for the tourists which will earn them huge revenue. There is a need to create awareness about the ecological and tourism importance of tiger among villagers. In the budget Union Finance Minister has given one time grant of Rs 50 crore for tiger preservation across the country.
Over decades Indian tigers are under serious threat due to the obscurantist Chinese ayurvedic practices which prepare medicines from wild tiger parts. Tiger farms have come up in China in violation of International wild life laws. Chinese economy is close to cannibalism as it destroys everything required for healthy environment.
If the tourism and pilgrim potential of Madhya Pradesh is tapped in a scientific manner it could lift millions of people above poverty line. The Finance Minister has declared in his budget 2008-09 a five year tax holidays for hotel industries who will invest in tourist places. In fact the USP of tourism and pilgrim places is its natural beauty and cleanliness. In no way the government should allow construction activities which would distort the natural beauty of potential tourist spots. Let there be construction some twenty kilometre away from the tourists and pilgrim spots. Madhya Pradesh is blessed with many naturally beautiful spots. In a huge country like India it's impossible to build concrete roads to each and every places. Let there be tanga ride and other eco friendly vehicles which could very well meet the transportation demand of people at far lower cost. More than infrastructure a safe environment is always needed for the economic development of the state.
The state of Madhya Pradesh must carry out the biggest responsibility of popularising village culture without which many small economic activities will disappear. For example if people forget their festivals the skill of preparing wide range of local delicacies will disappear. If the bhil and bhilara tribe of Dhar and Jhabua donot celebrate holi festival they will not sing and dance. The rich tradition of making tribal jewellery and exotic dolls will ultimately disappear.
The state government must reform the education so that the villagers will be more scientific and logical in understanding their culture and tradition, which enshrines a gamut of economic activities. There is an urgent need to recognise the core strength of farmers in different natural sectors. The villagers could be potentially rich and productive in a clean and transparent system. Instead of giving social sector package give the villagers back their rivers with perennial flow, their clean pond and wells.
Restore the original biodiversity which once preserved countless number of edible herbs and shrubs as food back up. Tell the villagers how to use biomass, solar and wind to meet the energy need. Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has the opportunity to convert MP into a national lab for sustainable development. He has to cash in on the hidden potential of its farmers, the land, its rich biodiversity and micro economic activities carefully embedded on the fine fabrics of cultural traditions.
Sudhansu R Das
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