Gandhi’s ‘Gram Swaraj’ is still a dream: Writer

Mysuru: Writer Rupa Hassan on Monday regretted the sorry state of affairs in rural India and said the ‘Gram Swaraj’ vision of Mahatma Gandhi has failed.
Speaking at the meet on Gandhian ideals hosted as part of Bahuroopi, she said villages in the country are becoming dumping ground for urban waste, where inequality and discrimination based on caste and gender are still rampant. The present economic policies have rendered farmers’ lives miserable. There was a time when farmers were self-sufficient for their daily family needs. But now they have to depend on the government and multinational companies for seeds, fertilizers, loans, subsidies and ultimately for the survival and their families, she observed.
Mahatama Gandhi had strongly believed in the development of model villages by promoting human effort-centric sustainable living and promotion of cottage industries. But this vision has not materialised even today, she rued.
“Gandhi had also dreamt of decentralization of political and economic powers. But we are seeing concentration of money and power in a few hands. He stressed on women’s safety. But unfortunately, rape and atrocities on women have become the order of the day,” she pointed out.
Despite Gandhi’s warning about the ill-effects of alcohol, the governments have been giving licence to open more and more liquor shops. Shockingly, the number of people drinking liquor is increasing at the rate of 18% every year. The government is also encouraging prostitution by distribution of condoms and contraceptives through rehabilitated prostitutes, she alleged.
Social activist Kadashettyhalli Satish was present.