“Teach backwards and poor to fish”

 “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for life time. “

“Work is worship. There is no substitute for hard-work”

The key for sustainable development lies in preparing a man to be self-reliant without crutches in any welfare state. Doles by ruling authorities can benefit only a few individuals belonginf to submerged sections of society.  There is a folk tale –

Once a man came to a prophet and asked for some money for his livelihood. The prophet taught him a formula for dignity. He gave an axe and advised him to “go to the jungle, cut some wood, and earn your livelihood by selling it. And meet me after fifteen days”. The man sincerely followed the advice. After fifteen days, when he met the prophet he said, “I am happy with my job. Now I know that for living in dignity, I must not ask for anything from anyone.”

Nature has gifted everybody with some special quality and enormous potential to pursue own interest. The best way to empower individuals and to create an equitable society is to make him aware of his potential. Inculcate in poor an attitude to tap their own potentials, to give them incentive to work, provide them conducive atmosphere to work, and encourage them to earn their living by honest means, achieve good results by hard work and move ahead in life. One must rely on his own efforts. Hard work is always accompanied by confidence with a feeling “Yes, I can do it”. Do not yell for easy money or doles. Favor or external help can give temporary relief.

It is often alleged that forward caste people are born with silver spoon in their mouth. But it is a misconception. It is said that it is not ease but effort, not facility but difficulty that makes a man. Through hard work, one can earn money, but through money one can not buy hard work or happiness. Too much comfort kills motivation. Certainly self motivation/incentive to work is of far more valuable than external support.

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