During the ancient times and before the advent of the industrial revolution, the cottage and village industries of India were in their advanced stage of development. The products made in these industries were very popular in the world markets and there was a huge demand for them. In the Asian and European markets, these goods used to sell like hot cakes and in Arab countries, people were crazy for Indian products. The consumption level of Indian products were very high in China, Japan, Java, Sumatra, Borneo, Sri Lanka etc. The elite class was fond of these goods within the country too. These industries had also got the protection of kings and emperors.
During the time of British rule over India, these industries did not get any type of encouragement or protection. Factories were established in the country. Goods imports from abroad commenced. The goods manufactured in factories were comparatively cheaper. Imported goods were also cheap. After the elimination of local kingdoms, there were no admirers left to value the products manufactured in cottage and village industries. Even the British rulers adopted an attitude of callousness (to begin with) and enmity (at later stages). The result of these happenings was the initiation of destruction of cottage and village industries. The goods manufactured in these industries could not compete with those manufactured in mills and factories on the price and quality fronts. Hence, slowly these industries headed towards their ultimate decay. If the cottage and village industries of India are given encouragement and protection, then the following benefits can accrue:
(1) The 70 per cent of population of the nation can get work for the idle time period (6 months). This would lead to a major contribution towards national productivity. The economic condition of villages would improve. The incomes of rural families would increase and their living standards would be enhanced.
(2) Those, who flee their villages to look for jobs in cities, would not have to do so. The problems that are created due to the arrival of such people (like over-crowded cities, construction of slums, rise in the number of unemployed etc) would be easily solved. As a result, the conditions of cities would not deteriorate.
(3) Due to growth of these industries, the economic disparity would reduce. The hiatus between the rich and the poor would be reduced. Poor people would rise above the poverty line. (
4) The rural areas would be developed through these industries and the problem of unbalanced development would be solved to some extent. Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, was a strong supporter of cottage and village industries. His opine on was that the only solution for solving the problems of India and transforming villages was (the establishment and growth of) cottage and village industries. Because of his efforts, these industries got a new lease of life. The government also made efforts for their growth. But this programme has not been able to get that much of support and protection as was expected to be given to it for its new life and growth.
A suggestion can be given in this context—loans should be arranged for these industries on a priority basis. Fraudulent activities are undertaken even during the supply of raw materials and these supplies are not given in full quantities at the right times. In this context, the system should be made efficient. The cooperative committees, set up to sell the goods manufactured in these industries, must be made more active and motivation Of working with a feeling of service must be inculcated in them. At some places, these industries have to face the problems related to electricity supply. These industries should be given electricity supply on a priority basis. In addition to this, the government’s procurement of these goods should be increased to encourage them. it is important to get advance estimates of he quantities of products made by these industries so that such products may not remain unsold. Besides, the government must know what are the problems that are still bothering these industries. After this, it is important to make efforts to eliminate these problems by giving them priorities.
In this context, two important suggestions are:
(a) efforts should be made on the government level to export the goods manufactured in these industries; the government must take a decisive first step to find export markets for this purpose.
(b) A centre should be established in each district to help these industries; the same entre should be directly responsible for meeting all the requirements of such ins tries; the same centre should execute. The tasks related to raw material super s, sale of finished machines and fulfillment of their needs related to loan preferment. In this manner, the problems of these industries would be removed to age extent.
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