English rendering of text of Prime Minister's speech at Lalpur, Varanasi at the event for Trade Facilitation Centre and Crafts Museum
Honourable Governor present on the stage Shri Ram Naikji, my colleague in the Central government Shri Gangwarji, all the distinguished guests, brothers and sisters.
Can we just open those curtains on the side which are closed due to security reasons. Please open them a little so that some air can come in and I can see well. Right now I am unable to see anything properly due to them. The security men at back also open those curtains… how does not it affect you… and those who are sitting inside will get some air. Our security personnels are quite concerned about security.
Sreeman Ahmad Hasan, Minister from the UP government has graced the ocassion, I would like to thank him. Today, I am here among my own people. The seating arrangement as per government convention has made me to sit here on the stage and you are seating on the other side, which seems like a divide. But I don’t consider this as such, I believe that I am sititing besides you. I consider Benaras as a place where I received unconditional love and acceptance. The joy of being among one’s own people is a different joy altogether. I had my plans to visit Benaras but due to the huge cyclone in Andhra Pradesh, it was necessary for me to visit there first, and so I could not come here. The programme had to be reshuffled. But today, I am here with you for two days. I am here amongst you all as your representative, as your friend of good and bad times, I have come here to your serve you; to help you.
Textiles is the second largest sector after agriculture, providing employment to millions. This is a sector which can sustain many lives with very little investment. The uniqueness of this sector lies in the fact that a divide between the owner and labourer is not possible. Even in agriculture if the farmer owns the land, and hires laboureres, a divide is apparent. But in this sector whether handlooms or powerlooms, be it the owner or the labourer or some outside trader, all have to function as a unit, as a family. Neither caste nor religion has a role to play in this. The unit functions like a family in a peaceful environment and not only weaves the threads of the fabric but also the fabric of the society they live in. Here I am referring to our ancient Ganga-Yamuna culture; that very culture which binds every loom and powerloom. A culture that defines India and most importantly Benaras - a city with unique heritage. But if this illustrious heritage does not change with time then it may wither. This is one of those sectors where customer satisfaction is important. The modern day customer is being provided with new varieties of items everyday, so he has no consideration for old fashioned stuffs. Their demands have expanded and they seek new variety, new products, new fabrics, new finishings, an overall new packaging, new colour etc. But some people do not understand the prevalent change in taste and demand and they continue with their age old work pattern. This leads to their products being availabe for only few clientele who buys their products on regular basis. This leads to neither growth of product demand nor growth of eco system for demand of such products. And this is one industry employing the maximum number of people, it employs poor, it employs weaver families from Julaha community. All sections of society are connected to this in some way or the other. So it has to change its form in order to keep pace with the world. It is important to develop a system where this art could survive the impact of modernistation.
So just sending or pumping money will not help. This needs to be taken forward with a comprehensive vision and today we are inititating this programme from the holy city of Benaras. Money is not the solution to this problem nor will loans from banks help much. The solution lies in an indepth study and minute understanding of the whole issue. Some people are already experimenting, they are using computerized designs to modernize weaveing methods. Momentum should be high to reduce wastage to minimum. Solutions like how we are moving forward in this direction, how we are upgrading both technology and human resources combined will make some difference. The weavers need to be informed about the newest technological and product upgradations. To learn this, weavers do not need degrees from NID or NIFT to enhance their products. This knowledge can be easily delivered at their doorsteps, at their homes. It is our endeavour to bring in the people from the lower strata within this sector in the ambit of the designing process so that they too can be benefited. This will also lead to chain of improvements in production, speed, quality and design.
The foremost component of the governemnt plan would then be technology upgradation. We should be able to compete in world markets whether it ia handloom or powerloom. We need to focus on research to meet the challenges of the world market. Manufacturing of equipments should be commensurate with the technology. We need to work in that direction and government has taken some steps in this regard. It is equally important to develop human resource pool. The people working in this field understand the nuances of what changes are required to satisfy the consumer. It will be of much more benefit if this knowledge is granted to our people at their own home turf and not at some far-off reputed colleges. They can also be trained through day-to-day practice while working on it. It is our endeavour to provide such trainings and to take this task forward. Thirdly, our focus is the new generation. We need to think seriously that the new generation must join this profession not out of compulsion but because of sense of pride. But at the same time, it is not possible to plan new schemes with empty stomach. There should be a proper system which must assure our youth with guaranteed income. We need a comrehensive vision. Isn’t this amazing that there is no women in India, not one, be it poorest of poor or even illiterate who hasn’t heard of a Benarasi saree.
The truth is that it is not our own accomplishment. If asked genuinely that how many of us who are presently sitting here has contributed for this to happen, the answer will be very few among us or none, because in true sense this legacy belongs to our ancestors. Our ancestors have worked for the same with unparalleled devotion and purity of thought. Our ancestors have laid a foundation where every mother wants to gift a Benarasi saree to their daughter on the most solemn ocassion of their life – their marriage. Such is the vibrant legacy we have. We do not need any marketing. You can imagine that we are a nation of 1.25 billion. In the coming years about 20 crore daughters are going to be married. That means there is a market for 20 crore sarees. Have the residents of Benaras thought of such a huge market? Have you ever thought that such a huge market is awaiting you?
