PEOPLE’S MANIFESTO COMMITTEE(PMC)
MANIFESTO FOR ELECTIONS 2014
DEAR FRIENDS,
THIS IS THE DRAFT COPY OF PEOPLE'S MANIFESTO
WHICH HAS BEEN SUBMITTED TO ALL POLITICAL PARTIES DURING FEB-MARCH-2014, AND
WAS ALSO RELEASED ON 26TH OF MARCH 2014 IN BHUBANESWAR. THE PRINTED
COPIES WILL BE PROVIDED AS PER THE REQUIREMENT OF THE ORGANISATION. HOPE, THIS
DOCUMENT WILL IGNITE THE DEBATE AMONG THE DEVELOPMENT WORKERS AND COMMON PEOPLE
OF THE STATE. THIS DOCUMENT/COMPILITAION IS MEANT NOT FOR ELECTIONS ONLY IT
WILL OF USE EVEN AFTER ELECTIONS, WHEN PEOPLE WILL START QUESTIONG THE PARTIES
ON THEIR POLL PROMISES. AS HAS BEEN LEARNT, MANY POLITICAL PARTIES HAVE
INCLUDED THE ISSUES/CONCERNS RAISED THROUGH THIS PEOPL’E MANIFESTO.
PLS. EXECUSE US FOR ENGLISH SPELLING AND
GRAMMER SENSE AS WE HAVE SUBMITTED THIS DRAFT AS IT IS TO POLITICAL PARTIES AND
IT WAS DECIDED NOT TO EDIT THE SENSE OF OUTCOMES THROGH DIFFERENT THEMATIC
MEETINGS.
Thanking You,
With Regards,
Sudarshan Chhotray
Convenor
People’s Manifesto Committee(PMC)
BHUBANESWAR, ODISHA
09337111879
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BHUBANESWAR, MARCH 26TH
PEOPLE’S MANIFESTO- FOR THE ENSUING
ELECTIONS WAS RELESED ON 26TH OF MARCH 2014 IN A CROWDED PRESS
CONFERENCE AT ODESA BHAVAN IN BHUBANESWAR. THE RELEASE FUNCTION WAS FOLLOWED BY
A DAY LONG WORKSHOP ON PEOPLE’S AGENDA AND CHARTER TO WHICH REPRESENTATIVES OF
VARIOUS POLITICAL PARTIES. PARTIES RESPONDED ON QUESTIONS RAISED BY
PARTICIPANTS AND ON SUGGESTIONS MADE IN PEOPL’S MANIFESTO. LEADERS OF POLITICAL
PARTIES ALONG WITH PMC MEMBERS UNVEILED THE PEOPL’S MANIFESTO.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Time for pro-people Manifesto than Vote
centric Manifesto
Bhubaneswar, December 22nd, 2013
In
every five years during Elections Political parties come up with their
Manifestos to woo voters. It has often been seen that real issues concerning common
people are missing. Manifestos which are supposed to be GOVERNANCE AGENDA for
any political party or formation, should focus more on concrete condition of
the state, it’s socio-economic and geographical reality and possible solution
there in rather than announcing soups and popular packages, which do not serve
people in long term for their socio and economic empowerment.
The
approach and priorities of political parties should be on primary and
fundamental areas of human need like food security, safe dwelling houses, safe
drinking water, job assurance and minimum wage besides ensuring their rights
over natural resources.
Health,
Education, Sanitation, rural infrastructure, grassroots’ governance like
strengthening three tier Panchayati Raj system by vesting more power and
planning rights to them, formation of Village Panchayats like other states,
strengthening Pallisabhas- are the other areas of concern for many, where more
attention should be given.
Though
a large section of people depend on agriculture, forest resources and marine
resources for sustenance and livelihood, we have missed the opportunity to
develop and plan their future.
Despite,
introduction of plethora of programmees and long term schemes we have failed to
uplift tribal and Dalit communities. Efforts should be on to recognize their
legitimate rights.
The
most vulnerable among the deprived communities like traditional fishermen,
rural artisans, displaced people, agricultural laborers, forest dependent
communities, Migrant Laborers and above all climate refugees, frequent disaster
affected population should be given priority in any development plan and
programmees. They need utmost care and safety socially and economically.
So
are the plights of Tribal groups, Dalits, Women, Children and Disable
community.
These
were some of points of discussion and deliberations to formulate a PEOPLE’S
MANIFESTO/CHARTER for the ELECTIONS 2014. The two days long workshop which held
at CYSD in Bhubaneswar on 22 & 23 December 2013 saw the thematic group presentations
on wide range of issues. More than
hundred participants drawn from various parts of the state gathered here to
give their inputs and approve the draft.
Apart from social activists,
representatives of different political parties Sivananda Ray of Congress,
Bhrugu Buxipatra of BJP, Santosh Das of CPI(M), Madusudan Thakur of BSP and
Mahendra Parida of CPI(ML) and representatives of other political parties, took
part in discussion and had endorsed the view points of civil society.
Prominent
among the speakers were Panchanan Kanungo, former Minister of State for
Finance, Jagadanand, former state Information Commissioner, Jagadish
Pradhan,President, SVA, Sudarshan Chhotray, Convenor of People’s Manifesto
Committee, Ranjan Mohanty, Secretary, PECUC, Mangraj Panda, UAA, Gadadhar
Pradhan of ODAF, Bharati Mishra of CWS, Gauranga Mahapatra, JSA, Manohar
Chauhan, CSD, Pradipta Sundaray, Sikhyasandhan, Dhirendra Panda, CSNR, Durga
Prasad Dash,and Santosh Patnaik.
While
sharing the objectives, Convenor of the People’s Manifesto Committee, Sudarshan
Chhotray said, “This time we have started this process to rope in Civil Society
actors, organizations and Networks who are working on various issues (like Land Rights, Panchayatiraj &
Governance, Health, Education, Agriculture, Livelihoods’, Women, Children,
Youth & Employment, Displacement, Scheduled Areas, PESA, PTGs & Tribal
rights , Dalit rights, Human rights, Communal Harmony, Mining &
Industrialization, Environment & Pollution and Ecology, Climate Change,
Coastal Livelihoods & Disasters, NRM, NTFP, Water & Sanitation,
Physically and Mental challenged, Migration, Food security, FRA, RTI, MGNREGs
and Financial Inclusion etc.) and have expertise on subjects concerning
common people’’.
He
further added, “An initiative has been on to draft and publish a PEOPLE’S
CHARTER/MANIFESTO. For this we had planned a series of thematic meetings with
experts/organizations’/Networks-working on the issues”.
PEOPLE’S
MANIFESTO COMMITTEE had conducted a series of meetings and thematic group
discussions in partnership with prominent civil society organizations during
the last two months and we are in process of finalizing the outcomes’/points
emerged from the group exercises’.
Since
long, representatives of Civil Society have been engaged in bring out People’s
Manifestos. We had done it in 2004 elections and also in 2009 elections. During the previous election we had engaged
ourselves with political parties to include issues and concerns of people. And
political parties responded positively.
PEOPLE'S MANIFESTO COMMITTEE is a
civil society platform formed in connection with forthcoming general
elections 2014. The mandate of the Committee is to draft/publish the PEOPLE'S
MANIFESTO and share it with Political parties in particular and people of the
state in general.
(Sudarshan Chhotray)
Convenor, PEOPLE’S MANIFESTO COMMITTEE
S-3/127, NILADRIVIHAR, CSPUR,
BHUBANESWAR-751021, ODISHA
CELL-09337111879
Press Release
Voters’ Interface
with Politicians - Civil Society to Track the Commitments in Party Manifestos
Viewing
the forthcoming Loka Sabha and Assembly Election 2009, Voters’ Interface with
Politicians was organized on 13th April 2009 at Red Cross Bhavan,Bhubaneswar.
The meeting was organized by Common Concern, Focus Orissa and ActionAid to
discuss the gaps in the manifestos of the political parties, particularly to
analyze the commitments of the Parties to protect secularism, democracy and
human rights as provided by the Indian Constitution given the threats posed to
it following communal/ethnic violence. Mr. Jageswar Babu, General Secretary,
BJD; Adv.Sibananda Ray, Chairman, Campaign Committee, Congress and Mr.Basanta
Majhi, State Committee Member, CPI-M were among the leaders interacted with the
participants present in the discussion. Discussions were modulated by
Mr.Sudarshan Chhotray, Mr.Dhirendra Panda, Mr.Manas Ranjan and Madhumita Ray.
Nearly hundred participants from different parts of the state covering various
walks of life spectrum participated in the programme.
Review of the Manifestos of various
Political Parties
It
was expressed that none of the political parties have made any commitments to
control sale and consumption of alcohol and drugs. Similarly the three major
political parties, BJD, BJP and Congress have looked at women more or less as voters.
None of them has made any commitment on ensuring that women gain equal rights
as men, especially right on land and other property. The manifestos of all three
parties are silent on the provision of free medical care to the poor. Similarly
none of the three have made any commitments on ensuring the end to police
firing and atrocities on innocent and unarmed people’s struggles. Apart from
the gaps, there are also many issues on which parties have taken positions that
go against the interests of the poor and vulnerable people. Congress has
mentioned in their manifesto that they’d ensure that no reservations will be
provided in the field of education. BJP has mentioned that it would establish
Bhagabata Tungis in every village as part of their rural development programme.
On the issue of the false caste certificates in Kandhamal, both Congress as
well as the BJD has promised to conduct investigation in to the matter and to
take action on the same.. None of the three major political parties have made
any commitments to ensure that untouchability is removed from the state, even
though the Keredagarh
Temple issue is so fresh
in public memory. On the matter of Education, Congress has promised to fill up
vacant position of teachers. Neither BJP nor BJD have made any such commitment.
Congress has promised to open new hospitals while both BJP and BJD have made no
such commitment. Congress has also promised to fill up the vacant positions of
doctors while neither BJP nor BJD have made any such commitment. BJP has made a
commitment to open 5 new medical colleges while BJD has made no such
commitment, rather BJD has promised to facilitate the opening of private
medical colleges. Both BJP and BJD have promised that they’ll demand higher
royalties for the state on minerals. Congress has not made any categorical
statement on this. BJP has promised to bring Anabadi land under a land bank
kind of programme to be given to industries on a short notice. But while both
BJD and Congress have promised to give land to the landless, the BJP has made
no such commitment. On the other hand of the three parties only the BJP has
expressed an intention to open new SEZs.
(Sudarshan Chhotray, Focus Orissa)
Date:
13.04.2009
Odisha is at the threshold of
development!
As the state
is celebrating its 78 years of existence and formation we need to take stock of
our resources, its utilization and impact it has created on the day to day life
of people in general. Commercialization and monetization of the economy are
taking place with a speed hitherto unseen. The reckless drive to sell off
resources to corporate entities needs to be reviewed in the context of
livelihood generation, impact on ecology and state’s overall growth trajectory.
Agriculture is the
mainstay of Odisha’s economy, it is in fact a major source of income,
employment and livelihood for many in the state.85% of population lives in
rural areas .The share of agriculture
in Odisha’s GSDP has gone down from 65% in 1951 to 40% in 1991 but the
percentage of workforce has
remained almost at 73% during that time. There are a total of 40.67 lakh
operational holdings possessing 50.81 lakh hector area. The analysis of
agriculture in the state shows that, between 1993-94 and 2003-04, the area
under production and quantity produced fell for three important produce for the
state -rice, potato and onion. Production per area also fell for the first two
as well as for total pulses and total fibers.
In fact,
based on data from the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy, gross cropped area
and net irrigated area in the state fell during 1993-94 to 2003-04 by an
average of 1.20% and 4.45% per year. The area under food grains also showed the
same sad trend.
The increase
in fertilizer consumption by an average of 6% per year suggests a possible
“chemicalisation” of agriculture. Experts are of the opinion that, in Odisha a
process of “pauperization of
agriculture”, is going on, among other things, underutilization or
non-utilization of land and agricultural labour, degradation and diversion of
cultivable land, and stagnant crop and resource productivity. 85.50% of
farmers’ households are marginal farmers having ownership over 41.52% of
Agricultural land. (NSSO Report No.491). 71.5% of the marginal farmers own less
than 0.5 hectors.
Per capita
availability of land in Odisha has decreased from 0.39ha. (1950-51) to 0.14
ha.(2005-06). Landlessness is 9.56%. If we exclude homestead land from our
calculation, ownership landlessness increases to 38.5%.(NSS REPORT 491) Just
for an illustration-- the Agriculture Survey data of 1995-96 in the
tribal districts shows that the percentage of tribal landholders having less
than one standard acre of land ranges from 41%
in Malkangiri to 77% in Gajapati. In the
district of Gajapati, a tribal dominated district has just 14.82% of its total
area under cultivators’ landholding, with the rest of the land belonging to the
government. Approximately 93% of the rural households in this district have
legal title on only 9% of the district’s land area.
The most important
source of income in the rural income is wages. Around 54% of the rural income
comes from the wages. The whole class of marginal farmers (82% of the farmer
households) depends on wages. Even for a small farmer, wages constitute around 43% of his
total income (NSS report 497). So this group is best understood as wage workers
who receive a subsidiary income from the plots of land that they own.
Multiple
livelihood options are necessary for the reproduction of rural households.
Therefore, most people are being pushed to work in the unregulated informal and
unorganized sector- such as construction, workshop-manufacturing, large-scale
capitalist farms of other regions and services. Casualisation is the primary
feature of these labour and different degrees of bonded labour relations are a
common condition. There is also an important regional and caste dynamic to this
massive labour migration. Adivasis, dalits
and OBCs predominate and Odisha is noted to be reservoirs of seasonal casual
labour migration for the rest of the Indian economy
The Government policies
since the beginning are adversarial towards the agriculture. It is considered that agriculture is
not a skilled job. Therefore the wages in the agriculture sector is
comparatively low and depressed.
It is also a fact that
public investment in agriculture has been more than halved since the mid-1980s .While the percentage of public
investment in aggregate agricultural investment fell from 38.97 in 1985-86 to
28.7 in 1990-91(1980-81 prices), it got reduced gradually from 20.5 in 2004-05
to 17.6 in2008-09.
Currently
2754 industries in large, medium and small scale are operating in the state.
