For the past seven years, the Swadeshi Jagran Manch has been striving to create public awareness about the perils od globalisation and the global economic imperialism which is being institutionalised through west centric world bodies like the WTO ant different conventions.

In the begginning, many intellectuals and economists, bussinessmen and policy makers were dimissive of the idea of Swadeshi.But the situation has changed drastically that even those most skeptic about swadeshi have started conceding that it is not entirely inellegent idea. This change is taking place not merely at the national level, but it is seen even at the global level. Whether it is Dr.Jagdish Bhagwati or Paul Kruggman, or it is the IMF or the World Bank, or it is Wall Street Journal or the Economist, no one is sure whether the global economic regime in force, will ever be stable, will yield the promised prosperity for all. The greatest question in the mind of the authors and supporters of the present global economic regime is whether capitalism - Which is the founding principle of the regime - will survive at all ? And whether all nations can be bracketted together and made homogenous.

The World Currency Regime which has turned distructive of the World trade, is the part of the idea of free trade. There is no conceivable answer to the challenge that the free currency market poses to the World trade and national economics. Even strong economics strenuously built over years can be turned bankrupt by the currency regime. the free trade economists and lobbyists all over thre world have been silenced - atleast for the present. But in India, this awareness is abysmally low, and virtually there is no debate.

It is the task of creating awareness about the unstabillity and even the harmfulness of the present global regime which is an important part of the Agenda of the SJM. At various levels the SJM has been striving to create public awareness about the idea of Swadeshi - which means in short, economic nationalism. While it is true that Swadeshi is interpreted differently by different persons, the SJM regards Swadeshi as a comprehensive and integrated view of life in all dimensions - the different programmes of the SJM incorporate this integrated view.

As part of the efforts to create and increase the awareness of the people, the SJM observes annually Swadeshi Week, from september 25 to october 2, that is beginning with Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay's birthday and ending with Mahatma Gandhi's birth day. Every year this Swadeshi Week is observed all over the country. But this year, a more extensive public contact has been planned, through Swadeshi Chetna Yatras, planned and taken out at state levels. In many states the yatra is spread over 15 days and cover thousands of kilometres and touch all districts and all important centres.

In Maharastra, it has been planned for 10 days from 16th september to 25th september.

the Chetna Yatra emphasizes on Swadeshi view and way of life, local products and preservations of the economic base of India, protection of cattle, full employment and elimination of hunger.

The SJM appeals to the public; the media and one and all, to provide full support to the yatra.

Dated 16th September,1998.