Dr. K. VEERAMANI
Like old wine in a new bottle, the long discarded caste based Occupational Education scheme imposed by C. Rajagopalachari has come back to haunt us again, under the garb of ‘Vishwakarma scheme’ –another ploy of the BJP headed, RSS backed, Union government, to transmit occupations from one generation to another. This could be expressed in other words as- “caste based occupation.”
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Unjust scheme
This unjust scheme was announced by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his Independence Day Speech on 15th August, 2023. A whopping sum of Rs.13,000crore has been earmarked for this purpose that has shocked the entire country. Modi called it “Guru-Sishya Parampara” which means “teacher-student tradition.” Artisans and crafts people working with their hands and tools are given the name ‘Vishwakarmas.’
Eighteen traditional trades are to be covered under this scheme as listed here below:
1. Carpenters 2. Cobblers
3. Masons 4. Blacksmith
5. Goldsmith 6. Locksmith
7. Barber 8. Weaver
9. Potter 10. Boat maker
11. Armourer 12. Sculptor
13. Washerman 14. Garland maker
15. Tailor 16. Tool-kit maker
17. Basket/broom/mat/doll maker
18. Weaver
Besides, these 18 artisans, stone breakers, fishing net makers, coir weavers, toy makers are also brought under suitable groups. 30 lakh artisan families are to be covered over five years of this scheme.
Concealed strategy
The obvious objective of this foul scheme is to strengthen and nurture Varnashrama dharma which is in other words Sanatanadharma in the lexicon of the RSS backed BJP rulers. For the past nine years the BJP led union government has been vigorously striving to safeguard caste and help caste based discriminations thrive. The cat is now out of the bag.Their strategy has been unveiled by the announcement of this evil scheme. The Cabinet Committee for Economic Affairs (CCEA) should be condemned for granting approval to this scheme which forces our youngsters to inherit occupations of their parents, grand parents and great grand parents. This would become a permanent obstacle for progress and advancement in life.
Aryan linchpin
Graded inequality has been the linchpin of the Aryan wheels for centuries. Dr.Ambedkar strove throughout his life to remove it and eradicate birth based discriminations. The equality of mankind was exploded by the Aryans. Egalitarianism was thrown overboard. People were all divided as upper caste, lower caste, touchable and untouchable. Human beings born free were all segregated and enslaved by the Aryan fanatics. The venomous snake of social injustice has now come closer to bite us with its deadly fang. It is a call of alarm for us all. We have to defeat the purpose of the fascist rulers by the collective efforts of all the like – minded parties. We shall also urge the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Hon’ble M.K. Stalin to protest strongly against this unjust scheme. The Dravidian Model government headed by the DMK would certainly oppose it vehemently. The ploy of the BJP headed government is to revive indirectly, the birth based stigmatic denigration thrust on the downtrodden people. We shall fight tooth and nail to get this scheme dropped at any cost.
Tempting baits
As per the press release of the Union government, this scheme has been chalked out as a five year plan for the period 2024 to 2028. Following the student – teacher tradition, the heirs of the elders are to be imparted two types of skill-training programmes- basic level and advanced level. Artisans and craftsmen would get credit support of Rs.1 lakh to Rs.2 lakh at a concessional interest rate of five percent. Briefing reporters, the Prime Minister has added further that 30 lakh artisan families would derive benefits out of his scheme. These are all tempting baits to hoodwink gullible people.
Dravidian movement have been striving for social justice all along the past decades. We prevented youngsters from adopting caste based occupations. By our efforts, many downtrodden heirs could become I.A.S./I.P.S. officers. The core ideology of Dravidian movement has been to help the suppressed people reach glorious heights in life. That would be real social reformation. We caution all the youngsters of this new generation. Do not be lured by the promises of the dictatorial rulers. If you fall into their trap and opt for the occupations of your fathers or fore fathers, you would remain degraded for ever in society. You would remain enslaved for ever. Hence, beware the tempting fishing rod with a bait on the hook. Stay away from the snares of this R.S.S. backed Sanatan government.
Wake-up call
This is the land where Thirukkural, the storehouse of wisdom, was born. Caste based occupational education can never ever crop up here. We shall not allow it to infect other states too. We need only progress. No one can force us to regress. The clock of our progress must never be made to work in the reverse order. An anti- clockwise movement would obstruct the advancement of our children.
This unjust scheme that was imposed by C. Rajagopalachari was thrown overboard during 1952-1953 itself. We formed an egalitarian society through the services of stalwarts like Kamaraj. This is the land of Periyar. There is no room for social injustice here. The unjust ‘Vishwakarma’ scheme should be nipped in the bud. We have to mobilise the support of all the like minded leaders of all the parties and chalk out remedial measures. All the oppressed and suppressed people must wake up treating this as a call of alarm. The caste based occupational education scheme was buried deeply in Tamil Nadu nearly 70 years ago. It is about to rise from the grave during this RSS backed BJP rule. This Vishwakarma Scheme is bent upon preventing our children and grand children from becoming doctors, engineers, lawyers and the like judges. Hence, all parents have to realise the imminent crisis and strive to see a bright dawn. Let us stand united and get this scheme scrapped.