Most of the industries (65%) in the state being engaged in primary
manufacturing activities fall within the red category i.e. most polluting.
Under the
euphoria of market driven reforms and export-dependent
growth trajectory, there is a flood of investment proposals.
86 MOUs signed by Odisha Govt. as on 6th May 2010 with a
total amount of Rs. 4,
41,471.14 crore -- 49 steel industries; 3 Alumina Industry; 3 Cement Projects;
27 power projects; 2 Auto ancillary Projects; 1 Titanium complex; 1 Crude Oil
Processing Unit; 1 Stainless steel Industrial Park; Besides sectors like steel,
energy/power, cement, and aluminum, investment has also been proposed on ports,
universities, hospitals, and many a SEZ. Latest
report says, the number of MoUs has
increased to 100 with the assured investment of more than 7lakh crorers.
Odisha
contributes 98.4 per cent of chromate, 56 per cent of Bauxite, 28.7
per cent Graphite, 28.5 per cent Manganese, 34 per cent Iron,
24.8 per cent Coal and 91 per cent Nickel to the total mineral and
coal reserves of India. In addition to this, Odisha is the largest reserve of
seven major minerals in India. All the
mineral-rich districts of the state feature in the list of 150 most backward
districts of the country, says the report of Centre for Science and Environment. “Statistics indicate that the income
from mineral extraction rarely benefits the regions from where these minerals
come -- in fact; poverty is increasing in many of these districts,”
Between 1950 and 1991,
mining displaced about 2.6 million people --
not even 25 per cent of these displaced have been rehabilitated. For
every 1 per cent that mining contributes to India’s GDP, it displaces 3-4 times
more people than all the development projects put together. Forest land
diversion for mining has been going up. So has water use and air pollution in
the mining hotspots. Mining of major minerals generated about 1.84 billion
tonne of waste in 2006 -- most of which has not been disposed of properly.
Overall,
during 1993-94 and 2003-04, the rate of mineral exploitation in Odisha has
increased -on the average per year - by 10.3%, while its value has gone up by
12.8%. Export of minerals in quantity terms has gone up by 15.7%, higher than
the increase in exploitation rate, implying that a smaller percentage of the
exploited minerals are used now to meet domestic needs. The value of exports
has also increased. Despite all this, this capital-intensive sector has been ruthless on
employment, reducing the number of workers by an average 4% annually.
The average annual rates of exploitation of
the most important minerals, namely, iron ore, chromites, coal, and bauxite (as
a percentage of reserves at the beginning of the year) the figures are quite
high, from 7.3% for bauxite to 15.9% for iron ore. If this growth rate in
exploitation is maintained, the state’s existing iron ore and chromate reserves
would get exhausted in 20 years and coal and bauxite reserves in 50 years! As
per Indian Minerals Yearbook 2005, published by the Indian Bureau of Mines,
Odisha is one of two states (other is Jharkhand) that had leased area per mine
in 2003-04 in excess of 150 hectares. It
is not just the resource exhaustion and environmental degradation, but also the
paltry price at which minerals are doled out to corporations.
The employment-generation by mining remains an
across-the-board fall in the number of workers. The sole exception is the
number of workers engaged in bauxite mining, which has gone up by around 6% per
year. But that is no solace, since bauxite accounts only for 1% of the total
mineral workers employed, whereas coal, iron ore, and chromate, the
big employers in the mining sector, employ anywhere between 13% and 35% each of
the total mineral workers.
The fall in
the number of workers per lakh tonne employed highlights the increasing
mechanizations in this sector. As far as the value of output is concerned, the
average annual increase of 57.49% for non industrial districts, which is far
higher than those for mining and industrial districts, points its finger
towards a possible mining-isation.
Odisha accounts
for 7 per cent of India’s forests. Topping the list of states, Odisha
saw 5,151 hectare of forest land being diverted since January 2007. Since 1980 till date more than 34000
hectares of forest land were already diverted for different non forestry
purpose and only mining contributes to a tune of 14000 hectare. The industry
has a share of 2000 hectare of forest land.
In fact, if we look at forest area diverted
for non-forest use, it went up from 789 hectares at the end of 1993-94 to
28,769 hectares as at the end of 2003-04, an average annual increase at the
rate of 43%! Mining accounted for one third, irrigation one-fourth,
transmission lines one-ninth, and industries one-twelfth of diversion of the
28,769 hectares.
According to
figures released in early 2010 by the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Odisha
has one of the highest rates of diversion of forest land. Of total forest land
cleared for mining in India, Odisha accounts for 17 per cent. In fact, the state leads the nation in
diversion of forest land for mining during the last three years. Besides, out of the total land of 79,339 hectares
allotted for mining leases as on 31 December 2005, more than 50% is forest
area. Fortunately, as per the Directorate of Mines, only a quarter of that
forest had been officially allowed for diversion as of the end of 2005.
Demand
for water from the domestic sector is expected to rise from 25 billion m3 to 52
billion m3 over the next 20 years. However, water consumption in the
industrial sector is rising at 4.2% per year, and will shoot from 67 billion m3
to 228 billion m3 by 2025. The state’s hilly terrains, with their natural
springs, are being destroyed by mining, contends the CSE report. Odisha’s
second largest river, the Brahmani, is one of the 10 most polluted rivers in
India -- “due to the large-scale mining operations on its banks”.
The POSCO
project alone will require between 5 to 125 Million cubic meters (MCM) of water
per year for the iron ore mines. (That is, 13.7 to 342 MLD).Thus, POSCO’s iron
ore mining operations are likely to need to draw between 100 MCM to 500 MCM
water per year .It is pertinent to mention here that 100 MCM water would be
enough to irrigate 50,000 acres of agriculture land. The 37 steel plants that have
been envisaged will alone would need 43 crore gallons of water per day Vedanta
Alumina plant would require four crore litres a day, which would otherwise have
satisfied the needs of 40 lakh citizens! Thus, industrialization in Odisha is
bound to lead to a situation where we would end up without enough water for
cultivation and possibly also drinking.
An estimate of
displacement by development projects is that of 1.5 million people being
displaced by development projects between 1951 and 1995, of which 42% were
tribals. As
per official records, between 1950 and 1993, 81,176 families from 1,446
villages have been displaced in Odisha due to development projects, which
necessitated acquisition of 14, 82,626 acres of land. (INPUTS AND ANALYSIS BY
BIJAYABHAI & SUDARSHAN)
Present scenario: Odisha
is no different from what’s happening in Indian context. The State has been
operating in the assumption that the development of Odisha depends on the explorations
of the immense reserve of natural resources would lead to all round development
of Odisha and thereby also alter the conditions of the marginalized and the
poor. However, seven decades later, Odisha still has very large population of
rural poor. The state’s development strategy has focused on macro level
promotion of mining, power and heavy industries. Increasing development is
affecting forests and people’s lands, environmental health and the governance,
and people who depend on these natural resources and goods and services for
subsistence livelihood. Projects such as Rourkela Steel Plant, Nalco, Vedanta,
Posco, Hirakud, Upper Kolab, Indravati and Subarnarekha multipurpose dams,
defense projects, Thermal power stations, big dams, mining companies were
constructed in resource rich areas inhabited by Adivasi and poor rural
communities. While these projects have greatly benefited the state’s economy,
they have also lead to the loss of livelihood of poor communities from
agriculture and forest, and the displacement of the marginalized people from
their lands and their habitats.
Odisha is a major state in
eastern India with an estimated population of more than 42 million people. The
annual population growth is 1.83 per cent, which is lower than the all-India
figure of 2.14 percent. The scheduled tribes and scheduled castes, mostly
living below the poverty line, constitute nearly 40 per cent of the population.
Approximately half of the state’s people live below the poverty line, with
limited access to exploitable resources due to a complex interplay of social,
economic, and cultural dynamics. The process of neoliberal onslaught has
aggravated this situation in last two decades. The latest Economic Survey
highlighted some of the glaring deficits in the health sector situation in the
State including severe incidences of infant & maternal mortality and
malaria deaths in the state. Under the influence of neoliberal policies, there
has been a major rise in the number of private health facilities that are typically
out of the reach of the poor.
The State of Odisha is rich in
natural resources-minerals like bauxite, graphite, manganese ore, and dolomite;
fourth in case of coal and fifth in case of iron ore deposits marine, forest
and agricultural land, with 482 Kms long coastlines along the Bay of Bengal.
The present government has
entered into signing of 46 MOUs with different MNCs expecting of an investment
of two lakh and fifty thousand crores( Onecrore is 10 million) of FDI. This
government has invited Hindalco (Birla group), Posco, Alcan (Canada), Vedanta
(UK), BHP Billiton (UK), Rio Tinto (UK) etc. with an investment of nearly
53,000 crores (one crore is 10 million) of rupees for extraction of total
deposit of 7330 lakh (one lakh is one hundred thousand) tons of bauxite from
the state as per industrial report. This would last, looking to their
extraction capacity per year, for coming 75 years only. Similarly, for
extraction of 35,670 lakh tons of iron ore this government has invited TISCO,
BHP Billiton (UK), Vedanta/ Sterlite, POSCO, Rio Tinto (UK), Bhusan,
Jindal, Mittal, Essar companies, it will finish the entire deposits. This would last
another 45 years to finish it up.
All these projects would
displace nearly 2.5 lakh families or 10, 00,000 (One Million) people and
indiscriminate and illegal mining, aided by the corporate-political nexus,
causes extensive damage to livelihoods and the environment. Against these forceful
displacements when resistance is increasing the response of this government is
highly repressive. People’s oppositions to such big projects are not in any way
against constitution nor Aidvasis using violence to press their demands. These
struggles are not meant to take state power into their hands nor do they have
any political party affiliation. All these struggles are for survival and
livelihood. As per the government report out of 46 MOUs, works have been
started in 10 projects. Out of it, it is known that Vedanta and POSCO are
facing violation of forest and environment laws and UAIL in Kashipur has no
clearances of environment, mining as well as forest from the central government
but both are going for construction.
In this hapless situation 36% people were BPL in 1993-94 and
it increased to 41.4% in 1999-2000 and then to 44.6 % in 2004-05. It is a
growing concern that among 22% Adivasis 73% are below poverty line. In Odisha
54-56% Adivasi land has been occupied by non-Adivasis during the last 25-30
years. Nearly 30% Dalits have sold out their land, have become agricultural laborers
or marginal farmers due to frequent failure of crops, drought, private finance,
distress sale according to last census report. Every year distress sales of
paddy in western Odisha, and forest products in Adivasi areas have made life
wretched of these people.
Odisha has
the third lowest population density among the major states of India. About 87 %
of the population lives in rural areas and the annual per capita income is
estimated to be approximately US$ 300. The Human Development Index for the major
states of India has ranked Odisha among the bottom five since 1981. The State Economy
is becoming more corporate friendly sidelining the poor who are the majority.
·
Odisha
is a poverty-ridden state and taking advantage of the nagging poverty, severe
backwardness, and the failed mechanisms of governance today, the Naxals
(Maoist) have managed to create a place for themselves in the political map of
Odisha. This has led to an armed conflict between the Naxals and police forces
with the poor caught in the cross fire. Despite this alarming situation, it is
quite disappointing to know that the government has yet to formulate an
effective counter-Naxal policy.
·
Focus on Education is more geared to promoting
handful of experts to serve the IT and Industrial requirements, forgetting the
needs of the poor and the majority of the illiterates. Extremely poor
conditions of the rural people and poor educational infrastructure have led to
a very low rate of literacy especially among girls. The formal education system
however ignores the wealth of indigenous knowledge and values leading to
identity crisis of the indigenous people. The shift from sustenance agriculture
many marginal and small landowners to cash crop production accompanied by
aggressive modern agriculture practices has led to less availability of food
and fodder. Corporate plantation, CDM projects relating to forestry has lead to
displacement of many marginal farmers and landless laborers and decrease in
food security forcing women with additional burden of searching livelihoods.
Erratic climate has added to their problems especially those having small
landholdings.
·
In the recent years the sustainable livelihood
systems of the indigenous communities and the rural poor such as their natural
resources and traditional knowledge systems are increasingly appropriated or
polluted by the corporate and natural resource conflict has risen. Serious
issues of human rights and survival has emerged.
·
Health from the State subject is moving towards
corporate profits. Priorities of health services is determined by overseas
funding – Malaria Vs AIDS.
·
The recent development process has forced the
Government to amend protective legislations that governed Scheduled Areas and
indigenous communities. It is not just the rights of our people that have been
guaranteed in the Constitution that are being snatched away, the very fabric of
democracy and justice is being torn apart.
In conclusion it is
opined that when India is growing the majority people in India are getting
marginalized and dispossessed from their resources and life of the poor is
under constant threat and it is very well experienced by the Indigenous
communities living in Odisha.
(INPUTS AND ANALYSIS BY OAAA)
Socio-economic issues
related to SC, ST and OBCs in Odisha
Famous for its rich background of architecture, culture, religiosity; the
state of Odisha is located between the parallels of 17.49’N and 22.34’N
latitudes and meridians of 81.27'E and 87.29'E longitudes. It is bounded by the
Bay of Bengal on the East; Chhatishgarh on the west, West Bengal and Jharkhanda
on the North and Andhra Pradesh on the south. It has a coast line of about 482
kilometres (kms.) It extends over an area of 155,707 square kms, accounting
about 4.87% of the total area of India.
On the basis of
homogeneity, continuity and physiographical characteristics, Odisha has been
divided into five major morphological regions: the Odisha Coastal Plain in the
east, the Middle Mountainous and Highlands Region, the Central plateaus, the
western rolling uplands and the major flood plains. About 83 percent of Orissa is made up of red or
red/yellow soils. They have low nutrient content, but high filtration rate and
low water holding capacity. 30.3 per cent of the geographical area was under
forest cover. Orissa is a mountainous region, about two thirds of the State is
made up of hills and highlands.
