CGP,India- National Workshop
Rajeev Khanna
Tribune News Service
Kosi Katarmal (Almora), December 30
Action should be taken at the local level to combat the problems occurring due to globalisation. This was stated by eminent social activists at the ongoing national workshop on search for alternative paradigms in the context of climate distortion.
Convener of the Uttarakhand chapter of the Citizen Global Platform (CGP) Raghu Tewari said the livelihoods of the poor were being severely affected to sustain the lifestyle of the rich.
"The marginalised people are the biggest victims of the climate change politics across the globe. The local ecosystems are being ignored, while there is a big talk of saving the globe," he said.
He said the media often localises the news about the masses by printing or broadcasting it at the local levels, while it disseminates paid and corporate news across the globe. He asserted that the localisation or cohesive efforts at the local level could help combat the problems occurring due to the globalisation.
"The present day concept of globalisation has nothing to do with the ancient concept of Vasudeva Katumbakam, as it is a mere attempt to overcome the shortfalls of the capitalist system and ensure its survival. The governments have given up the social responsibility to save money and the entire effort is to protect private capital," said Tewari.
He made some interesting observations in context of Uttarakhand and pointed that the state was going through a painful phase, where there were no less than 500 hydel projects in the pipeline that would lead to serious social, economic and environmental problems.
He said the migration of men has resulted in women exceeding the men in numbers in the hilly terrain of the state. According to Tewari, the village economy model of the state had almost collapsed and artisans had been compelled to give up their work.
Dr Sudhirendra Sharma said the very concept of a monetised economy, where everything was measured in terms of money, was the root cause of the problem. He said the term globalisation was marked with complaints and reinstatements and it has been oscillating between the two.
"We live in an era of deficit democracy," said Dr Sharma. The expert underlined that the process of globalisation has led to increased vulnerability and the GDP-led model of growth.
