How people conceive welfare society?

When a housewife goes to any eastern or western ‘cash and carry’ she returns home grumbling. When asked if she has lost some money she further loses her temper, saying a bunch of green coriander has gone up 300 per cent to Rs60. “God help us!”

The question is which social and economic system they want for their welfare.Visit to several places and mosques revealed middle, lower middle and poor segments want a society based on principles laid down in the Quran.

Most of them feel financially crippled by surging prices of kitchen items as well as those of children books and stationery. 

They raise some basic questions: Why a new homeland was created for Muslims in the sub-continent, why feudalism and capitalism have not been replaced by a welfare system when the new state was achieved after a long struggle in the name of Islam, and why the masses are exploited.

Disgusted people psychologically get heartened when some participants of discussion emphasize the need for studying the Quran, particularly ‘Surah Al-Baqarah’, for getting rid of miseries caused by socio-economic injustice, bribery, corruption, hoarding, black-marketing, nepotism and unemployment etc.

City olds say understanding the Quran will help evolve a welfare society as ordained by Almighty God. The society thus organised by humans must live under laws that guide their everyday life based on principles of righteousness and fair dealing, cleanliness and sobriety, honesty and helpfulness one to another — yet shaped into concrete forms to suit and circumstances, and the varying needs of average men and women.

The food will have to be clean and wholesome. The prerequisites of a welfare society we need include abolition of blood feuds; recognition of the rights and duties of heirs after death, not in a spirit of formalism but to help the weak and the needy; and check on selfish act and wrong-doing of so-called ‘punchayats’; learning self-denial by fasting; the courage to fight in defence of the homeland.

In such a welfare society charity and help to the poor is organised; gambling and riots are banned; orphans and the rights of women are protected. “In short, that’s the cure of any bad governance,” asserts the housewife.

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