According to the 2001 census, it has a total population of 36.71 million
(3.57% of the total population of India).The sex ratio i.e. the number of females
to 1000 males is 972. The percent of Adivasis and Dalits to total population is
respectively 22.21 and 16.20. Nearly 85% of its population lives
in rural areas and most of them eke out their livelihood from agriculture. For
the concentration of Adivasi population, about 45% of Orissa’s geographical
areas are designated as Scheduled Areas, as per the provision of Indian
Constitution
Socio-economic
Scenario
Economy: Orissa’s
per capita income is one of the lowest among the States of India. The State has
a very high concentration of poor with 47.15% of its population living below
the poverty line. Rural poverty is the
highest in Orissa and its concentration is spatial as certain regions of South
Orissa as well as a large proportion of Adivasis and Dalits population in
Western and Southern Orissa live below the poverty line. Poverty, coupled with repeated disasters,
continues to be the most challenging issue for the state. In many areas,
exposure to repeated droughts has systematically decimated the coping mechanism
of a large section of the population. A
large proportion of the population of the region belonging to Adivasis do not
have sustained employment and are forced to migrate out to other States and
neighboring districts in search of work. The rates of permanent migration and
indebtedness are also on the rise.
Agriculture and Food
Availability: Agriculture accounts for direct and indirect
employment to around 64% of the total work force and contributes 28.54% of the
Net State Domestic Product. However,
agriculture, which is the a primary sector-of the state, is characterized by
low productivity due to traditional practices, inadequate capital formation,
low investment, inadequate irrigation facilities and uneconomic size of the
holdings. Over-dependency on agriculture and repeated disasters have increased
the helplessness of millions depending on it. Inability and/or lack of
alternative occupation/activity and repeated crop failures are making the
people more marginalized.
The marginal and small farmers generally hold the
uplands and hilly lands, which constitute 79.88% of total groups, but they are
holding 46.66% of total operational land holding only. They chiefly depend on
rain only for their cultivation.
Nearly 62% of the cultivable land is rain fed. The erratic nature
and distribution of rain cause fluctuation in production affecting the economy
of millions of people dependent on agriculture. Over the period of the last
four years (1998-2001), the food grain production in Orissa has declined from
6.61 million metric ton (MT) to 4.98 million MT. The low production of food grains during 1999
was on account of the devastation caused by the super cyclone. During 2000, the food grain production
further declined as the state experienced a drought situation due to erratic
and early cessation of monsoon. This was followed by the 2001 floods that
affected 24 districts and damaged 8.09 million hectares of crops and the
drought of 2002 that affected all 30 districts.
The annual
fluctuation in food grain production in the state is as high as 25%. This
influences farm income and destabilises the prices of food items affecting the
food security of small, marginal farmers, agricultural labourers and other
sections of the poor. The production over consumption of cereals in the State
varies between 10-18 percent. This feature of regular production fluctuation
due to disasters increases the vulnerability of people in the low-income group
as it increases food insecurity, especially during years of crop failure. The
State’s situation is easily conceivable from the fact that 81.97% farmers
operate on small and marginal holdings, 25.1% of the working force is engaged
as agricultural labourers and 12 % of the total households belong to the
landless labour category. In a disaster situation, there is a decline in the
availability in employment and also a fall in the income. Repeated disasters
diminish the coping mechanism of these people as it breaks down the economy of
people who, over time, lose their assets, homes and livelihoods.
In Orissa, one
tenth of the total households consume less than 1890 Kilo calorie (Kcal) a day,
which is much lower than the minimum food and nutrition requirement norms as
prescribed by the World Health Organisation. Amongst the very poor, it is
reported that 14% of the people do not have even the security of a single meal
a day.
Livestock: Livestock
rearing is another important means of income generation. As per the Livestock Census held in 2001,the
livestock population excluding dogs in Orissa was 23.46 million and 80% of rural households in Orissa keep at
least one species of animals. Communicable cattle diseases and poor animal
health care services, scarcity of fodder, backward and uneconomic methods
animal rearing, lack of promotional facilities for profitable practices i.e.
loan for capital investment, training, marketing linkage. Domestic animals are
also highly susceptible to natural disasters, and epidemics. The number of
livestock deaths especially after floods and cyclones are very high in the
State. Many farming families lose their draught and other domestic animals,
making them more vulnerable.
Fishing:
Fishing,
inland, marine and estuarine, is the second-most important occupation and
involves a large section of the population. Socio-economically, fisher folk are
poor and indebted due to exploitation of middlemen, lack of co-operatives or
other forms of organisations and inappropriate marketing, storage and transport
facilities. The areas these marginalized sections of the population live are
usually located at close proximity to the sea and rivers, which are extremely
prone to floods or cyclones or both, in many instances. Coupled with very poor
socio-economic conditions, lack of basic infrastructure facilities, frequent
disasters makes the fisher folks of Orissa one of the most suffering
occupational groups.
Rural
Artisans: The
third most important occupational group is rural artisans and weavers. Outdated
equipments, lack of modernisation, poor infrastructure, inadequate training,
and marketing and other facilities, lack of product diversification,
competition from product substitutes plague the artisans and weavers. Their
socio-economic condition has deteriorated over the years and many have been
forced to give up their traditional occupation and have been converted into
labourers, small and marginal farmers. In recent years, the disasters like
floods and cyclones have destroyed their rudimentary infrastructure, product
stock and equipments making them extremely vulnerable to disasters.
Social Situation: Dalits and Adivasis account for about
38.5% of the State’s population and they constitute a high percentage of the
lower income and expenditure group (69.6%), who are relatively disadvantaged in
terms of assets, education, income and land.
Large sections of the Adivasi people live near forest areas and depend
on collection and marketing of forest produces and rain-fed agriculture for
their sustenance. However, with diminishing forest resources as a result of
increasing continuous deforestation, there is a significant shift in their
occupational pattern to wage labourers and cultivators. No matter what
occupational group the poor belong to, their socio-economic vulnerability, very
weak coping mechanisms to any change in socio-economic or political or
environmental conditions, lack of alternative employment and income
opportunities and poor infrastructure, pushes them away to migration or
starvation-like situation.
Education: The
State’s literacy rate is low, at 49.09%, and it is particularly lower for women
(34.68%), Dalits (36.78%) and Adivasis (22.31%). Poor education also limits the
alternative occupational or employment opportunities.
Gender discrimination:
At present, the sex ratio of women is 971 per 1,000 males and the literacy rate
for women is about 35%. The participation percentage of women in the workforce
is 36.40%, while the proportion of women to total employees in the organized
sector is only 8.77%. Women also earn lower wages compared to men, especially
in the non-organized sectors. Women are more vulnerable to any socio-economic
deterioration or disasters, because of socio-cultural barriers to various forms
of livelihood opportunities. Added to this, women have very few resources over
which they have exclusive rights or control. They also have reduced mobility
due to existing socio-cultural practices. Thus, lack of access to better
livelihood and education, discrimination in work status and wage earning
capacity, lack of alternative employment opportunities coupled with their
marginalized social status, makes women more marginalized.
People needing special
care: Orissa has a child population of 12 million. A large
number of children have poor education, inadequate access to health care,
nutrition and shelter, are orphans and disabled. The numbers of disabled persons in rural and
urban areas are 2,306 & 2,049 respectively per 100,000 populations. The State
also has a high concentration of aged people, widows, sick and malnourished
persons.
Malnutrition:
The incidences of malnutrition, particularly amongst children and women, are
high in the State. Iron deficiency,
which is a major reason for high morbidity, is especially high amongst women
and children. The percentages of women
and children having anemia are 63% and 72.30% respectively. Such a large segment of people with anemia,
constantly pose risk of contracting transmittable diseases, as anemia
diminishes one’s ability to fight infections.
Diarrhoea, cholera, tuberculosis, leprosy, malaria,
meningitis and gastroenteritis have high incidence rates in the state. 57% of the population has chronic energy
deficiency, which is a result of long-term under-nutrition and
malnutrition. Orissa occupies the worst
position in the country in terms of chronic energy deficiency. Natural
calamities add to these problems, as it results in transitory food insecurity,
decline in availability of food and fall in income.
High Mortality Rates:
The status of health is dismal in the State. The Infant Mortality Rate and Child
Mortality Rates are as high as 97 and 29 per ‘000 respectively. Similarly, the Maternal Mortality Rate in
Orissa is the highest in the country, which stands at 679. Further, the
Prenatal, Neo-natal and Post-natal Mortality Rate of the State stand at 49.1,
65.3 and 26.1 respectively, which are higher than the National average. The State’s health care system and its
infrastructure were badly damaged by the 1999 super cyclone and floods of 2001.
Lack of access to
infrastructure: An analysis of rural populations
indicates that 25% of villages and 81% of households do not have electricity.
40% of the population does not have access to safe drinking water and only 8%
have access to sanitation. The
population covered per medical institution and a doctor is 21,580 and 7,560
respectively. The State is handicapped
due to inadequate irrigation facilities, insufficient storage facilities, not
enough marketing/credit institutions and poor road infrastructure. Basic
services like health, market, are also inadequate in such areas. Poor accessibility to infrastructure
increases for varied reasons.
Migration: The State has increasing trends of people migrating from rural areas
to towns and cities of Orissa and other states in search of employment and
livelihood. The majority of the immigrants usually belong to the lower income
strata of population. They are mostly dalits, Adivasis, poor artisan turned
labourers, mega-project induced displaced persons from hilly, forest and drought prone areas. Being poor, these immigrants
settle in slums or areas lacking in basic infrastructure like safe drinking
water, sanitation and drainage facilities.
Housing: Quality
and design specifications of houses as well as materials used for housing,
particularly for roofing and walling, have a bearing on the vulnerability of
houses to earthquakes, cyclones, high wind, floods and fires. In Orissa, 64.25% of houses, due to their
type of construction and materials used for walls and roofs, are vulnerable to
disaster impacts and the damage risk to such houses is very high.
Odisha – The Citadel of Disasters: Odisha has been frequently haunted by disasters. In
the year 2002 severe drought affected throughout the State, and in 2003 the
people of Orissa got another jolt by heavy rains and series of floods and flash
floods affecting 3.6 million people in 23 districts. Consecutively, it was the
sixth year when Orissa had to face another major disaster, followed by
heat-wave in 1998, two major cyclones in1999, severe drought in 2000, state-wide
floods in 2001 and severe drought in 2002. And the recent Phailin cyclone and
followed by heavy rains causing heavy floods in 2013. If one looks at
the history of disasters in Orissa, one finds a series of various types of
disasters that have struck the State over the years with devastating
effects.
(INPUTS BY OAAA)
(FOCUS ORISSA FORUM ON CLIMATE CHANGE)
Henceforth
we the people of Orissa demand that:
·
The Government, instead of taking
retrograde steps, should bring more protective legislations in order to
completely debar the transfer of Adivasi/Dalits lands to non-Adivasis/Dalits in
scheduled areas.
·
Necessary amendments may be brought
in the existing land legislations to include the principles enunciated in
recent legislations on Adivasi/Dalit self rule such as the Gram Saba /Gram
Sasan including Palli Sabha’s role in consent for acquisition of land for
development projects.
·
Secured access to forest and forest
based products for bona-fide and dignified existence must be ensured through
amendments in forest legislations and policy resolutions.
·
That the Adivasi/Dalit should be
given right to manage their own forest and reserve forest in the Adivasi/Dalit
areas. The Gram Sabha must have ownership rights over forest produces.
·
The State Government along with Adivasi/Dalit
community should develop a system for proper and sustainable forest eco system
management in the Adivasi/Dalit area and in particular to sustain forest
productivity, health, bio-diversity, soil quality, water quality, natural
landscapes and the full range of natural forest ecological processes.
·
That the State must ensure
reservation in Government services, public and private sector undertakings are
in proportion to the demography of Adivasis and Dalits.
·
We demand that various possible
means of providing loans and technology to Adivasis and Dalits to develop a
self-employment mechanism for youth.
·
The State Government should ensure the inheritance
rights of women over the properties in the spirit of the legislation already
enacted.
·
The state should enable Adivasis
and Dalits to develop self-governing institutions and economic bases, which
will assist them to participate effectively in decision making for their own
development.
·
We oppose untouchability and all
forms of discrimination against Dalits, Adivasis, Women and Children leading to
human rights violations.
·
We demand immediate scarping of all
the MoUs of Special Economic Zones in Orissa as well in India.
·
We also demand to abolish the
process of formulating Bills on Seeds, contract farming, privatization of water
and trading education.
·
Need to redefine the terminologies
used by dominant forces on Dalits, Adivasis and Fisher folk as Indigenous
Communities as it is defined as First Nation People.
(FOCUS ORISSA FORUM ON CLIMATE
CHANGE)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AGRI-MANIFESTO
Highlights
-
25% of the state budget should be spent on
agriculture sector
-
Construction of godown at GP level to store
paddy and other agri produces
-
Procurement of paddy/other agri produces at
GP level. GP should be empowered and equipped
-
Govt must provide Rs 300/ per qtl as bonus
-
Amendment of OLR Act to protect the interest
of the Share croppers as well as the
landowners
-
Share Cropper Act.- identification,
recognition, benefits and entitlement
-
Access to institutional credit
-
Standing Farmers’ commission at state level
with farmer’s representation, the recommendations of Commission should be
discussed in the assembly.
-
Kisan Credit Card for share croppers
-
Vegetable grower federation
-
Cold storage at block level
-
Marketing of agriculture produces
-
Free Electricity supply/ other
equipments to farmers at subsidized rate
-
Panchyat level irrigation plan and focus on
micro-irrigation project
-
Award/Recognition/felicitation to progressive farmers/successful farmers at
GP level every year
-
Local Seed preservation for self reliant for various of seeds,
discouraging outside procurement,
-
Renovation of agri-farms for seed production
-
Organic farming promotion it the state,
separate cell in OUAT for organic farming, subsidy on organic manure ,
-
Agro processing industrial estate in all
districts
-
Crop insurance –
-
Diary – support to all the members of OMFED
to construct Gobar Gas Plant
-
Research and development in Agri and related
be encouraged to help farm communities, Farmers & entrepreneurs’
-
special policy and programme should be
introduces in- drought, flood, cyclone, climate change affected areas to
promote ecological farming and climate resilient farming ,Disaster adapted
practices
-
Fishery sector needs special attention
fishermen should be protected economically, socially and their legitimate
rights are protected. New policy to protect fishermen’s right and
privileges’; managing , marketing
Fishing products in Marine sector, lakes
like Chilika, Rivers, creeks, estuaries
involving fishing communities should be the priority.
