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Fernandes links extremism to industrialisation, says swadeshi is the cure

Defence Minister George Fernandes today said the country was facing growing problems of extremism and unemployment due to departure from the concept of swadeshi.

The closure of various traditional units due to massive industrialisation, witnessed over the past few years, had rendered thousands of cratsmen jobless who are forced to take the wrong path of extremism, he noted.

Addressing a defence forces function in New Delhi, Fernandes cited north-east as a glaring example of extremism linked to unemployment due to industrialisation.

Terming unemployment as the biggest problem being faced by the country today, he said 150 million youth are awaiting employment and adoption of the swadeshi can provide them the opportunity and the means of livelihood. ''This will also deter them from adopting wrong means in life,'' he added.

The minister said the country's craftsmen were capable of producing world class products, but due to lack of proper promotion and policies they were being forced to mortgage their art before foreign companies.

He said foreign companies purchase articles from these craftsmen and their cooperatives and sell them in the country under a foreign brand name at a higher price. He emphasised the need for promoting these craftsmen and adopting country-made products.

"Our craftsmen are capable of producing the best of the products in the world today and promoting swadeshi would not only reduce unemployment, but would make available outstanding stuff at reduced rates,'' he said.

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