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5 fundamental principles
11 social and socio-economic principles
Existence Leadership
Economic democracy Democracy
"State vs. private" Neo-humanism
9th social and
2nd socio-economic principle
of Prout
The minimum
necessities of all should be guaranteed in any particular age.
Purport: The Cosmic Entity is my father, the Cosmic
Operative Principle is my mother and the three worlds are my homeland.
So every thing or object of this universe is the common property of all
humanity. Nothing in the universe is cent percent equal in both quality
and quantity; therefore the minimum necessities of life should be made
available to everybody. In other words, food, clothing, medical
treatment, accommodation, education and so on must be provided to all.
Humanity’s minimum necessities however, change with the change in eras
or ages. For example for conveyance the minimum necessity may be a
bicycle in one age and then an airplane in another age. The minimum
necessities must be provided for all people according to the age in
which they live.
Question: What do we want, increase in per capita
income or increase in purchasing capacity?
Answer: Prout suggests that increases in per capita
income are not a sufficiently reliable and scientific index to determine
the standard and progress of a particular socio-economic unit. Rather, this approach is
misleading and deceitful, because it refers to a simple mathematical
calculation of total national income divided by total population. This
does not give the correct picture of the standard of living of the
people of a particular socio-economic unit, as the wealth disparity in society is
concealed. Per capita income shows the mean and not the variation of
income distribution. If inflation is also considered, the reliability of
per capita income is further reduced. On the other hand, purchasing
capacity is the real index of how a person's economic needs can be met
by their income. All Prout’s plans and programs in the socio-economic sphere should be aimed at
increasing the purchasing capacity of the people.
Note that Prout stresses increasing purchasing capacity
and not per capita income. Per capita income is not a proper indication
of the increase in the standard of living of the people because while
people may have very high incomes they may not be able to purchase the
necessities of life. On the other hand if the per capita income is low
but people have great purchasing capacity they are much better off. So
purchasing capacity and not per capita income is the true measure of
economic prosperity. Everyone's requirements should be within their
pecuniary periphery or purchasing capacity.
10 December 1987, Calcutta
From “Questions and answers”
Prout in a nutshell 12
Ananda Sutram 1962
Copyright Ananda Marga
Publications 1999
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The provision of food, clothing, housing, education, medical care and other necessities to all, is a collective responsibility and must be the cornerstone of economic policy and social effort. While regional self-sufficiency is encouraged, a social guarantee must back such
efforts. Surplus goods and services cannot be provided for anyone while people in general do not have their necessities. Of course, the definition of necessities will vary at different places. For instance, heavy clothing is needed in cold countries and transport requirements will vary from place to place. But a minimum level must be determined and guaranteed to all.
The prime mechanism for this policy in any modern economy is the provision of purchasing power through wages. To ensure that wages carry sufficient purchasing power for necessities, as well as to ensure that income differentials are contained, there must be collective prices and income control.
From New Aspects of Prout, by Jayanta Kumar
Proutist Universal Publications, Denmark 1987
Copyright The author 1999
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