Contributed by Chasi Vikash Trust
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LAND
Summarization of
issues
- Land reforms on priority basis
Policy issues
- House site distribution
of land in the urban slums. (
check policy) ( minimum 1500 sq. ft
in urban areas, minimum 10 decimals
in rural areas)
- No ceiling land will be
distributed other than poor, tenant
- OLR 8A – Restriction of
conversion of land for commercial
purposes
- In rural areas, one
standard acre land should be distributed as per the OLR act and OGLS Act.
- Bring awareness on land
related laws among the masses.
- Restriction of land
limits for hotels, private educational institutions, IT hubs, religious
and (charitable) institutions.
- Immediate constitutions
of land commission.
- Formal identification and
registration of sharecroppers.
- Regularize the land to the landless as
per the OPLE / OGLS act
- Identification of Bhoodan
land
- Bhoodan land should be
used for distributed ted among the land less and review & restoration
of land already diverted for other purposes. Bhoodan land shouldn’t be
used for non-agricultural purposes
Tribal land alienation (schedule area and non-scheduled
area)
-
Illegal transfer of tribal land
-
Tribal land restoration
-
Contract farming and informal mortgaging
-
Institutions ( role of PRI, PESA)
Recommendations,
- No acquisition of agricultural land to non-agricultural
purposes
- Return of unused land to
land less / previous land-owner
- Land for land for
landless categories.
Rural Land settlement
Recommendations
1.
Computersation of land records - Uniformity
2.
Registration of Sharecroppers
3.
Stop excessive
land acquisition by corporate
4.
Immediate implementation of survey and
settlement act
- Replace the word “waste
land” to “common land”.
- Kisam change of waste
land / common land transfer it to landless people.
- Village common land
should be managed and controlled by the revenue villagers
- Land settlement will be
carried out based on the equity and approval of the concerned villagers as
per the PESA.
- In no case common land
shall be allotted to outsiders. ( need clarity and policy changes)
- Establish single institutions to resolve
land dispute expeditiously.
Recommendations:
1.
In
the state of Odisha there has been no process to identify Share croppers so the
rules should be clearly spelled out the process to identify share croppers.
2.
There
should be provision within the rules to identify the Land less and ensure
entitlement of the land in a time limit before the acquisition of the land.
3.
SIA
expert group and committee should specially address the concerns of Land less,
agricultural workers, forest workers and sharecroppers and socially
discriminated groups such as Dalit, Adivasi and PTGs .The social impact
assessment report should have a special chapter on this.
4.
There
should be time limit for distribution of assigned land like Bhoodan Land and
Ceiling Surplus land and homestead and agricultural land distribution under
various land laws and programmes. It should be completed and all the land
related disputes, land grabbing and land alienation cases on land owned by SC
and STs should be resolved before land accusation.
5.
The
process of forest Right act/ MoEF guideline issued in Aug 2009 needs to be
complied.
6.
Prior
written consent/declaration form should identify the SCs and Minority families.
7-There should
be provision to address the issues of untouchability and caste and ethnic based
discrimination in rehabilitation and resettlement programmee.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PEOPLE’S MENIFESTO-2014
FOREST RIGHTS AND NATRAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
FRA
Gram Sabha
Suitable amendment should be made in
the Odisha Gram Panchayat Act and the Gram Sabha should be in the line of the provision of
FRA.
IFR
-Non recognition IFR of OTFDs
CFR
-Traditional boundary determined by
the community is to be recognized under
CFR.
All the existing programmes and
projects violating the spirit of FRA must be scapped.
DIVERSION
The process of diversion of forest
land must be followed as per the provisions of FRA and PESA.
FOREST VILLAGE
Identification and conversion of
Forest Villages into revene villages must be made within a time frame.
PA
The provisions of Forest Rights Act
mst be strictly followed in all the PAs and relocation should be stopped. The
Wild Life Protection Act must be amended accordingly.
MFP
The MFP rights as enshrined in FRA
shoul be strictly adhered and ensured and all the facilitating laws and
policies of the state must be changed accordingly for the realization of the
right.
PTG/NOMAD
The habitat area of all the PVTGs
should be the priority of the state and no disturbance to the habitat,
habitation and ecology shall be allowed.
DISPLACED
The 75 years of residential evidence
is irrational for all the developmental projects in india. Hence this should
not be applicable to the displaced.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Health
demands for election Manifesto
·
Adopt ‘Clinical Establishments Act’ immediately in Odisha to
regulate private hospitals, with inclusion of provisions for protecting
Patient’s rights.
·
Strictly
and effectively implement the ban on private practice by Govt. doctors.
·
Stop privatization of health services.
·
State
Govt. should roll out State Health
policy and State drug police
·
Ensure adequate provision of essential medicines in all public
health facilities by
implementing the ‘Tamil Nadu model’ in comprehensive manner at earliest.
·
Ensure 7% of GDP investment in Health
- Regulation
of private medical services in
the state.
CONTRIBUTED
BY Gournaga Mahapatra Jana Swashtya Abhiyan
EDUCATION MANIFESTO
} A
proper roadmap for implementation of RTE Act in the State within the given
timeframe of the Act with adequate budgetary provisions.
} Extend
the ‘freeship’ to cover writing materials and other accessories for children to
help them complete elementary education.
} Special
provisions to address the needs of tribal, migrant, minority, physically and
mentally challenged children in the State rule.
} Appointment
of regular teachers and adoption of a proper recruitment and transfer policy of
teachers.
} Decentralization of educational administration
including decentralization of development and printing of textbooks.
} Gram
Panchayat to be designated as the local authority for grievance redressal.
} Teaching
in Mother tongue and contextual
curriculum to be introduced as a matter of fundamental right as per the mandate
of the RTE Act and knowledge of local
dialect to be a criteria for recruiting teachers in tribal areas.
} Pre-schooling
to be included under RTE and appointment
of qualified and trained staff for pre-schools components.
} SMC
capacity building to be brought under civil society.
} Privatization
of elementary, secondary and higher secondary education to be discouraged.
Regulatory measures to be taken by the Govt. regarding mushrooming of private
schools.
• MDM
scheme should be extended till class 10th with minimum standards and
norms.
• Privatization
of elementary, secondary and higher secondary education to be discouraged.
• Development
and printing of textbooks to be decentralized so that local cultural components
are incorporated and it reaches children on time.
Contributed by Anil Pradhan of Odisha RTE FORUM
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
People’s manifesto on water
DRINKING WATER AND SANITATION
1.
All
the habitations in the state of Odisha (as per the 2011 Census) should be
provided with adequate drinking water sources as per the norm declared by the
state government. At present many habitations are covered as per the statistics
but the ground reality is different.
2.
Water
quality problems, especially fluoride contamination should be addressed in war
footing. All the spot sources in the state of Odisha shoud be tested for water
quality within a fixed timeframe.
3.
The
sources having water quality that is not acceptable as per the water quality
parameters laid down by the government should be closed/sealed immediately
after making alternative arrangement.
4.
Government
should own up responsibility for any health problem or disability due to
provisioning of substandard quality water and compensate and rehabilitate those
who have been victims of water quality. But bacteriological contamination
should be kept out of purview of this as here the contamination can take place
at many levels and the government is not solely responsible for this.
5.
Yield
assessment of all the tube wells should be undertaken immediately and those
sources not confirming to the laid down standard (low yield) should be taken
out of the list of sources.
6.
In
the name of summer draw down riser pipes have been added to the existing tube
wells year after year. Assessment should be done with each source with the
knowledge of the GP whether the all these additions add up to the present depth
of the tube wells or not.
7.
All
the permanently defunct tube wells, tube wells not sited properly, not adhering
to water quality standard, not yielding adequate quantity of water should be
taken off the list.
8.
The
government should either account for the missing household toilets (that is the
difference between the Census 2011 and Ministry of Drinking Water and
Sanitation figures on the no of toilets) or should correct its figures.
9.
Odisha
government should streamline the process of getting the MGNREGS contribution
for the construction of household latrines.
10. The
arrangement of providing drinking water through tankers should be done away
with making arrangement for sustainable sources of water in the villages. The
tankers are not a permanent solution for the water scarcity during the summer.
At the same time it has been breeding corruption.
11. Devolution
of functions, functionaries and funds should be done in the right earnest, not
in a haphazard manner. There should be adequate capacity building and
delegation of responsibility so that the GPs assume responsibility in drinking
water governance.
12. Salinisation
of ground water in the coastal districts of Odisha is on the rise and emerging
as a menace. Government should develop proper strategies to address this
problem.
RIVERS, GROUND WATER AND IRRIGATION
13. Rivers,
drainages and their beds and flood zones should be demarcated and declared as
the land belonging to the rivers or drainages. All encroachments, irrespective
of how old they are should be removed and the land reclaimed for the rivers.
14. The
process of filling up of the tanks and ponds and other water bodies in the
state of Odisha should be stopped immediately and the high court order in this
regard should be carried forward in right earnest.
15. No
Industrial or mining establishment should be allowed to release water not
conforming to the declared standard. In case they are found to do this, they
should be shut down till the problem is corrected.
16. To
address the problem of flood the government will proactively focus on drainage
9releaeof flood water as soon as possible) rather than on construction of
embankments that only shifts the ticking time bomb to the future.
17. Government
should develop the catchment of the rivers through intensive programs like
watershed development or through plantation and land and water conservation
measures so that the period for which the water flows in the rivers increase.
18. Ground
water should be declared as a public resource held in trust by the government
at appropriate levels. Ground water governance should be decentralized.
19. Odisha
Ground Water Bill passed in 2012 should be squashed and a fresh bill should be
enacted that is in tune with the Ground Water Draft Bill circulated by the
Planning Commission.
20. In no
situation the industries should be allowed to use ground water for industrial
purposes.
21. Those
areas not getting water from the canal should either be provided with water or
be deducted from the command area. Special incentives should be provided to
these farmers for development of ground water irrigation.
22. Irrigation
through up to 90% subsidy for bore wells should be taken up in a planned manner
not in the haphazard manner that it is being right now. Right spacing,
monitoring the draft etc should be done in a proper manner.
Contributed by Tapan Padhi of Odisha
Water Forum
CLIMATE CHANGE
NEED TO REVIST Odisha
Climate Change Action Plan
The Odisha Climate plan does not consider the concern and
interest of common Odias. Orissa government’s Climate Change Action Plan with a
huge budget of Rs 17,000 crore seeks to help industries more by reducing their
expenditure on adapting to climate change, while providing hardly any budget for
the victims of climate change at Saatabhayaa, around Talcher and Jharsuguda. It proposes a 15 fold increase in the capacity
of thermal power plants at the guise of improvement technology which alone
could lead to at least thirteen times higher levels of emission of heat and
pollution. There is hardly any money allocated for developing small and micro
level irrigation facilities or in providing adaptive seeds to farmers. There is
no allocation for increasing the supply of electricity to farmers. On the other
hand the government has planned for enhancing the fees for irrigation. Over the
last ten years, the government has kept on increasing the fees it collects from
farmers for supplying irrigation water to them, while allowing industries to
use increasing quantities of water, often without formal permission and from
sources earmarked for irrigation purposes, without having to pay much.
The plan has more than Rs 3000 crore for the forest department, while the
villagers who have sacrificed so much to protect their forests under community
forest management /joint forest management have been allocated nothing but a
small amount of five crore rupees for training purposes. In transport sector,
80% of the allocated budget for this sector is for highways while there is no
budget for rail or for promoting the use of non-motorized transport such as
bicycles.
Two of the most critical areas climate change impacts are
falling production in agriculture, livestock & fishery; and increasing
health hazards due to heat related illnesses and accidents. There is no budget
under the action plan for something as obvious and basic as preventing and
treating heat strokes. The livestock sector is seen by the government less as a
victim of climate change and more as a producer of methane. The climate change
action plan accuses the farmers of Orissa of not killing old and unproductive
cattle due to religious cultural reasons and that this leads to large methane
emissions.
An overall reading of the Orissa climate change action plan
leads to the following conclusions:
- It’s a hurriedly
drafted document ghost-written by the other External Agencies.
- Notwithstanding the
importance and implication of the document, the process of preparation of
draft document has not been inclusive.
- It treats Orissa as a
cause of climate change while Orissa is actually a victim of climate
change. Naturally it wants to impose the price of reducing emission of
green house gases on the ordinary people of Orissa, who lives either
low-emission or net-carbon-absorption livelihoods.
- In spite of the heat
wave conditions that have killed thousands of people in Orissa, the Action
Plan seeks to ratify the setting up of large numbers of new thermal power
plans which will lead to at least thirteen times growth in emissions and
pollutions, thus would risk temperature increase.
- It accepts that
climate change is going to cause erratic monsoons and increased incidence
of droughts and reduce agricultural production. However it proposes not
increasing irrigation coverage but increase in water tariff collected from
farmers.
- It blames the people
of Orissa keeping their old cows and bullocks and encourages that they
should allow such animals to die.
- It pays only lip
service to the issue of renewable energy such as biogas or solar powers
and allocates very small budgets for these areas. On the other hand it
allocates large amounts of public money to help electricity companies
increase profits by reducing transmission losses.
- It tries to peddle
false assumptions that bio-fuels will lead to lower carbon emissions.
Biofuels can only lead to saving in petroleum use but not reduce carbon
emissions as when biofuels are burnt, that too released green house gases.
It encourages the diversion of land to growing bio-fuels which will lead
to reduction in the availability of food and fodder.
- It pays lip service
to development of public transport, railways and non-motorized transport.
But it does not allocate any budgets for these while allocating 80% of the
transport sector budget for highways.
- It ignores the
contribution of community forest management in protecting and developing
Orissa’ forests and allocates no budget for helping villages that are
protecting their forests to gain access to alternate livelihoods and
alternate fuel sources.
