LEARN FROM INDIA

THE soon to be released Bollywood film Sui Dhaaga (Needle and Thread) is inspired by the government’s “Made in India” campaign. The film sheds light on the life and struggle of artisans who ensure their art of embroidery doesn’t die.

The film opens with the aimless lead actor Mauji (Varun Dhawan) who is happy doing meagre work until his wife Mamta (Anushka Sharma) inspires him to gain his selfrespect and start his own business.

Mauji picks up his old sewing machine and begins his journey towards self-employment, as his wife helps him expand it into a small-scale hand-loom industry. It’s a story from being unemployed to self-employed.

India, which has the second largest population in the world and millions of mouths to feed with little help from the government, has a policy of developing small-scale cottage industries to help families to survive.

In South Africa, the unions and labour relation laws, for example, the minimum wage scale, are all millstones around the neck of progress.

It may surprise many people to know that India exports not only agricultural produce world-wide but also human expertise to the international communities.

India is the fifth largest economy globally and despite being a nuclear power and developing a space programme, it does not wait for hand-outs like spoilt South Africans. It respects the dignity of human labour, no matter how menial.

JAYRAJ BACHU | Clare Estate, Durban