The Economy of Permanence: A Quest for a Social Order Based on Non-violence (स्थायी अर्थतन्त्र)

Economy of Permanence
on collecting the profits together first and then set about distributing, are
going counter to their bountiful nature, which rewards directly. This socialist
method also will spell violence in the long run.
Planning : Though this is not the place to consider in detail a proper scheme of
Planned Economy, yet it may not be out of place to point out at this stage that
no plan centering its consideration solely on products and wages will be in
alignment with nature. Any plan to answer our purpose and to lead to the
achievement of the Economy of Permanence will have to be centered on the
function of work, and be founded on the capacity and the nature of the human
being for whom the work is intended.
A farmer had his grains harvested and stored in his barns, rats made inroads on
his stock. Then he considered the problem and planned his household based on
the ways of nature. To keep the rats away he obtained a cat: the very nature of
a cat being to hunt down the rats, his method was in accordance with the
natural order. Then to feed the cat he bought a cow and, finally, to look after
the cow and the household he married a wife! Such functional planning will
lead to success.
Unfortunately, most of the plans that are brought out at present are product-
centered with a certain amount of attention paid to wages. As in Germany and
Russia, such plans will no doubt produce quick results, but they will not be
lasting and in time will generate violence, as they do not follow the way of
Permanence.
[ In Part II of this book, while dealing with the question arising out of 'Man in
Gregation', we shall have occasion to consider our approach to a planned
economy as well as discuss such subjects as Democracy, Government or State,
Trade Exchange, Communication, Natural resources, Education, etc. ]
www.mkgandhi.org Page 100