- It pays only lip
service to preventing and curing the health impacts of increasing
temperatures and makes no budget allocation for preventing or treating
heat strokes in spite of thousands of people having died due to heat
strokes in the last few years.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WE NEED TO REVISIT
NATIONAL ENERGY POLICY
COAL BASED THERMAL
POWER PLANTS ARE NOT ENVIRONMENTAL FRIENDLY
Energy has become a crucial sector of the modern society, so
much so that per capita availability of energy is considered as an indicator of
economic prosperity. However, the
social, economic and environmental impacts of demand/supply of energy are so
great that only a holistic and objective consideration of all the related
issues will enable the formulation of a sustainable and effective national
policy.
RECOMONDATIONS
1-The large
number of additional coal power plants totaling about 58,000 MW being proposed
in Orissa, have been the major concern for many, who considered them as having
huge implications to the society. The
focus should be on the deleterious implications of such ill-conceived power
projects to Orissa. To achieve more energy sufficiency GoO has signed 42 Power
related MoUs with prominent power producing companies.
2-Whereas,
many project affected people have expressed their concern and anger at the
large number of MoUs signed for additional coal power plants without taking the
concerned sections of the population into confidence, searching questions have
been posed by the activists to the Energy department and Govt. of Orissa on the
Orissa power scenario itself.
3-On many
occasions government admitted that there is a scope to considerably reduce the
huge losses prevailing in the sector, with definitive and considerable economic
implications.
4-There is
an opinion that the large number of coal power projects proposed in Orissa,
while not essential to meet the local electricity demand, are forced on Orissa
due to incorrect policies of the central ministries. But government could not
explain as to what is preventing the Orissa govt. to say NO to unscientific and
unsustainable exploitation of Orissa’s coal reserve.
5-GoO
has claimed that many initiatives have
been launched to reduce the losses, and the substantial amounts of expenditure
planned to reduce T&D losses was due to reluctance of the ESCOMs to invest
suitably.
6-It has
been said that many contractual issues with the private ESCOMs were pending in
different judicial bodies; and the possibility of canceling the operational
license of these companies due to poor performance was considered, though not
found to be desirable due to many legal and economic reasons.
7-Government
is always saying, on some of the better R&R practices deployed in Orissa
and elsewhere, and was of the firm opinion that suitable and compassionate
R&R policy is critical for the welfare of the society.
8-In the
other hand, government’s explanations on the Orissa power sector, while
appreciated by some of us, could not satisfactorily explain as to why the real
costs and benefits of the large number of proposed coal power projects,
including the poor R&R track record and looming fresh water crises were not
objectively considered. Though the beneficiaries of these power projects are
well known to be the private corporate houses, the true benefits to the locals
were seen by the people as meager as compared to the losses.
9-That’s why
there is a need to objectively consider the impacts of these projects including
the pollution loading, the need for objective costs and benefits to the
society, effective participatory decision making etc.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
People’s Manifesto on MINING AND
INDUSTRY
Mining
Moratorium – Resource
ownership and Management should be in the hand of Govt.
Formation of mining
area development Board/ Authority for development,
-Ensure safety of local people and mining workers
-Ensure the livelihood of mining workers and local people
(ensure Social security of mining workers.
-Safety of children-education, nutrition,
-Labour legislation-enforcement of authorities
-Mineral based industries, subsided industries should needs
monitoring, regular supervision
-Need to relook at Miner mineral regulation policy
-Minor Mineral is under 3 Dept. (Need change in regulation)
-Public hearing be conducted for leasing (Majority opinion of
concerned Gramsabha)
-Revenue generated out of minor mineral leasing be handed
over to Gram Panchayat.
-Special curriculum Mining education Dept in universities
& colleges,
-Mineral conservation should be the prime focus of Mining
Dept.
Alternative long-term
livelihood through agriculture development near by the mining areas-Mining
hampering agriculture production.
People who lost land,
livelihood and farming for mining will be nowhere after completion of mining
Safety net for
agriculture activities, rehabilitation planning for Mining affected areas
Strictly implementation
of existing environmental laws
-Leasing system of
major minerals must be abolished.
Minerals should be given to companies on market rate.
Mining Development fund
25 % of the Mining revenue should be deposit for district
fund. For education, health, water sanitation, for local displaced people, (it can be create a public awareness)
Fix the responsibility of the desertification of the leased
mining area in the concerned area. And
penalize them for development.
Periphery means displaced area. Accountability/ utilization
should be fixed
Export committee should be formed to assess the resources
keeping in view the environmental & ecological aspect.
Prohibition/ ban/restriction on use of water resources in
mining areas where water already drained and polluted.
Any mining activities should be managed/ controlled by Govt.
apparatuses
Mobile health centers/Hospital should planned in every mining
villages
CSR funds should be spend through Govt. /Independent body not
directly by the company
There must be a law to ensure right to livelihood of
displaced people and make budgetary provisions to ensure this
In no way agriculture land be diverted towards mining or
industry.
Land commission should be formed and land status should
prepare for public domain.
Land
creation – Abandoned mining be brought back to central pool for redistribution
to Landless.
Rights to fare compensation for Land
acquisition and rehabilitation and resettlement-
Pension for farmers, share croppers
Ban of
International capital agent in mining -
Decentralization
over stake/ownership /Management of Mineral resources
INDUSTRY
Alternative
industry be explored
-revival of
small scale and handicrafts Cottage industry
-Food
processing industry
Food crop based production
Develop rural infrastructure to
promote and link agriculture production marketing,
Promote Minor forest produced based
industries.
Water bodies should be developed for
fishing / aquatic species and be given to local people.
Coconut based industry in coastal
areas.
Tourism industry- especially
eco-natural-green tourism
Include local resource based
technical knowhow in ITI vocational training courses & Syllabus like.
OSFC and OSFDC should be revived
Set up cold storage in each block,
Promote garment industry,
Consumption material industry
House hold items
Ancillary industry in industrial hubs
Bring back land provided to
industries which have not taken off.
Rural youth be supported to establish
poultry farms –in turn they can supply of mid day meals (eggs)
Local procurement of
paddy/rice-recycling should be stopped
-Agro forest
based industry
-revival of
cotton mills
-Industry
does not mean extraction of minerals and mineral based industry but it has a
wider definition linked to agriculture, handicrafts, etc.
- Local
product based industries be promoted for coastal areas.
-in no way
private industries be given fish and prawn export and processing
-Local
unemployed youth should be promoted/ trained for contractors/ to set up
hotel/restaurants/ resorts
- To
generate more employment be promoted and ban the contracture, (the 80 % of the
local development work be)
Compensatory
afforesting be created
Special
provisions for education & development of the children of Construction
workers engaged in infrastructure development projects.
Remove the
corrupt officials/ corrupt practices of pollution board officials and labour officials
( if found guilty).
Carrying and
containing capacity of industrial areas and proposed project areas be assessed.
Bring a law
for the Guaranty the livelihood of displaced families (Mining & Industry)
and make budgetary provisions for guaranty it
Fix the accountability to provide job under various MoUs.
Contributed by Manas
Jena of OMAPAN
People’s Manifesto on Migration
CHARTER OF DEMANDS
1-Government should identify and issue IDENTITY CARD all the migrant laborers of the state.
2-Government should set-up a TASK FORCE, Terms and Conditions should be like these.
I - To
study the causes/reasons- behind the migration
II - working conditions vis-Ã -vis the
work culture
III -Wage structure and other
working amenities for benefits
IV -Identification of work force as
per the Industrial Disputes Act
V - To
bring out a report containing number of laborers both in the place of origin
and destination (places of work, city and state)
VI - To suggest what should be done at the place of work.
3 - To make amendments to Interstate Migrant Workmen Act to
accommodate/cover sue-motto migrant workmen.
4-Government should immediately take steps to appoint Labour
Officers in Surat, Mumbai, Gandhidham, Pune, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Raipur,
Trissur (Kerala), Srinagar (J&K), Kolkata and in New Delhi.
THE system should be for every 50,000 laborers a Labor
Officer, for every 1 lakh population a DLO, for more than 1lakh migrant
population an ALC/DLC can be posted.
5-State Government should open a MIGRATION CELL either in state Secretariat or in Sramabhawan
directly under the supervision of Chief Secretary or Development Commissioner,
similar CELLs can be worked out in various RDC/DLO levels. It should be
decentralized. An appropriate Officer may be appointed to look into the
problems not less than the rank of Additional Labour Commissioner.
6-There should be JOINT
COORDINATION Cells with Gujarat and Maharashtra Governments. State level
bilateral mechanism should be in place.
7-A State Level
Committee to examine the plight of Odia laborers has to be sent to various
states and cities-it may be an all party delegation/all trade union
delegation/House committee or a Citizens’ Committee.
8-Government should consider having few Low cost Odissa
Houses/Dharmasalas/transit houses in places like Surat, Mumbai, Ahmedabad,
Bengalore etc.
9-Government should facilitate to provide Text Books, Odia
Teachers and all necessary items required for Odia Schools in Surat, Mumbai and
Gandhidham at least up to Higher Secondary level. Should setup adequate new
schools to cater the primary and secondary education.
10-Necessary health checks up and preventive steps should be
in place/ ensured in both the places to avoid the rising HIV/AIDS deaths, STDs
and other epidemics.
11-Government should ensure Registration in ALL Railway
stations/Bus stops and departure centers to estimate the number of Migrants.
12- Immediate steps should be taken to prevent
attacks/exploitation on Odia laborers, adequate steps may be taken at state
government level to protect the workers from ant sort of harassments’ and
unlawful police atrocities at different places of work
13-Govt of Orissa should interact with the appropriate
Central Govt authorities and Reserve Bank to bring a responsible and legitimate
working system for quick Remittance at workers doorstep. In this context Govt
should play a proactive role in recognizing the Money Remittance mechanism run
by NGOs.
14-Govt of Orissa should ensure
that all the Migrant workers are registered in Panchayats and Revenue Officials
should be asked to issue Resident/Caste/Identity certificates to migrant workers.
(Contributed
by Anam Barik & Sudarshan Chhotray of NCML & PRAVASI SRAMIKA SANGH)
People’s Manifesto- Adibasi (TRIBALS)
1-Education-
-Appointment of tribal
teachers of the concern community or a person who knows the language of local
tribal from pre-primary to primary schools.
-Pre-primary education should be
covered under Right to Education Act.
-All the schools up to primary level
in the TSP areas should have Adivasi teachers.
-Adequate teachers should be appointed
in the tribal schools/areas.
-School curriculum must include subjects with Adibasi,
history, tradition, culture and social practices.
-Primary schools should be
established in each Adibasi village.
-Job oriented, skill based training
for Adibasi youths should be provided free.
-Free higher education should be
given to the Adibasi students.
-Proper facilities for drinking
water, food, lighting, sanitation (toilets, bathrooms), and accommodation in Adibasi
hostels should provided.
-Vocational/ technical training
institutions should be established in every TSP blocks for the Adibasi
youths.
-Medium of education should be in
local Adibasi language-up to primary level.(Other Language should not be burden
for it can be taught optionally )
2-Health
-Govt. should ensure (right to
life-food security-NFS Act 2013) safe drinking water in all Adibasi
habitations.
-Traditional knowledge and
therapeutic practice for health care should be recognized and promoted.
-Create awareness to discourage
superstition, evil practices, sorcery, etc in health care matters in Adibasi
villages.
-Free health facility should be
provided all the diseases including special priority on chronic diseases.
-Special programmes on malaria,
diarrhea, TB, anemia, etc.
-Govt should look into occupational
health hazard in established industrial and mining areas.
-Conservation & preservation of
natural forest & medicinal plants.
-Access to adequate health &
medical facilities in terms of services and infrastructure should be ensured in
all Adibasi villages.
-Special care should be taken to
ensure better health of mother & children in adibasi villages.
3-Livelihood
-Adequate steps should be taken to ensure
irrigation facilities for agricultural activities.
-Promotion of agriculture based on
local practices and knowledge.
-Rights over forest resources
including NTFP, MFP should be ensured.
-Processing of food products,
marketable products and market link is supported to Adibasis.
-Ensure & promotion of all
customary and local livelihood practices of Adibasi.
-Promotion of Adibasi artisans and
craftsman.
-Land to landless Adibasies minimum 1
hac.
-Tribal youth should be oriented and
trained on various skills & entrepreneurship for self-employment. Special
attention should be given to unemployed tribal youth.
-Women entrepreneurship and women
groups.
-Co-operatives of Adibasi be promoted
with financial assistance, skill and capacity building.
-Minimum support price be ensured for
the agricultural & forest products of Adibasies.
4-Governance
-Odisha Govt. should redefine Gram
Sabha as per PESA.
-Implement PESA in Odisha in letter
and spirit.
-PESA rules be formulated and
implemented after adequate consultation with Adibasi groups of scheduled area.
- Adibasi community leaders and
village councils should be consulted before any intervention by Govt. officials
particularly by police.
-Ensure the proper and effective
implementation of FRA and vesting land rights.
-Habitat, customary and community
rights of PVTGs and other tribal groups be ensured.
-Regulation 2 of 1956 (OSATIP) should
not be diluted/compromise and violated.
-Enforce the SC/ST (Prevention of
Atrocities’) Act in true spirit.
-Adibasi friendly Justice delivery
system be introduced.
-Single window system for addressing
grievances for Adibasi.
-Ensure Adibasi’s rights to
development.
-Inclusion left out tribal areas and
Adibas communities under Tribal Sub Plan.
-Planning, allocation and utilization
of TSP funds should be transparent and should be “bottom-up” process.
-All the tribal areas be brought in
under 5th schedule.
-Tribal Advisory Council should be
redesigned to include representatives of PVTGs, community leaders and
representatives of Adibasi.
-Governor should be the Chairman of
TAC.
-Mechanism for the security of
Adibasi women and girl’s child in the school campus.
-Stop attack, harassment on Adibasis by
non-Adivasis
Contributed by Indigenous People’s
Forum & Odisha Adivasi Adhikar Abhiyan(OAAA)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PEOPLE’S MANIFESTO- Dalit issues
1-Social discrimination-
-Untouchability and oppression/ Caste based atrocity/ Forced
caste based occupation
-Proper implementation of protective laws
-Justice to the victims
2-Economic discrimination –
-Access to productive resources/education
-Share in development budget (SCSP),
-Enactment of law for SCSP & TSP in the line of
AP act.
-Land Rights-Homestead land, Agriculture land, access to Commons
-Forest land distribution to the SCs.
