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

Economy of Permanence
organize bodies of voluntary Workers for village sanitation, for the regulation of
village meetings and festivals, for the protection of life and property in the
village and for various services on such occasions as the prevalence of
epidemics or floods or similar emergencies. In fact for every full-time paid
Worker under Government, Panchayat or Multi-purpose Society there will have
to be humerous non-official voluntary servants of the village from the village
trained for such work by the Gram Seva Sanghas.
NOTE:- We have dealt with Village Panchayats, Multipurpose Co-operative
Societies and Gram Seva Sanghas as the three instruments of village
organization. But the ultimate aim of village organization is village self-
sufficiency in food and clothing and other major needs of village life as also
self-reliance and self-dependence as far as possible as the foundation of village
life and all this to be achieved on democratic and peaceful lines.
Village Culture: Village culture is a much neglected item. Neither Village Self-
Government nor Village self-sufficiency will be real or permanent without the
Solid influence of village culture. India has evolved through the centuries a
village culture which has fairly stood the test of time. It must be rediscovered,
valued and developed. The village woman particularly indicates the inheritance
of this culture adding beauty and strength to village life. It has often been said
that a village grand-mother can put a university graduate to shame with her
practical wisdom and understanding of life and its problems. The following
suggestions are made to nourish village culture:

1. Study of village traditions and habits, village institutions and village history.
2. Study of folk songs, folk tales and folk art.
3. Recovery and improvement of artistic handicrafts and village art in general.
4. Organization of bhajans, kirthans, dramatics, etc., for village education.
5. Organization of village festivals and important religious occasions to
   strengthen the unity of village life without distinction of caste and
   community-people belonging to different communities should be encouraged to
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