DH News ServiceM
SHIKARIPURA, April 14

The country is facing a stiff competition today due to the free trade policy of the central government which has opened up the Indian market to foreign investors. This has caused serious problems to small and cottage industries and in turn, has led to the harassment of poor and weaker sections of people, said Mr Muneer, lecturer of DVS college. Delivering a lecture on 'Ambedkar's ideals and present economic situation,' at Shikaripura recently, he said that small and cottage industrialists in the country were mainly employing poor and weaker sections of the people but globalisation was denying them employment opportunities.

The government has decided to close the loss-making government industries and was also thinking of privatising some of the industries by selling them to multi-nationals. This is against the ideals of the Constitution because the private owners will not employ on the basis of roster system which will lead to exploitation of the weaker sections of the society and poor people he said.

Criticising the government for making statement that they were working for the development of the weaker sections of the society, he said that the present situation was different and a large number of people belonging to weaker sections of the society have lost faith in the government. ''If this goes on, we cannot develop,'' he added.

Due to globalisation, all sectors, including the social sector, financial sector, educational sector etc are being exploited. Globalisation and privatisation are inter-connected and together, they exploit the weaker sections, he said, adding ''We should control this by using domestic products and provide education to children in the schools where the education is imparted in mother tongue.''

Hailing the achievements of Dr Ambedkar, Mr Muneer said that he fought bravely against untouchability and strove to develop the weaker sections in education, finance and other fields.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Somashekhar said that after independence, several governments have implemented developmental programmes. Mr B V Vasanth Kumar, Mr Krishnappa and Mr Channeshappa participated in the programme.