-Productive use of Land after distribution,
-80% of Dalit families are agricultural labourer.
- Dalits are neglected by Govt. for land distribution in tribal areas.
-Reservation in Govt. and private sectors, Contractual jobs
3-Education-
-should
get priority and intensivised
4-Economic development
5-State
commission for SC & STs
6- OSFDC- should
provided financial support to the
7-unemployment
youth for entrepreneurship development among SC youth
8-Special programme
to rehabilitation & resettlement of Manual scavengers with dignified
livelihood.
8. Special drives to distribute land under FRA
to SCs.
9. Livelihood
promotion among SCs
CONTRIBUTED BY
Prashant Mallick of Odisha Dalit Adhikar Manch(ODAM)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
People’s Manifesto CHILDREN & YOUTH
Recommendations
·
Effective
enforcement of laws and legislations for children by allocating adequate
financial resources, putting adequate
human resources, facilitating infrastructure support and establishing
appropriate monitoring/grievance redressal
mechanism and fixing proper accountability
·
Appointment of
commissions/ chairman and members of commissions, statutory bodies/committees
must be done adopting a transparent process – A policy for appointment of
chairman and members of different commissions /statutory bodies and committees
shall be framed and put in place
·
Recognizing Gram
Panchayat as local registrar for universal birth registration
·
100%
immunization achievement with inclusion of present vaccinations along with
hepatitis B
·
Free and
compulsory Health insurance after birth for all children
·
Appropriate
measure will be taken to ensure non-discrimination while delivering services
·
Measures to
reduce IMR
·
Shelter homes
for children on street in all districts /towns
·
Making ECCE a
fundamental right.
·
State policy and
state plan of action for children.
·
Policy for
mother tongue based education.
·
Ensure quality
care and education by provisioning adequate infrastructure and quality and
trained teachers- additional trained nursery teacher.
·
Effective
implementation of RCFCE Act 2009
·
Trained Teachers
appointment at primary level, subject
wise teachers at Middle and High school level
·
Inclusion of
MDM, free text books, uniform/dress, no of tuition fee at High school level.
·
Ensure
vocational education as per the choice/preference of the student.
·
Uniform syllabus
for pre to higher secondary level.
·
Introducing
common school system.
·
Life skill
education to children and youth.
·
More number of
residential schools for children belonging schedule tribe and schedule caste
and increase percentage for schedule caste children in residential schools
during admission.
·
Increase the MDM
price measuring calorie intake, nutritional supplement as per the present
market price.
·
Recognizing
children rights to ecology while planning and implementing any developmental
programs and projects.
·
Integration of
Human rights education in school
curriculum.
·
Observation
homes in all districts
·
RTE enforcement
for the children in conflict with law, children of parents in prison and in
other institutional cares
·
Strengthening
school cabinet and special training package for children in School Management
Committee.
·
Special Gram
Sabha for Children
Youth
1.
State plan of
action in the line of state youth policy
2.
Inculcating
spirit of national integration trough youth camps, workshops and other activities.
3.
Skill and job
oriented trainings for youth in massive scale
4.
Priority to the
local youth while providing employment in development projects, industries etc.
should be part of MOU
5.
Education on
Indian constitution, Parliamentary form of Democracy, panchayati raj system,
voters right and responsibility, to
youth
6.
Life skill education for adolescents and youth
7.
Participation of
youth while planning and implementation of development projects and programmes
8.
Political
parties should give ample opportunity to youth in allotting tickets in
national, state and local governance.
9.
Opportunity/scholarship for youths
in participating Sports
10. Recognizing youth’s right to ecology while planning
and implementing any developmental programs and projects.
11. Employment guarantee for every youth
12. Complete Ban
on alcohol/drugs/Opium/tobacco in the state
13. Special focus
and attention for Youth and children in conflict area.
Contributed
by Ranjan Mohanty and Odisha Coalition on Protection of Child Rights
PEOPLE’S
MANIFESTO ON ELDERLY
Contribution of
organizations who work for Elder Rights are immense
They worked closely with the GOI in the formulation of
the National Policy of Older Persons 1999, the enactment of the Maintenance and
Welfare of the Parents and Senior Citizens Act 2007 and in the Committee which
formulated the National Policy for Senior Citizens – March 2011 that is to be
announced. They are currently working on the inclusion of Age Care in the
School Curriculums and the provision of adequate Old Age Pensions.
We wish to draw your attention to some of the critical needs of the 100
million plus senior citizens and who form a substantial section of the voting
population, whose number will swell to 200 million by 2030. We would urge
that these critical issues be given due attention today.
The critical needs and demands are
as follows:
1. Universal Pension for All Elders, APL and BPL, excluding those who are income tax payers. The
minimum pension amount to be Rs. 2000/- with Centre providing Rs. 1000/-
and recommending that the States provide Rs. 1000/- as well.
2. Extending Geriatric Healthcare facility to all the
districts of India. Health services
for all elderly along the lines of Rajiv Gandhi Arogya Shree Scheme being
currently run by the Andhra Pradesh Government only. This has to be
accompanied by Elder Help Lines as is currently being operated in Andhra
Pradesh.
3. Assured Health Insurance as per the
Rastriya Swasthaya Bima Yojana i.e. RSBY to be extended to all elderly.
4. Old Age Homes to be constructed and run, at least one in every district i.e. 30
districts. This was promised under the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and
Senior Citizens Act 2007.
5. Announcement & Implementation of
State Policy of Older Persons.
Contributed by Rashmi Mohanty of HelpAge India
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FINANCIL INCLUSION
1.
Welcome
inclusive process of growth and should be a part of the political process
2.
To
establish a accessible and secure savings system
3.
Social
Security Measures must include financial security like credit, insurance,
pension, remittance,
4.
To
recognize people owned/people centric
financial organizations
5.
To
encourage , protect and promote-Individuals and institutions engaged in the financial inclusion process
6.
Priority
should be give to community based/owned institutions while extending financial
services( Banks, SIDBI, NABARD, RMK, KVIC, NMDC etc)
7.
Loan
waiver system should be revisited .
8.
Convergence
of service providers ( govt functionaries, bankers, community based/owned
institutions etc.) for inclusive growth
9.
All
political parties should work in heart and spirit to pass the Microfinance bill
in the parliament
10.
Livelihood
based finance should be given priority
Habitat
Planning for the Flood and Cyclone prone Coastal Odisha
Odisha has been prone to frequent
cyclones and flood because of its geographical location. Almost every cyclone
is followed by heavy rain and subsequently it leads to flooding in many parts
of the coastal Odisha. Of course, because of cloud burst even some pockets of
South and Western Odisha are getting severe flood though in those pockets the
flood water recedes in a very short time. However, in case of coastal Odisha
the villages remain flooded for several days and in few pockets even for weeks!
Considering all these problems, it is
proposed that Government should develop homestead lands in coastal Odisha and
in that regard the following model is being prescribed.
1-Government should plan each habitat for at least hundred households.
For the above hundred households Government should acquire about 10 acres of
land and this land should be developed by raising the height to about 6 to 7
ft. from the ground level. The
height should be determined by the high flood level recorded in that particular
area during past twenty five to thirty years. This plot of land should be
connected to the nearby motorable road with high elevation. To fill up the earth
for this plot, several fishery ponds should be dug with raised bundings so as
to make them protected from flood water.
2-Each of the hundred households should be provided with about 2400 sq/
ft/ of land so that they can use about 1000 sq. ft. for cattle and poultry shed
and some land for their kitchen garden. By this, the total requirement for
individual households will be approximately six acres. The rest four acres
shall be used for community infrastructure such as school, anganwadi centre,
playground, community centre etc.
3- Use of the
Fishery Tanks:
To develop the above homestead
land, Government may have to acquire about 20 acres of land to convert them to
fishery tanks. After developing the fishery tanks, Government could handover
them to a cooperative formed by the original landowners. The original
landowners should have the share according to the land they have lost for the
fishery tank. Also it should be left to the choice of the land owners to
transfer their shares or sell it to anybody they like.
If such a plan will be worked out
for about 2000 habitations in coastal Odisha the total fund required will be
around Rs. 2000 crores. I think it should not be difficult for the Government
to mobilize such an amount from various sources including the World Bank.
Contributed by
JAGADISH PRADHAN
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WOMEN MAIFESTO- ELECTIONS
2014
1. EDUCATE FOR EQUALITY
We will implement comprehensive, well-funded and long-term
public education programmes to end the culture of gender-based discrimination
and Violence. These will include: SMS, radio and TV public service campaigns,
accessible lesson plans for schools, modules for training teachers and to train
Professionals such as doctors and lawyers. To this end we will reach men,
women, boys and girls in both urban and rural areas.
2-MAKE LAWS COUNT
We will ensure each government agency produces a detailed
action-plan to implement laws to end violence against women, and we will fund
it. We will work with state governments to provide comprehensive services to
women who are victims of violent crimes, helping them to fund and set up
one-stop, 24-hour crisis centres and safe shelters in each police district, and
to give swift finanancial compensation. We will create and fund a comprehensive
scheme to prevent sexual abuse of children, including safe childcare for
children in villages and urban jhuggis, and awareness campaigns among children
and parents. We will work with state governments to establish responsive and
fair fast track courts for crimes of violence against women and raise the number
of judges to 40 per 1,000,000 population. We will also ensure increased access
to accountable legal aid, ensure that money damages are rapidly paid by the
State in cases of sexual violence, and create robust witness protection
programmes.
3. PUT WOMEN IN POWER
We will support the Women's Reservation Bill in the Lok
Sabha, and ensure that women will be represented in all councils, committees
and task forces related to policy and practice across the board. We will
support the adoption of a Code of Conduct to disqualify electoral candidates
who have committed o_ences of gender-related violence and end misogynist
comments and behaviour in the Lok Sabha. We will strengthen the autonomous functioning
of the National and State Commissions for Women, with experienced professionals
being selected through a transparent process.
4. POLICE FOR THE PEOPLE
We will establish and enforce a comprehensive response
protocol for crimes against women, and publicise it. We will work with state
governments to change service rules and ensure police and prosecutorial
recruitment, promotion and penalties are made on attitudes and performances
based on gender. We commit to implementing police reforms and to ensure that
police personnel who breach the new procedures are investigated and disciplined
accordingly. We will also establish rape crisis response teams, with rural and
urban pilot projects. _ere will be zero tolerance of moral policing by State and
non-State actors.
5-SWIFT, CERTAIN JUSTICE
We will support amendments to laws that perpetuate violence
and discrimination against women and sexual minorities, and those that directly/indirectly
sanction discrimination against women on the basis of religion, caste,
sexuality, age, economic status or disability. We will stringently implement
the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostics Technique Act. We will support the
amendment of existing laws, to remove the marital rape exemption, repeal
Section 377 IPC and make sure that the rape of any person is criminal. We will
change the law so that consenting couples aged 16 and 17 do not fall foul of
rape laws. We will remove the impunity to perpetrators of custodial rape under
the Armed Forces Special Powers Act and will appoint special commissioners in
con_ict areas to monitor and prosecute sexual o_ences. We will enact the
Prevention of Atrocities (Amendment) Bill to stop crimes against dalit and
adivasi women and commit to a strong law against communal violence that holds
state and non-state actors accountable. We will take strong action against
racial discrimination and violence against women from the North-East. We will
push to enact a special law to combat honour crimes. We will take steps to
bring speedy justice in long-pending cases of communal and caste massacres, as
well as custodial rapes.
6. ECONOMIC FLOURISHING
We will ensure secure, digni_fied, remunerative employment
for women. Action plans will be created to secure equal pay for equal work in
all sectors; provide creches and other critical support to MNREGA workers;
rights, dignity and minimum wage to all women workers in the organised and unorganised
sectors. We will grant government employee status to ASHA and anganwadi workers
in 'voluntary' schemes where women work with informal honorariums. We will push
to amend the law to address the range of unfair discrimination at work,
including in the unorganised sector and we commit to implementing the Central
Government mandate under the sexual harassment law. We will bring universal,
non-contributory old age pensions for women. We will create action plans to
accelerate quality education for girls. We will devise a scheme to ensure that
women achieve equal property rights in natal families and fair shares through
marriage. Public toilets shall be set up, especially in the poorest areas, and
all women will have access to regular, safe public transport.We will ensure
development justice for women and respect community rights to resources. All
action plans will include infrastructure, personnel, training, monitoring and
evaluation, supported by central _nances.A freedom movement for women has
caught _re. Citizens across the country are demanding an end to the generations-deep
violence and suppression faced by hundreds of millions of Indian women and
girls. Voters are calling on elected o_cials to commit the resources and
political will for change now. _is Indian Womanifesto is a 6-point plan
critical to the freedom and safety, equality and _ourishing of India's women
and girls.
All candidates for the 2014 Lok Sabha should commit to: WOMANIFESTO
Prepared
by National level Women Organizations’.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------HUMAN
RIGHTS -ELECTION MANIFESTO
- Sharp focus on the need
to include Human Rights Education in the Core Educational Curriculum:
- Mother
tongue instruction and programmes to promote the importance to local
language to be introduced and expanded in schools:
- Change
in the contents of the Textbooks:
- Amendment
in the Right to Education act 2009: There
is nothing in the Act regarding Human Rights Edcuation. Human Rights
education should be recognized and made compulsory in the School
Curriculum.
- Giving special
focus to a Citizen friendly Police System to ensure transparency and help
common citizens, complainants to access the services with ease:
1.
The grievance redressal
mechanism through electronic media i,e FIR registration through
emails.
2.
CCTV cameras in all the police stations in
the state in order to curb custodial torture, and for better supervision. This
will further ensure discipline in police stations and safety to the general
public.
- Ensuring that the
Police Reforms being implemented in the state to correct poor performance
and unaccountable law enforcement:
1.
Separation of Investigation and Law and
Order Police:
2.
To put focus on Community Policing for
citizen’s involvement or participation .
- Amendment
in the Odisha Freedom of Religion Act 1967:
- To ensure that Bartan System is fully eradicated at all costs by taking
stringent action against the culprits under the Bonded Labour System
(Abolition) Act, 1976 and to release the victims:
- Right to Acknowledgement Act:
- Passing of Prevention of Communal and Targeted
Violence (access to justice and reparations) bill, 2011 in the wake of
mounting number of communal violence in the country.
