PROUT
Encyclopedia
Progressive Utilization Theory or PROUT is a socio-economic theory first mentioned in 1959 and fully outlined in 1962 by Indian philosopher and spiritual leader Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar
(1921–1990). PROUT is a social system that claims to overcome the limitations of both capitalism
and communism
. Among other things, "progressive utilization" would optimize the use of natural, industrial and human resources, based on cooperative coordination on a wide basis, ranging from local communities to larger regions and nations, and between the people of diverse geographical areas.
PROUT seeks the welfare and happiness of all. The theory is not concerned solely with economics
but encompasses the whole of individual and collective existence - physical, educational, social, political, mental, cultural and spiritual - not just for human beings but for all beings.
The phrase Progressive Utilization Theory summarizes a great deal of its plans. "Progressive" implies that Proutist plans must flexibly change to the specific time, location, and situation so as to best meet the needs of all sides of society and environment. "Utilization" implies maximum utilization of available resources, and 100% employment of people able to work. This does not mean extracting the maximum amount of natural resources, but rather using and re-using materials which are already being cycled through the system of consumption. Similarly, full employment would utilize those from within a given area rather than outsourcing work to other regions.
Rational distribution is another core aspect to Prout, referring to distributing the materials and products of the land and market in a manner that helps the largest number of people develop to their personal and community potential. This also represents the flexible thinking of Prout in the ways that it recommends necessary materials to be distributed in ways that would facilitate accomplishing the goals of a day's work.
According to P. R. Sarkar, cooperatives are considered the best economic structure for human society. If individuality dominates human life, it will "adversely affect the environment, the welfare of different groups and even the continued existence of humanity."
The Prout cooperative system is founded on the principle of “coordinated cooperation,” where free human beings with equal rights and mutual respect work together for the welfare of all. In a system of “subordinated cooperation," on the other hand, people work individually or collectively but are under other peoples’ supervision. According to Sarkar, true coordinated cooperation does not exist in the present capitalist or communist systems.
Cooperatives often fail in capitalist economies due to unethical behavior and economic centralization. Also, people are skeptical of the cooperative system in an environment of exploitation, corruption, and materialism. Furthermore, cooperatives are forced to compete for markets and supplies with large, global corporations. Despite these obstacles, there are thousands of successful cooperatives operating throughout the world today. Probably the most notable network of cooperatives is located in the Mondragon area of Basque Country, Spain.
According to Sarkar, cooperatives will succeed if they have ethical leadership, strong management, and the people’s whole-hearted acceptance of the cooperative system. Moreover, members must have similar interests, share a common economic structure, and demand similar necessities. Lastly, cooperatives need ready access to suppliers and markets for their goods and services.
A Proutist society would seek to meet these needs by ensuring that everyone is working in a way that will meet their basic needs, rather than through hand outs or a trickle-down methodology. If the government of a Proutist region guaranteed 100% employment, and accompanied this with a minimum wage that realistically provided enough funds for the purchase of a suggested minimum amount of each basic necessity, then everyone would be able to purchase their basic necessities.
Prout does allow for welfare checks to be distributed to those who are truly unable to work.
The businesses of a Proutist economy would be government run energy facilities, many worker-owned businesses, and occasional micro credits and small businesses.
Furthermore, a Sadvipra would be able to resolve conflicts resulting from cultural differences, religious differences, class differences, gender differences, etc. in ways that would satisfy each party. They would also only ask others to accept an activity or conduct which they themselves exemplify.
Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar
Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar , also known by his spiritual name, Shrii Shrii Anandamurti , was an Indian philosopher, author, social revolutionary, poet, composer and linguist...
(1921–1990). PROUT is a social system that claims to overcome the limitations of both capitalism
Capitalism
Capitalism is an economic system that became dominant in the Western world following the demise of feudalism. There is no consensus on the precise definition nor on how the term should be used as a historical category...
and communism
Communism
Communism is a social, political and economic ideology that aims at the establishment of a classless, moneyless, revolutionary and stateless socialist society structured upon common ownership of the means of production...
. Among other things, "progressive utilization" would optimize the use of natural, industrial and human resources, based on cooperative coordination on a wide basis, ranging from local communities to larger regions and nations, and between the people of diverse geographical areas.
PROUT seeks the welfare and happiness of all. The theory is not concerned solely with economics
Economy
An economy consists of the economic system of a country or other area; the labor, capital and land resources; and the manufacturing, trade, distribution, and consumption of goods and services of that area...
but encompasses the whole of individual and collective existence - physical, educational, social, political, mental, cultural and spiritual - not just for human beings but for all beings.
