Nagpur: Observing that farmers were in "pain", RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat said on Saturday that steps taken by governments such as loan waiver were temporary measures and not a solution to the problem. In remarks that were being seen as the RSS chief’s economic blueprint, Bhagwat said, while reforming and cleaning the economic systems, some tremors and instability were expected but the "informal economy" should feel the minimum heat and should get the maximum strength.
Bhagwat, speaking at the annual Dussehra event of the RSS, said Niti Aayog and economic advisers of the states must shed "same old economic 'isms'" and integrate up-to-date economic experiences with the country's ground reality.
Highlighting the plight of farmers, he asked the government to ensure a minimum support price. "Our farmer, who feeds not just his family but the entire nation, is in pain today. He is depressed after facing the onslaught of floods and droughts, export-import policy, meagre pricing, mounting loans and losing everything once the crop is ruined," Bhagwat said.
Stressing the need to strengthen the "informal economy", he added: "The biggest contribution is made by small, medium and handicraft industry, retail or small self employed businesses, cooperative sector and agro and agro-allied sector.” These sectors were the security net during the financial ups and downs and economic turmoil, which is "our informal economy", he said.
