Dignity of Labour
In these hard days of unemployment in India, we are reminded of the prophetic words of Mahatma Gandhi. For Gandhi felt that there was enough employment for all who are prepared to work with their hands honestly. He believed that god has given everyone the capacity to work and earn more than his daily need and whoever is ready to use that capacity is sure to find work.
The poverty and unemployment in India is attributed to negligence and ignorance. Everyone is interested in white colored work in offices and within four walls without dirtying their hands or feet. This kind of employment may not be available to one and all. But he won is prepared to do any kind of work need not starve in this country.
Sir Winston Churchill wrote in his ‘Eearly years’ that “In India a man who polishes the left shoe will not touch the right one”. Though it may not be fully true, it portrays our attitude to labour.
Labour is essential for man. More than 90 percent of the humanity is living happily by working in the soil. But for their labour, the posh life in the air conditioned rooms of the cities is not possible.
When labour is so necessary it is foolish to condemn the laboring class. This distinction between one kind of work and another is a complex in us on account of our failure to understand and appreciate the dignity of labour.
Rich people in India want to imitate the British rulers of the past and look down upon the laboring class. This has resulted in maladjustment in the society leading to a rift between these two classes. This attitude has induced bonded labour and exploitation of uneducated workers. Democracy cannot function properly with this kind of social discriminations and distinctions. Everyone must take pride in doing manual work and the workers should not be treated as inferior. That is the dignity of labour.
No sane Government shall permit the exploitation of the working class. All facilities must be provided to the labourers and they should not be compelled to work for others. Everyone should have the right to work and there shall be security for the labourers which will make them feel secure and dignified.
The various enactments in favour of the working class passed in India after her independence provide them with medical aid and facilities, paid holiday and provident fund. But still the attitude has not change for he is looked down upon by the upper strata of the society.
Labourers should be given opportunities in the management. Then there should not be any distinction between the labourers and officers. The attitude of the people can be changed if all the people are made to work for themselves when they have no one to work for them, they will appreciate the dignity of labour. India is primarily a country of labourers and we should recognize the dignity of labour.