Introduction
Prout is a system that places the value of life before the value of objects or money. Sarkar designed Prout to stimulate the poor to take responsibility for their own advancement, while ensuring everyone's ongoing success via democratic representation and by placing limits on how much wealth could be accumulated. Sarkar included sustainability and maximum usage with minimum quantity at the core of Proutist philosophy.The phrase Progressive Utilization Theory summarizes a great deal of its plans. "Progressive" implies that Proutist plans must flexibly change to the specific time, location, and situation so as to best meet the needs of all sides of society and environment. "Utilization" implies maximum utilization of available resources, and 100% employment of people able to work. This does not mean extracting the maximum amount of natural resources, but rather using and re-using materials which are already being cycled through the system of consumption. Similarly, full employment would utilize those from within a given area rather than outsourcing work to other regions.
Rational distribution is another core aspect to Prout, referring to distributing the materials and products of the land and market in a manner that helps the largest number of people develop to their personal and community potential. This also represents the flexible thinking of Prout in the ways that it recommends necessary materials to be distributed in ways that would facilitate accomplishing the goals of a day's work.
Cooperatives
Prout’s three-tiered economic structure consists of government-owned key industries (oil industries, wind farms, etc), worker-owned cooperatives, and privately owned enterprises. Of these three, the cooperative structure—industrial, consumer, agricultural and credit—forms the core feature of the Prout economy.According to P. R. Sarkar, cooperatives are considered the best economic structure for human society. If individuality dominates human life, it will "adversely affect the environment, the welfare of different groups and even the continued existence of humanity."
The Prout cooperative system is founded on the principle of “coordinated cooperation,” where free human beings with equal rights and mutual respect work together for the welfare of all. In a system of “subordinated cooperation," on the other hand, people work individually or collectively but are under other peoples’ supervision. According to Sarkar, true coordinated cooperation does not exist in the present capitalist or communist systems.
Cooperatives often fail in capitalist economies due to unethical behavior and economic centralization. Also, people are skeptical of the cooperative system in an environment of exploitation, corruption, and materialism. Furthermore, cooperatives are forced to compete for markets and supplies with large, global corporations. Despite these obstacles, there are thousands of successful cooperatives operating throughout the world today. Probably the most notable network of cooperatives is located in the Mondragon area of Basque Country, Spain.
According to Sarkar, cooperatives will succeed if they have ethical leadership, strong management, and the people’s whole-hearted acceptance of the cooperative system. Moreover, members must have similar interests, share a common economic structure, and demand similar necessities. Lastly, cooperatives need ready access to suppliers and markets for their goods and services.
Minimum Necessities Promised
Prout acknowledges that people have certain needs that must be met in order for them to grow physically, mentally, and spiritually.A Proutist society would seek to meet these needs by ensuring that everyone is working in a way that will meet their basic needs, rather than through hand outs or a trickle-down methodology. If the government of a Proutist region guaranteed 100% employment, and accompanied this with a minimum wage that realistically provided enough funds for the purchase of a suggested minimum amount of each basic necessity, then everyone would be able to purchase their basic necessities.
Prout does allow for welfare checks to be distributed to those who are truly unable to work.
Limits to Accumulation
Prout believes in providing incentive to provide sufficient motivation to accomplish more. However, Prout also believes there should be a limit to the amount that may be accumulated over time, or earned within a fiscal year.Block Level Planning
In a PROUTist system, regions known as blocks would be defined in order to make every region economically self reliant. These blocks would be identified based on common socio-economic situations, raw material availability, geographic conveniences, meteorological tendencies, cultural traits, languages, and other common uniting factors. Districts within these blocks would further group together local practices and availabilities.The businesses of a Proutist economy would be government run energy facilities, many worker-owned businesses, and occasional micro credits and small businesses.
Moralistic Leadership
Prout refers to selfless leaders as "Sadvipras," a Sanskrit term which literally means, "those with subtle mind." Proutists interpret this usage of "subtle" as being sensitive to all the qualities of and needs held by human beings, as well as an awareness of what is needed to encourage people to develop.Furthermore, a Sadvipra would be able to resolve conflicts resulting from cultural differences, religious differences, class differences, gender differences, etc. in ways that would satisfy each party. They would also only ask others to accept an activity or conduct which they themselves exemplify.
The Five Fundamental Principles
The founder of PROUT, Shrii P.R. Sarkar summarized PROUT in sixteen numbered Samskrta aphorisms (see Chapter 5 of Ananda Sutram). The last five of those aphorisms are commonly referred to as the "Five Fundamental Principles of PROUT". These principles are a hierarchical set of social guideline for Law, Economics, Development, Administration, and Change. The five Samskrta aphorisms translate into English as follows:- There should be no accumulation of wealth without the permission of society.
- There should be maximum utilization and rational distribution of the crude, subtle, and causal resources.
- There should be maximum utilization of the physical, mental, and spiritual potentialities of the individual and collective beings.
- There should be a well-balanced adjustment among the crude, subtle, and causal utilizations.
- Utilizations vary in accordance with time, space, and form; the utilizations should be progressive.