A call has been made to start a new indigenous movement in India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced this initiative in his address from the Red Fort, especially before the 25 percent additional tariff imposed by US President Donald Trump. He repeatedly appealed to the countrymen to use items manufactured in their country. Along with this, he urged the traders to put a board showing on their store that ‘indigenous goods are sold here’. The Prime Minister said, ‘This season of festivals, such as Navratri, Vijayadashami, Dhanteras and Diwali, are celebrations of our culture, but it should also be a celebration of self -sufficiency. Therefore, I request you to be ‘Made in India’ whatever we buy.
Prime Minister Modi has been talking about self -reliant India for the last 11 years and is carrying forward the ‘Make in India’ campaign. Now, under the Swadeshi Movement 2.0, they are motivating people to buy ‘Made in India’ products. But the question is how much self -reliance India has achieved during this period? Statistics show that India’s dependence on other countries has increased at this time. Citizens have become dependent on China and other countries for everyday needs.
Trade between India and China has increased rapidly, which has also increased trade deficit. India’s oil imports in 2014 were 80 percent, which has now increased to 82 percent. Despite alternative energy measures, India has become dependent on other countries for its energy needs. This year, energy purchase from the US has doubled compared to the previous year.
However, the definition of today’s self -sufficiency is not the same. In the current global scenario, no country can be completely self -sufficient. America and China are also not out of this rule. The world has now turned into a village, where all are connected to each other.
The great philosopher Aristotle had said, ‘Man is a social creature.’ Similarly, it is true for today’s countries that no country can say that it does not need anyone. In such a situation, what is the meaning of self -reliance? It is a symbol of equal relations.
Adoption of indigenous and self -sufficiency is not possible only with slogans. Concrete steps will have to be taken for this. The government will have to make plans to convert traders into entrepreneurs. If the production of everyday items starts in India, the situation may change.
Small technical experiments in India should be encouraged. Such as social media platforms, apps and e-commerce platforms can be developed. If India improves the service sector, indigenous companies will get a market of 140 crore people.
