Tag: labour

EFFECTS OF GLOBALIZATION ON INDIAN SOCIETY

Globalization has many meaning depending on the circumstance and on the individual who is talking about. There is one of the term of Globalization is a process of the “reconfiguration of geography, so that social space is not entirely mapped in terms of territorial distance, territorial places and territorial borders.” The simple term of globalization refers to the integration of economies of the world through uninhibited trade and financial flows, as also through mutual exchange of technology and knowledge. Ideally, it also contains free inter country movement of labor.

Indian society drastically changes after urbanization and globalization. The economic policies has direct influence in forming the basic framework of the Indian economy. The government shaped administrative policies which aim to promote business opportunities in every country, generate employment and attract global investment. In which the Indian economy witnessed an impact on its culture and introduction to other societies and their norms brought various changes to the culture of this country as well. The developed countries have been trying to pursue developing countries to liberalize the trade and allow more flexibility in business policies to provide equal opportunities to multinational firms in their domestic market. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank helped them in this endeavor. Liberalization began to hold its foot on barren lands of developing countries like India by means of reduction in excise duties on electronic goods in a fixed time Frame.

Globalization has several aspects and can be political, cultural, social, and economic, out of Financial integration is the most common aspect. India is one of the fastest-growing economies in the world and has been predicted to reach the top three in the next decade. India’s massive economic growth is largely due to globalization which was a transformation that didn’t occur until the 1990s. Since then, the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) has grown at an exponential rate.

Indian government did the same and liberalized the trade and investment due to the pressure from the World Trade Organization. Import duties were cut down phase-wise to allow MNC’s operate in India on an equal basis. As a result globalization has brought to India new technologies, new products and also the economic opportunities.

Despite bureaucracy, lack of infrastructure and an ambiguous policy framework that adversely impact MNCs operating in India, MNCs are looking at India in a big way, and are making huge investments to set up R&D centres in the country. India has made a lead over other growing economies for IT, business processing, and R&D investments. There have been both positive and negative impacts of globalisation on social and cultural values in India.

Economic Impact:

1. Greater Number of Jobs: The advent of foreign companies led to the growth in the economy which led to creating job opportunities. However, these jobs are concentrated in the various services sectors and led to rapid growth of the service sector creating problems for individuals with low levels of education. The last decade came to be known for its jobless growth as job creation was not proportionate to the level of economic growth.

2. More choice to consumers: Globalisation has led to having more choices in the consumer products market. There is a range of choices in selecting goods unlike the times where there were just a couple of manufacturers.

3. Higher Disposable Incomes: People in cities working in high paying jobs have greater income to spend on lifestyle goods. There’s been an increase in the demand for products like meat, egg, pulses, organic food as a result. It has also led to protein inflation.

Protein food inflation contributes a large part to the food inflation in India. It is evident from the rising prices of pulses and animal proteins in the form of eggs, milk and meat. With an improvement standard of living and rising income level, the food habits of people changed. People tend toward taking more protein intensive foods. This shift in dietary pattern, along with rising population results in an overwhelming demand for protein rich food, which the supply side could not meet. Thus resulting in a demand supply mismatch thereby, causing inflation.

In India, the Green Revolution and other technological advancements have primarily focused on enhancing cereals productivity and pulses and oilseeds have traditionally been neglected.

• Shrinking Agricultural Sector: Agriculture now contributes only about 15% to GDP. The international norms imposed by WTO and other multilateral organizations have reduced government support for agriculture. Greater integration of global commodities markets leads to constant fluctuation in prices.

• This has increased the vulnerability of Indian farmers. Farmers are also increasingly dependent on seeds and fertilisers sold by the MNCs.

Globalization does not have any positive impact on agriculture. On the contrary, it has few detrimental effects as the government is always willing to import food grains, sugar etc. Whenever there is a price increase of these commodities.

• Government never thinks to pay more to farmers so that they produce more food grains but resorts to imports. On the other hand, subsidies are declining so the cost of production is increasing. Even farms producing fertilizers have to suffer due to imports. There are also threats like introduction of GM crops, herbicide resistant crops etc.

• Increasing Health-Care costs: Greater interconnections of the world have also led to the increasing susceptibility to diseases. Whether it is the bird-flu virus or Ebola, the diseases have taken a global turn, spreading far and wide. This results in greater investment in the healthcare system to fight such diseases.