- We urge for the Ratification of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or
Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT) and its protocol as soon as
possible:
- We urge for the Ratification of the optional protocol to the
convention for the elimination of all forms of discrimination against
women (CEDAW):
- Accept and Respect the UN Declaration
on Human Rights Defenders 1998:
- Ratification of
Optional Protocol Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil
and Political Rights and Second Optional Protocol to the International
Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, aiming at the abolition of the
death penalty:
- Ensuring the speedy
functioning of human rights courts at all district level with specific
guidelines for their operation to be published (as per the provision under
PHRA-93)
- Ensure a strict
domestic legislation for the protection and security of the victims and
witnesses of Human Rights violations:
- Formation
of Core group of NGOs in Odisha Human Rights Commission and appointing a
State level Focal point for Human Rights Defenders along the lines of NHRC:
- We also urge for the
amendment in the Odisha State Commission for Women Act 2005 and Rules.
- Ensure
that the Print and Electronic media in the state should be free from any
political affiliations and any form of biasness.
- Ensuring and
enhancing transparency and accountability in the Investigation wing of
every department of Public Authority.
- Ensuring 33 percent
reservation for women in lower house and state legislative Assemblies.
- Ensure special measures for the victims of Acid attack and come
out with a legislation relating to compensation and strict punishment to
the perpetrator and regulating the sale of acid etc.
- We demand to ensure SC status to the Dalit
Christians and Dalit Muslims.
- Odisha
Prevention of Witch Hunting Bill-2013:
- Measures
to control forceful eviction and land Acquisition:
- Migrant
laborers rights: The problem of
migrant labour is huge and requires cooperation and coordination between
the state governments with other governments.. Although there is an Inter-state Migrant Workmen (Regulation of Employment and
Conditions of Service) Act 1979, there is no structure to
adequately address the basic issues concerning migrant or dadan labor. We
demand Special provisions
for the Migrant laborers under the Act with better and improved coordination
between the states enabling them to avail benefits of the law and other
provisions for security and healthy environment is the need.
PANCHAYATIRAJ
& GRASROOTS GOVERNANCE
In whole governance process following
constitutional amendments –two tier system became three tier system but
Panchayts are not being devolved with power. When central govt gives strict
instructions then some actions are taken. In 2003 Central Govt constituted a
separate ministry. In previous manifestos of political parties promised some
progressive schemes like FRA, MGNREGA etc and these came into form. But
implementation is not being done appropriately as it is not properly defined
who will do. Is it state’s stake or centers’? Power is given to PRI but their
capacity is not built up.
Recommendations’:
·
Every
village is to be a grama panchayat and panchayat is to be reorganized.
·
PESA
rule should be drafted and enforced. PESA clauses of anti liquor, land
alienation should be enforced.
·
Grama
Sabha definition must be clarified. Even in PESA area also it is twisted. Every
revenue village should have a Grama Sabha. Panchayat reorganization in power
and control of functionaries should be maintained.
·
At
present three category of teachers- ZP Sikshyak, regular Teachers and SSS
teachers are there. ZP teachers are being partly managed.
·
MGNREGA
is not totally managed by Panchayat
·
PDS
infrastructure need to be built at panchayat.
·
Recommendations
of Finance Commission’s be implemented.
·
Discussion
on more man power in panchayat as like Kerala where it works as mini
secretariat.
·
Grama
Swaraj Concept could be proposed as every village should be a panchayat.
·
Royalties
of RMC, Cashew nut and minor minerals should be given to Panchayat.
·
A
lot of power is vested on MLA/MP/Collector/BDO etc but the PRIs are least given
importance in this respect though it has been given to them through
constitutional amendments.
·
State
and Central Excise act should be suitably amended to open/ban new liquor shops in Panchayat jurisdiction even in Non-PESA
area.
Contribution from Odisha Coalition on
Panchayati Raj (OCPR)
Issues relating to RTI and Governance for People’s Manifesto on the eve of
forthcoming 14th General Election and State Assembly Election
Right to Information
Act which came into full force w.e.f. 12th October, 2005 is a historic mandate for ensuring transparency
and accountability in the administration at each level and giving right
to citizens to access information held by the Public Authorities. It is a tool in the
hand of the citizens to check corruption and hold the administration
accountable. But eight years’ of
implementation of RTI Act is yet to
enforce transparency and accountability in the administration due to various
reasons which are as follows.
1- Odisha
RTI Rules 2005- Need for withdrawal to make it citizen-friendly
The
provision of prescription of a compulsory 11-column Application Form (Form-A)
requiring the applicant to disclose inter alia his personal details and attach
a proof of citizenship identity as against the mandate of the parent Act along
with the payment of application fee through treasury challan is the greatest
stumbling block before the common people of Orissa to make use of RTI Act.
2-BPL
to be provided information free of cost.
3-All Govt. offices to be Citizen-friendly
Govt.
offices located at state, district and block level suffer from basic amenities
like latrine and lack of infrastructure
4-Dissemination of information and all
official correspondence in Odia language
5-ransparent
procedure followed for appointment of all Commissions
The
State Govt. have constituted a number of
Commissions like State Human Rights Commission, State Commission for women,
State Information Commission, State Commission for Disabilities, Odisha State
Commission for Protection of Child
Rights to give justice to the victims. But the
people appointed in these Commissions
are not only inefficient but lack
knowledge and skills to adjudicate case and dispense justice. The body of these
Commissions have become rehabilitation centre of retired bureaucrats and
useless people. So, the State Govt.
should follow transparent procedure by giving public notification
inviting application for appointment of
these posts.
Contributed by Pradip Pradhan, Presented
by- Odisha Soochana Adhikar Abhijan
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Fishers
Demand to be included in the Scheduled Tribe List:
More
than 100 Million people are Fishers in the country - to be declared as water
tribes or sea tribes.
As
you know the weaker and the vulnerable communities were scheduled as ST
(Adivasis) in V Schedule area and VI Schedule area as ST (Tribals living in the
North East, most of the forest dwellers and settlers having their own ethnic
origin distinguished by their dialect, culture and way of life and living in
territorial limits of their own and claimed as indigenous communities, the
pre-dravidian communities all over India were scheduled as SCs (Dalits -
Untouchables) who have already lost their roots and mainstreamed in the states
on language basis and all the Dalits therefore adopted the main stream language
as their communication dominant in the geographical limits of a State by the
British Colonisers as well by the free Independent Government of India.
Since decades most of the natural resource
based communities particularly land and forest based people were scheduled and
while the indigenous communities who are water based communities and major
occupation being fishing both at in land (river, lake, stream, ponds and other
water bodies) and marine (Sea) opted by the Government to be out of the
indigenous character and mainstreamed in many places as most back ward
communities therefore deny the right to be scheduled as SEA TRIBES for which
the fishers were claiming for decades now. As you know once the Fishers do not
come under any schedule of protection of their indigenous nature then their
life and livelihood resources are at stake due to not having the Tribal Status
as other communities enjoy the benefits of scheduled as you know the recent
landmark judgment of SC on DongriaKhonds on FRA provisions in Odisha.
CONTRIBUTION FROM NFF
MARINE FISHING IN
ODISHA
The Context:
Odisha, located in the east coast of India, is endowed
with rich natural resources. Along with mines, minerals and forests it has a
coastline of 482kms stretched over six coastal districts. The fisheries sector is an important source of life and
livelihood for millions of people around the world. As the world's largest wild
food harvest, fish provides a vital source of protein as well as cash income
for many families in the developing world.
Some
pertinent issues: The marine fishers who are exclusively
dependent on marine fishing, now undergoing crisis because of depletion in fish
stock in Bay of Bengal.
·
As per Central Marine Fisheries Research
Institute, a premiere institute in fisheries research in India, the migratory
pelagic species are going to deep sea due to increase in sea surface
temperature.
·
The fishing gears used by traditional
fishers prohibit them to go beyond 5-7 nautical miles for fishing. Hence their
catch position is dwindling.
·
Whatever productive assets they own are
purchased by availing loan from traders or money lenders. These situations keep
them in chronic indebtedness and are compelled to sell their catch to traders
at whatever price the latter pays.
·
Non-availability of adequate required
infrastructure like preservation, improved processing, transport and auctioning
point, un-interrupted credit flow from formal financial sources as and when
required, non-availability of homestead land entitlement citing CRZ norms which
are derogatory in interpretation
·
Primary Cooperatives should be promoted
in Marine fishermen areas.
·
Insurance of Net and Boats should be
ensured.
·
Though they are ever exposed to natural
disasters like flood, cyclone, Tsunami etc but not able to own a
concrete/permanent house.
·
Absence proactive support systems from
state and national government for protection of livelihood rights of
traditional fisher folk community.
Fisherwomen of Odisha
The State of
Odisha is located on the east coast of India and covers an area of 155.707 Sq.
Kms. distributed between the coastal plain along the Bay of Bengal and the
North Western Plateau of Central India. Odisha being a maritime State offers
vast scope for development of freshwater, brackish water and marine fisheries.
The State is endowed with a long coast line of 480 Kms with 24000 sq. km. of
continental shelf area The fishermen population of the State is about 12.6
lakhs, of which about 8.1 lakhs in Inland Sector and 4.5 lakhs in Marine Sector
and that constitutes 2.95% of the total population of the State (3.68 crores -
2001 Census). The economic status of the fishermen is generally below poverty
line (BPL).
Fish workers
in Odisha are faced with many challenges such as encroachment of market space
by Traders, mechanization, industrialization of production processes and the
globalization of the markets. The changes are both positive and negative. The
most notable negative outcome is the over-exploitation of the marine resources
resulting in the marginalization of traditional fishing methods and the
communities.
Major challenges faced by the entire marine fishing community in the
coastal Odisha is fall in fish catch due to various factors; this fact has been
recognized by the governments. The State has been actively alienating the
coastal commons from the fishers for industrial development. In Odisha, the
government is also implementing much stricter coastal conservation regimes with
the result that up to a third of the state’s coastline has become inaccessible
for fishing for several months in a year and this has had significant impacts
on the life and livelihoods of the fishers.
Some pertinent issues;
Fishing villages
are mainly located in remote areas, lacking access to paved roads and transportation facilities, affecting
their access to markets; they often land their catch at distant landing centres
(Aide et Action 2008). Poor rural connectivity and inadequate transport
facilities
have also affected access to health and education. Not all villages have access
to basic health services such as public health centres (PHC), leaving
communities to travel to the nearest town located as far as 20 km away. The
spatial distribution map of Public Health Centres (PHCs) in Odisha shows that
there are not many PHCs located in the coastal villages and blocks.
Though the coastal fishing villages have access to schools, these are not
available in all villages, and most of them are only up to the primary or
secondary level. This could also be one reason for the low rate of literacy
among fisherfolk populations (50 per cent) in Odisha (CMFRI 2006). These poor
basic facilities also hinder development of alternative livelihood options for
the next generation (Aide et Action 2008).
Women in Odisha
are direcrtly engaged in fish processing, fish sorting, cleaners in harbours,
and in fish vending and marketing.
Fish vending:
Conservation vs livelihoods
Women also used
to be actively involved in fish vending in different parts of Northern Odisha.
However, this activity has been drastically affected in the northern parts of
Odisha due to the extreme fishing regulations that have been imposed by the
fisheries department and by the forest department, in Gahirmatha (marine)
wildlife sanctuary. In the core area of 725.50 sq.km. fishing has been
prohibited throughout the year. Besides this, fishing is also prohibited for a
distance of 20 km radius for five months(from November to 31 May), which also
includes the monsoon fishing ban that is implemented uniformly in the east
coast. The number of actual fishing days has also reduced drastically as the
peak fishing season from November to April coincides with the period of turtle
congregation and nesting, during which fishing is highly restricted. The number
of fishing days is, therefore, effectively reduced from 240 days to less than
100. Almost 50 per cent of Odisha’s territorial waters are closed to motorized
and mechanized fishing, and these has led to severe impacts on the availability
of fish for local markets and consumption.
This has
drastically affected the availability of fish for both fish vending and drying,
thus affecting the livelihoods of thousands of women in these districts.
Crab
collection
In the northern
parts of Odisha adjoining Gahirmatha (marine) wildlife sanctuary, women are
actively involved in collecting shrimp seed and crab from mangrove forests in
Bhitarkanika region, using drag nets and push nets.
The direct impact
of sanctuary regulations is felt by women in Kendrapara district, who are
actively involved in crab collection and fishing in the creeks and mangrove
waters along the Bhitarkanika wildlife sanctuary and in the reserve forests in
the Gahirmatha (marine) wildlife sanctuary. Crab collection and fishing in the
creeks is an important source of daily income for these women. Some women have
taken up this work recently, as incomes from fishing have declined and as,
being landless, they can only work as daily wage labourers. However, sanctuary
regulations prohibit these women from collecting crabs or fishes along the
creeks, as they are part of the reserve forests within sanctuary limits. Women
report that, in some instances, they have little option to paying fines of
about Rs 500, at least twice or thrice a year, to enable them to continue
fishing. In cases where they are unable to pay the fines their nets may be
confiscated on the spot.
Fish
processing/drying fish
Dry fish
operations are carried out by large number of women in Paradip, and also in
Rushikulya region. The reduction in the production of fish in the Southern
parts of Odisha, has affected the fish drying activity. The women often find
themselves buying trash fish from Andhra Pradesh trawlers, and drying these to
sell at the Sunday wholesale dryfish market at …. There has not been much
effort taken however to address the reduction in fish production in Odisha.
There is also
contention among the small-scale fishers of Southern Odisha, that most of their
fish are being caught by the trawlers of Andhra Pradesh within the five km zone
that is restricted only for small-scale fishers. The extensive trawling is one
of the major reasons for the reduction in fish production.
Migration/Daily
wage labour
The increase in
regulations for turtle protection and conservation, along with the reduction in
fish availability, has pushed number of fishers to migrate from their village
to urban areas to work as daily wage labours. There has been increase in number
of construction workers, and in other industries. In certain instances women
also travel with the men to work as daily wage labours. In other cases, women
have started working as daily wage labours in the same districts. These
movements have affected the social structure of the fishing villages and of
families. There are number of villages in Ganjam district, and Kendrapara
district which are completely abandoned as communities do not have any other
option for livelihood besides fishing.
