China moving from Mao to malls: BMS after Beijing visit

Nagpur: China is moving from Mao to malls, said Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS), the trade union wing of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), after a visit by its top leaders to Beijing on the invitation of All China Federation of Trade Unions (ACFTU) in January.The BMS, in the February issue of its newsletter Vishwakarma Sanket, said the country is shifting away from Maoist ideology and moving fast towards ‘mall culture' and capitalism. BMS regional organisation secretary CV Rajesh, who was part of the delegation visiting China, has written the article. The union appreciated the discipline and time management in the country, saying China can be a perfect example for India in inculcating a sense of responsibility for civic duties. The article said the roads and lanes of China are spotlessly clean, and traffic rules are strictly followed.
The delegation included the then BMS chief Hiranmay Pandya, general secretary Ravindra Hite and vice-president Neeta Choube. BMS was the only invitee from India by ACFTU, which is also a govt-backed organisation in the country. This displays the international acceptance of BMS as a trade union, the article says.The article mentioned that even as the team did not get a chance to visit rural areas, they came across enthusiastic youth in cities which reflect the mall culture.The write-up mentioned that the team visited the humanoid robot invention incubator centre. It saw the latest innovations, a robotic ice-cream machine, and a robot that could prepare a cup of coffee exactly like humans. At the Sense Time Technology Company, they saw the latest AI techniques, including in the fields of defence. As a trade union leader, the visit stirred a thought about the future, Rajesh wrote.BMS vice-president Choube told TOI that China's labour helpline service can also be emulated. It is a massive set-up, with numerous executives taking calls to answer questions on a whole range of issues raised by workers. She also accepted the basic difference between trade unionism in India and China is that there can be multiple trade unions in India.BMS said that its delegation was treated like state guests, and officials of the union's foreign department accompanied them during the entire four-day trip.