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

Economy of Permanence
Expansion of such an economic organisation will naturally lead to "saving of
labour¹¹ or, in other words, creation of unemployment. Hence, in our county,
where capital is scarce and labour is plentiful, the methods followed in Great
Britain and the U.S.A. will naturally be out of place.
Man himself is a machine of a fine type with this difference that, unlike a
mechanical contrivance, he has to be kept alive by feeding whether he works or
not. Hence, even if we produce materials for consumption by mechanical aids
the people will have to be fed. Therefore, the efficient utilization of the
factors available will indicate extensive use of man-power as the normal
method of production in our country. If we fail to adopt this mode we shall be
guilty of throwing away the great labour wealth of our country. Such a course
can never lead us to prosperity.
The well-being of a nation does not consist merely in the output of material
production. This production is important only in so far as it enables the people
to meet their wants. In the first instance, therefore we must proceed to
organize the people to produce goods to satisfy their own needs, in regard to
food materials to afford them an adequate diet, clothing to protect them
against the weather and proper shelter; then we should arrange for their
physical, mental and moral welfare by making available medical aid, education
and other social amenities. Before these elementary, needs are fully met. It
would be folly to aim at producing goods for the export market. Money in itself
satisfies nothing except the miser's pleasure of counting it. Money is not an end
in itself. If our organization is such as to put much money in the hands of the
people and yet let them starve for lack of food materials, it would stand
condemned. Hence, our first care is to see that the people are satisfactorily
fed, clothed and housed, and only after these necessities have been adequately
provided for can they be allowed to indulge in other production. To direct
economic activity into this course is the first duty of any government worth the
name.
Apart from the mere satisfaction of the physical needs of the people we should
aim at inculcating the spirit of self-help, mutual aid, and a consciousness of
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