E-Book - Mahatma Gandhi

Gandhi's 'Theory of Trusteeship… 222property, except in as much as it may be permitted bysociety for its own welfare.3. It does not exclude legislative regulation of theownership and use of wealth.4. Thus, under state-regulated trusteeship, an individualwill not be free to hold or use his wealth for selfishsatisfaction or in disregard of the interest of thesociety.5. Just as it is proposed to fix a decent minimum, livingwage, even so a limit should be fixed for themaximum income that could be allowed to anyperson in society. The difference between such,minimum and maximum incomes should bereasonable and equitable and variable from time totime, so much so that the tendency would be towardsobliteration of the difference.6. Under the Gandhian economic order, the character ofproduction will be determined by social necessity andnot by personal whim or greed. 88It may now be useful to look at some of the criticismsthat have been levelled against the theory:One line of criticism is that it is "so-flexible that it canserve as a justification for inequality". 89 It has been pointed outin earlier paragraphs that the trustee will not be entitled tounlimited income from his title or work, or to a remunerationthat is proportionate to the wealth that his talents or capital helpin producing. His share of the benefits will be equal; since allkinds of work will receive the same remuneration, he will notbe entitled to a higher income that may become the source ofinequality. Even so his remuneration or commission will befixed by the State, and therefore subject to the criteria andpermissible range determined by the State.