The other equally important plank in the programme of the Congress will have to be the removal of disparities in urban areas. The growing and widening gap between the rich and the poor and the substantial conspicuous consumption of a small section of society has created psychological barriers in the mind of people. There is a real danger that the commanding heights of the economy would be captured by the new rich class and a handful of monopoly empires. Any talk of socialism and well-being of the common man would be meaningless unless his five basic needs of shelter, food, health, education and clothing are provided in a reasonable period of time. The sacrifices during this long and arduous period of economic development must be shared equitably by the various sections of society. Otherwise, even stability and prosperity would become a vested interest of only a few, when millions continue to live the lives of privations and destitution. These were the basic contradictions which have arisen in the country during last two decades.
Equally important are the two other areas of action. One of them relates to tribal welfare and the other unemployment among educated youth. The problems of tribals are of varied nature. It will have to be admitted that we have not been successful so far in bringing the tribals in the mainstream of social, economic and political life of the country. Their economic backwardness arises mainly from the problems of land holdings and lack of credit. The transfer of land from tribals to non-tribals due to economic and social compulsions and ignorance has become an acute problem. This feeling of insecurity must be removed from their minds by prohibiting transfer of land from tribals to nontribals. Extension of cooperative credit to such areas and creation of new employment opportunities are the other steps which will have to be taken immediately.
Unemployment of educated youth is another problem of serious concern. This has been the inevitable result of the spread of education in the country during the last two decades. It will be unrealistic to think in terms of providing jobs to all the unemployed and under-employed in the governmental sphere alone. Accelerated growth of the economy, massive mobilisation of resources in both rural and urban areas and faster rate of industrialisation alone can remedy the situation. But the growing discontent and frustration in a large section of the society can strike at the root of stability and progress. Creation of more avenues of self-employment both in rural and urban areas can be one way of attacking this problem. Establishing agro-based industries and small-scale and cottage industries will have to be given a new impetus in our strategy.