• Child Labor: Despite prohibition of child labors by the Indian constitution, over 60 to a 115 million children in India work. While most rural child workers are agricultural laborer’s, urban children work in manufacturing, processing, servicing and repairs. Globalization most directly exploits an estimated 300,000 Indian children who work in India’s hand-knotted carpet industry, which exports over $300 million worth of goods a year. The many effects of globalization of Indian society and has immense multiple aspects on Indian trade, finance, and cultural system. Globalization is associated with rapid changes and significant human societies. The movement of people from rural to urban areas has accelerated, and the growth of cities in the developing world especially is linked to substandard living for many.

Sources: https://www.clearias.com/effects-globalization-indian-society/

DIGNITY OF LABOUR

“No work is insignificant. All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity.” Martin Luther King, Jr.

EVERY WORK MUST BE GIVEN HONOUR

The word ‘dignity’ means the ‘quality of being worthy of honour or respect So the expression ‘dignity of labour’ means honour or respect’ received through or for hard work. That is why it is said that ‘work is worship’. Every type of work need labour, physical or intellectual. But the word labour’ is generally used in the sense of physical labour which is as important as intellectual labour. The production of cereals, construction of buildings and the other constructive work require physical labour. Man cannot do without hard labour. So, he should do all types of work.

WRONG NOTION ABOUT MANUAL LABOUR

But the attitude of the educated and the gentlemen towards manual labour is wrong. They are of the opinion that manual work is fit for the illiterate men only. But they are mistaken. All intellectual work involves some sort of physical labour. Even a student has to labour hard to pass the examination. All artists, scientists and writers whose work is intellectual have to spend hours with patience. The manual work too needs the exercise of intellect. A carpenter, an ironsmith, a goldsmith, a barber, etc. whose work is physical have to exercise intellect to improve the quality of their work.

MANUAL LABOUR: THE ROOT OF ALL PROGRESS

And it is the manual labour which is at the root of all progress. It is rightly said that true labour never goes in vain. Labour has its own importance. Nothing can be achieved in the world without labour. The prosperity of a country depends on its agricultural products. So, there is no humiliation in the cultivation of land. The people of the West do their work themselves. They look upon labour as something honourable and sacred. Such is the importance of labour that its dignity is recognised by all. It is the source of health and happiness.

Dignity Of Labour

As it is truly said, ” Work is Worship.” Manual work is indeed a good physical exercise thus keeping them in shape & fit. It makes us more self-supporting & self-reliant. Also what needs to be learned is that all honest work is dignified and worthy of respect.

All great men of the labour of the world have admitted the importance of labour. By dignity of labour, one is implying for the dignity of manual labour. The society we live in cannot exist without labours. Whether intellectual or manual, it is the basis of life. So as it is rightly said, ‘An idle brain is a devil’s workshop’. When a person works with his hands his brain is also simultaneously concentrating at the work. No work can be accomplished unless both are under synchronization.

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So for example, when a Mason builds a house, his intelligence rules & regulates his physical activity. Whilst if the farmer gives up tiling the land, vendors give up carrying commodities to market, sweepers refrain from sweeping, then the whole world will be at stake & human life will go on a standstill. 

Another greatest example of slavery to quote can be by mentioning the slavery of ancient Egypt. There used to be three classes of labours i.e. chattel slavery, bonded labor, and forced labor. Now, firstly the Chattel slaves were mostly captives of war and were brought over to different cities and countries to be sold as slaves. Secondly, category, being bonded labour is the form of slavery in which people sold themselves including their children sometimes. And thirdly the forced labour. Now there used to be certain slaves contracted for the purpose to serve in like military expeditions, mining and quarrying, and construction projects. And then they were paid a wage, depending on their skill level and social status for their work. So both men & women represented the Egyptian labour culture & it was difficult to mention social status based on it. By far the most prominent example, in history. 

Throughout human existence, the lower social class has involved a spectrum of variants, from slavery to caste or caste-like systems, to subtler forms of inequality. Comparably the working classes in Eu­rope and America have pushed themselves up to a position of power, influence, and comparative comfort. Manual labour is recognized today, at least in theory, as being worthy of free citizens, and no stigma attaches to a man because he works with his hands rather than his head.