The crisis in
the sector is aggravated by the increasing withdrawal of the government from
its traditional development and welfare function vis-a-vis fisheries in general and by not recognizing women fish
workers in any of the ongoing welfare schemes meant for the fisher folk
community.
Given this scenario, there is a strong case for supporting and
advocating for the fishers, particularly women Fish workers in their efforts to
secure sustainable livelihoods. Samudram is a strong grassroots level,
community-based initiative attempting to address the crisis in the sector. The
state level interface with media has been planned to discuss on the possible
continuous partnership to strengthen the voices of women fish workers in the
state
Contributed
by OTFWU & Samudram
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The charter of
demand by the farmers’ organizations of Odisha
As
you are aware even after more than 6 decades of India’s independence the
Agriculture sector has been a major player in the Indian economy. Though its
share in GDP, which was more than 50% in 1947-48 has come down to around 14%
but it still provides employment to around 60% of the population. It is also a
key driver for industrial growth as it is also a net supplier and consumer of
industrial products.
Unfortunately
the agriculture sector and more so the farmers have received neglect by the
government and its policy makers. Starting 1970s onwards the prices of
agriculture products (the income of the farmers) were kept deliberately low as
compared to international prices to subsidies the industrial workers. Today,
66% of our agriculture land do not receive adequate irrigation even during
Kharif.
Climate change and its impact on agriculture
are hanging like a Damocles’ sword. The industrial mode of agriculture
contributes to the increased green house gas emissions. It contributes
approximately 15% of the total human made green house gases in the form of
nitrous oxide from the use of nitrogen fertilizer, methane from flooded paddy
fields and carbon di-oxide from soil erosion. Farming has to adapt to climate
change and if possible mitigate it. This requires a different approach and a
complete new set of policies. Industrial monocultures are certainly not the
answer as the government is pursuing it. Ironically, despite so many national
and international studies the government is hell bent to promote the so-called
Green revolution and is now pushing it to the erstwhile bio-diverse regions of
eastern India in the name of bringing green revolution to Eastern India
(BGREI).
1)
Income
security for all farm households, so that producers find it viable and dignity
in their profession, and are not forced to leave agriculture out of distress.
2)
Ecologically
sustainable farming systems, to preserve productive natural resources so that
livelihood can be sustained.
3)
People’s
control over resources such as land, water, seeds and knowledge as a key to
viable and sustainable livelihood
4)
Non-toxic,
diverse, nutritious and adequate food for all Indians.
Contributed by Saroj Mohanty For Paschim
Odisha Krushak Sangathan Samanwa, & Binayak Swain of ASHA NETWORK,
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ODISHA
VIKALANGA MANCHA (OVM)
THE STATE
CHAPTER OF RASHTRIYA VIKLANG MANCH-RVM
(NATIONAL
CONFEDERATION OF DISABLED-NCD)
________________________________________________________________
THE OVM’S CHARTER OF MANIFESTO FOR 2014 ELECTIONS.
Whether it is the area of
education or employment or basic health, persons with disability continue to
suffer since last 18 years. The situation in 2014 is not very different. The
basic cause of disabled people's poverty is social, economic, and political
exclusion.
Charter
of Manifesto for persons with disabilities..
1. The long pending
backlog vacancies as per section 33 of PD act should be filled immediately
through special employment drive. In the light of recent landmark judgment
passed by the Supreme Court of India on October 8 2013.
2. Odisha is the only
state which has neither formulated nor implemented the provision of
unemployment allowance as per section 68 of PD act 1995 in case of
non-availability of employment opportunities to them within 2 years from the
date of registration in the employment exchange. We urge upon the GOVT for
immediate implementation of unemployment allowances for PWDs. 3. The amount of
pension provided to persons with disabilities should be increased to Rs. 1000/-
with immediate effect as per the present living conditions.
4. Persons with
disabilities do not have accessible, affordable and good quality health care in
India. Only about 6% people with disabilities have access to rehabilitation
programmes in the country. The flagship health programme, ‘National Rural
Health Mission’ does not include access to health for persons with
disabilities. Most persons with disabilities are denied health insurance. The
Ministry of Health focuses only on prevention of impairments and not much on
rehabilitation. Mental Health Programmes are very poorly implemented in the
country. It is well come steps to introduce BKKY health insurance program
,where almost more then 70% of total population of odisha will be covered ,but
there is no such specific instruction is not available to include adult disable
people .these people are excluded because of depended in their joint family. So
that BKKY Health Insurance should be provided to all people with disabilities.
5. All persons with
disabilities with 40%and above degree of disability should included immediately
in 10kg of rice at one rupees scheme [RPD] in order to protect them from
starvation. 6. All persons with disabilities should be enabled to access
Anthyodhay Anna Yojana with immediate effect regardless of marital or income
status as per the order of Hon. Supreme Court of India. 7. Persons with
disabilities and their representative organisations should be included in the
state food right commission with immediate effect in order to ensure effective
implementation and monitoring of the scheme for persons with disabilities. 8.
Persons with disabilities should be provided 150 days of employment under NREGS
apart from the job provided to nondisabled household members of persons with
disabilities in line with AP and other states. 9. Persons with disabilities
should be recruited for the workforce of NREGS implementation machinery at all
levels as per section 33 of persons with disabilities act 1995, a minimum of
not less than 3% quota. at least State Government should appoint immediately
one officer in each District as a Coordinator (Vulnerable Groups). The
Coordinator shall necessarily be a person with disability.
10. Adult disabled persons
should be considered as single household for the purpose of right to food,
development programmes, poverty alleviation schemes and all other programmes.
11. Persons with disabilities should be provided with decent size of land for housing
at free of cost or at a concessional rate under any Govt Scheme.
12. More resources have to
be allocated for inclusive education. Training of all teachers in inclusive
education should be planned, budgeted for and conducted on an urgent
basis.Odisha must commit to Inclusive Education and ensure that the education
system is geared to meet the needs of people with different disabilities. The
Hon’ble Chief Minister Sri Naveen Pattnaik has also declared to give financial
assistance to 81 unaided special schools on dated 21-09-2010. But this also not
fulfilled. The Govt should be take positive steps to give financial assistance
to the unaided special schools of our state.
13. .Appointment of
special educators, accessible books and disabled friendly curriculum in all
schools by 2015. 14. Employability of persons with disabilities should be enhanced
through increased access to Higher/vocational/technical/professional education
institutes of both state and private sector with immediate effect.
15. Accessible infrastructure
and teaching in all schools, colleges and universities.
16. Barrier free access
to all buildings visited by the public within a five years period.
17. NRLM should promote
livelihoods of persons with disabilities through specific strategies and
initiatives with immediate effect.
18. Self employment of
persons with disabilities should be promoted through NHFDC and state sponsored
self employment schemes and programs. Appropriate and immediate measures should
be taken to activate banking and micro finance sector to provide loan for
persons with disabilities in order to undertake small business ventures.
19. According to section
40 of persons with disabilities act 1995, the 3% reservation in all poverty
alleviation schemes should be implemented with immediate effect. There are
successful models in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu where holistic Rural
Development programmes have been facilitated through SHGs of persons with
disabilities which have obtained amazing results. Government should replicate these
successful models.
20. The Orissa Panchayat
Samit election rules and Acts debar persons with disabilities to stand in local
and urban body election .We demand for Review and amend the Act and reserve
minimum 5% seats in local bodies, Assemblies and Parliament. to ensure
full citizenship and participation of people with disabilities in the
democratic process of the State and nation.
21. Amending and passing
the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Bill and other laws in consonance with
the United Nations Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities taking
into consideration various concerns expressed by the disability sector.
22. A comprehensive action
plan should be formulated in order to effectively implement the existing
statutes of persons with disabilities in order to enable persons with
disabilities for full and equal enjoyment of human rights on an equal basis
with others…
Contributed
by Niranjan Behera,State President,
Odisha
Viklang Manch (OVM)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Is your
party manifesto a Green Manifesto ?
Can your
party secure our precious ecosystem services?
Read more to be committed ....
• Unsustainable development is one of the
biggest
political frauds of India.
• We have lost most of our precious natural
resources and habitats just because of this
political
sham.
• Environmental conservation has been more of
a
namesake.
• The Forest Conservation Act has been used
less
for conservation and more for making money.
• The Protected Area management made Sariska
tiger-free.
• The Environmental Protection Act is
tactfully defied
through false/superficial EIAs.
• Pollution control is actually out of
control.
• Plantation programmes seem to rather
benefit the Forest Department than the forests themselves.
• Public hearing/comments are first allowed,
and then ignored. Rights of tribals and other vulnerable communities
are tactfully violated.
• Biodiversity conservation(Act) is more for
some international obligation than for actual conservation.
Stop this political and
bureaucratic hypocrisy.
Be committed to a green economy and sustainable development.
• Ecosystem management and land use
management are correlated.
• We have ignored the delicate natural
balance that
exists between various ecosystem elements.
• We have diverted our precious agricultural
and
forest lands for mining, urbanization, and
other
such projects.
• The ecosystem equilibrium is now lost in
most
areas.
• The result is more natural disasters,
severe water
shortage, accelerated climate change,
manwildlife
conflicts, and human misery.
Be sensitive to ecosystem values, and effect a good land use
policy for sustainable development.
• Non-timber forest products(NTFP) support
about
20% of India’s population in the forest
areas.
• Most of these people are women belonging to
ST and SC communities.
• The market size of NTFP is more than
Rs.6000
crores in the country with good scope for
export.
• However, the NTFP sector remains
unorganized
and hence the traders benefit at the cost of
the
poor primary collectors.
√ Implement the Planning
Commission’s proposal for developing the NTFP sector in the 12th 5-year Plan
(available at http://planningcommission.
gov.in/aboutus/committee/wrkgrp12/enf/wg_subntfp.pdf).
√ Adopt a national policy
on NTFP, and establish a national agency for coordinating NTFP sector
development.
√ Facilitate corporate
development of this sector, with sincere commitments for environmental and
social
sustainability.
• Lac is a natural resin. It can be
cultivated giving
Employment to thousands.
• It can provide a natural substitute to
plastic if
developed properly.
• Tamarind seed and many other natural
products
can produce biodegradable polymers that can
replace plastic bags and prevent plastic
pollution.
Promote natural polymer/plastic using NTFPs, and save
environment.
Sal(Shorea robusta), Siali(Bauhinia
vahli), and
Palas(Butea monosperma) leaves are
used to make
plates and cups that are natural and
biodegradable.
They can provide employment to millions of
women
if properly promoted.
Ban
synthetic market competitors of these natural products for their market
security.
Exempt the natural plates/cups from taxes/royalty.
• Food security is not
food safety.
• We might have enough
food production,
but most of our food
grains, vegetables,
and other eatable products
are toxic due
to chemical
farming/processing.
• Genetic contamination is
another emerging
issue, ignored by the
government.
• Synthetic dyes used to
colour cakes and
other food products are
also toxic. Holi has
become a dangerous
festival because of
these synthetic dyes.
Promote
organic cultivation, ensure food
safety;
promote natural dyes, and ensure
a safe holi.
Sal seeds can provide
employment to millions
of poor tribals, but
because of our faulty policy
its consumption in the
domestic market is
restricted. Europe allows
sal butter in
chocolate making whereas
India doesn’t.
We need
to change our policy so that sal seed can be used in
Indian chocolate industries for an assured market.
Mahua and tendu patta have been traditionally
associated with the livelihood
of millions of poor. Unfortunately both of
them have only a single end market,
that too quite undignified. Mahua is used in
liquor making whereas tendu
patta is used for bidi making.
Ensure
proper Research & Development to develop dignified
markets
for these forest products, and secure the livelihood of the
people dependent on the same.
Extremism usually takes shelter in forest
areas, and
even makes use of illicit trading of timber
and other
valuable forest products for fund raising.
This
however disturbs the ecological and
socio-economic
balance of the locality. Insurgency and
counterinsurgency
operations severely affect the normal
forest-based livelihood of the innocent local
communities.
Security
forces need to be sensitive towards this issue, and should include promotion of
NTFPbased
livelihood
as a part of their trust-building strategy, apart from taking action against
smuggling
of
forest products. The government should make special plans for Kashmir valley
and the northeastern
states in view of the above.
• Displacement in the name of development has
been one of the major man-made social disasters on earth.
• The biggest sufferers of displacement are
those who are landless or whose rights have not been properly
recorded because of faulty survey &
settlement operations. Due to want of recorded data, they do not receive
compensation.
• Displacement is not simply from land, it is
also the displacement from the livelihood base, from the cultural
bonding, and also from the social
environment. Therefore, compensation for land cannot compensate these
inherent losses, thereby making the displaced
people highly vulnerable and miserable.
• The situation is worsened by corrupt
practices with delayed and/or denied compensation.
• Around 50 million people in India have
suffered from the faulty approach to displacement and rehabilitation.And
there are still more to suffer because of the
upcoming projects. Women and children are the worst sufferers
in such cases.
Revise
the policy and approach to the displacement & rehabilitation policy with
due sensitivity.
Avoid
displacement to the maximum possible extent. Review the status of existing
rehabilitation
sites with a sympathetic and holistic vision, and ensure justice
for those who have already suffered.
And last
but not the least....
The NGO sector is probably the third largest
organized employment sector after the public- and private sectors.
NGOs work in the public interest with a mixed
attitude of professionalism and voluntarism to supplement and/or
complement the efforts of a welfare
State(government). Their strength lies in their flexibility and adaptability to
the work environment, which helps them act
swiftly unlike the government machinery which is tangled with redtapism.
They successfully link academicians,
technocrats, bureaucrats, social scientists, policy makers, and
other stakeholders for the greater cause of
the people and the nation.
Develop
and promote the NGO sector as the development partner;
help
stabilize this potential sector for employment.
Issued in public interest by the Non-timber
Forest Products Exchange Programme network.
Visit us at www.ntfp.org.in for more details.
Compiled
on behalf of NTFP-Exchange Programme network, by:
Limited
circulation for 2014 elections only
Contributed
by RCDC