But we did whatever we could. The product reached to only handful of people and those who didn’t get it, what they did? They bought artificial stuffs available in markets. We have to increase this production quantum. This is the need and intent of every Indian family to buy a benarasi saree for their daughters who are getting married. So you have an assured market and those who have an assured market should work for larger market share. To retain their markets they should work on quality, design, service and these traditions should all be maintained. To encourage this effort we are opening this Trade Facilitation Center. Suppose if we add land cost to it, the total cost of this project will reach approximately 500 crore rupees. But even if I don’t count land cost, still Benaras has a project worth Rs 150 crores. This is not just a matter of Rs 150 crores. The day this center will start functioning, all international or domestic tourists visiting Benaras will surely come to see this place. They will be able to get the artifacts, the textiles, etc. all at one place. These all products are our legacy and at this place, all will be available under one roof. Whatever the reason for this visit is, be it offering prayers or to take a dip in the sacred Ganges, everyone will visit this place. Even if somebody wishes to just tour the historical city of Benaras, he will be visiting this place. You are going to feel the sacred touch of Ganga at your home. And hence it is your responsibility to be a part of this facilitation centre. How you associate with it, is up to you. How you display your products and what modern technology you use to attract the market, is up to you.
Today e-business is expanding globally. The possibilties of a global market are due to technological advancements. Even the West is aware of Benaras. I had been to Boston many years ago. Boston is considered to be a city of intellectuals. But there were two things that surprised me. They took me to show a lane. Not a wide but a narrow lane. Not a usual lane which we find in America, it was a narrow lane. So I was taken there and was told that the narrow lane is called Benaras Street. I asked the reason behind calling it Benaras Street. Was narrowness of the lane reason behind that? They said no, the top most faculty of our university lives here and it is a place of the intellectulas. We also call our teachers as “Gurus”. So I encountered two things to be proud of; one was the usage of word Guru for teachers and second was the name of the street – Benaras, both these concepts filled my heart with joy and pride. This incident was some 15-20 years old. So you can imagine that the world is very much familiar with the term Benaras. Our ancestors have created this legacy. With e-commerce, we can work strategically to use this legacy, we try to reach the global markets and modify according to the global requirement. I am hopeful that we can take this industry to the zenith at a faster pace.
The government of India has taken yet another decision. It is true that the workforce in this sector needs government assistance, they need monetary help. So we have decided that they all will have a bank account under the Prime Minister Jan Dhan scheme and will become direct beneficiaries. Money will be directly deposited in their accounts. So there will be no hinderance, no leakage, no trouble and even you will not need to follow undue procedures to claim your dues. How to make this system smooth? Well we are focussed to make this facility available for the comman man so the poorest of the poor can get benefit from this scheme.
Benaras, perhaps is the only city which has such a vibrant legacy. I don’t think any other city in the world has such an inheritance. It has art, music, dance, architecture, holiness, spirituality and brotherhood. What is it that you don’t have. So how should we develop a new Benaras with new thought process, with modern activities along with its ancient roots and pride? I have various planning and ideas to achieve this. Today I will speak less as I know people think that if Modi is here, he will make some announcements. But I believe more in doing than talking. As the work progresses, there will be further dialogues. I do not believe in making tall claims. I truly belive in implementing ideas that arise during my course of consultation and interaction with you people.
This centre is located outside the city of Kashi. We made efforts to make it close to the city. The State government did not rent us the land, hence we had to move to the outskirts. But still this new development is going to play a major role in the growth of Kashi.
Recently, we made a major decision. I often discussed it during my election campaign. Politicians are accustomed to making big promises during their election campaign and then forgetting them and coming up with new promises the next time around. But I am not a product of that kind of politics. What brings me here is your love. Whatever I am today is because of your love. But deep in my heart I feel that if India has to develop and it will not happen just by the development of the Western part. The Eastern part of India needs to develop equally as well. If one hand is strong and the other handicapped, then the body on the whole cannot be called healthy. Our motherland is strengthened when both its Western and Eastern ends are equally strong. This includes eastern UP, Jharkhand, Bihar, Assam, North East and Orissa. These are States where the development potential needs to be explored further. It is our effort that the whole nation progresses simultaneously and hence my attention is now entirely focussed on the Eastern part of India. Last week we made an important decision. I do not know whether the newspapers has published it or not. In UP, especially in Eastern UP, there are many banks in 16 districts which are forced to close due to financial crisis, scams, political corruption, etc. Middle class, lower class and poor farmers in particular has suffered most due to this bank issue. It was necessary to revive these banks but they lacked the capacity to revive on their own. They needed assistance, hence the Government of India has provided them a package of Rs 2375 crores. Under this scheme 16 banks in Bahraich, Devaria, Siddhartha Nagar, Sultanpur, Jaunpur, Hardoi, Basti, Ballia, Azamgarh, Gorakhpur, Fatehpur, Sitapur, Varanasi, Allahabad, Ghazipur and Faizabad will be revived and the small traders and poor people can start their transactions with these banks. This work should be finished at a fast pace. We have given money to State government for the revival of these banks. But this revival process is only possible if we keep our political agendas aside and work together. Only then the allocated money will be used properly to revive the banks. The bank should be revived and common man should be benefited. This is not a single party work. All parties should join their hands together to make it successful for common man. We have to rise above petty politics and help to revive these banks. All these banks are in Eastern UP, so this region will flourish if they are successfully revived.
I am here for two days; today and tomorrow. I have meetings with many people . I have to discuss a lot with them. I want to assure you that you have shown trust in me, you have given me unconditional love, so I am yours, I am for you and whatever capacity and knowledge God has granted me, I will use it to the best of my ability for the development of this region, for the upliftment of the poor. I wish to express my gratitude once again.
Thank you.
(The original speech was in Hindi, this is the English rendering. Original speech remains the authoritative version)
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