PEOPLE’S MANIFESTO COMMITTEE (PMC)
PRESS RELEASE
MANIFESTO FOR ELECTIONS 2014: MISSING LINKS
IN THE MANIFESTOS OF POLITICAL PARTIES
Bhubaneswar, April 15th
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, salt
workers, 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.
But the first reading
of Manifestos of different political parties revealed:
It is good that two major political parties BJD and Congress
have announced in their Manifestos that for smooth functioning of Panchayat
system villages with 1000 population will be declared as GRAM PANCHAYATs (BJD),
Congress on the other hand has also promised that it will declare every Revenue
village as Panchayats.
This is a good sign that political parties are thinking in
this line. But there is a need to re-organize entire three tier Panchayat structure
and Bock administration. Since long Gram Swarajya Samukhya (GSS) and Odisha
Coalition on Panchayati Raj (OCPR) have been demanding to form smaller
Panchayats for greater administration, decentralization of power and to
strengthen Palli Sabha. We have also raised the issue with political parties
through PEOPLE’S MANIFESTO 2014 and finally it came through. Government should take up this issue in war footing
and a TASK FORCE should be constituted to study the implementation of the
system in other states like Maharashtra.
PMC has expressed its deep concern over the unnecessary
delay of political parties in releasing their Manifestos. Few political parties
have released their Manifestos just days before the first phase of elections.
1-Though more than 40% area of the state has been declared
as schedule area, mainstream parties
have ignored the constitutional rights of scheduled tribe people i.e.
implementation of Panchayat Extinction
to Scheduled Area Act (PESA) 1996. Only
Samata Kranti Dal has mentioned PESA will be implemented in a year’s time.
2- No party talked about Tourism promotion, leave aside
Eco-Tourism or ecological sustainable tourism.
3- Except BJP no other parties like BJD or Congress
mentioned on strengthening COOPERATIVE MOVEMENT.
4- There is no mention of strengthening PALLISABHA &
GRAMSABHA, even in scheduled areas of the state which is constitutionally
guaranteed.
5- There is no clear cut vision of political parties on
developing 482 KM long ODISHA COASTLINE, to protect its resources, conservation
of heritages, protection of wild life
and above all flora and fauna. There is no mention of CHILIKA, other rivulets,
estuaries, sanctuaries etc.
6-Political parties have ignored the long pending demand of
TRADITIONAL MARINE FISHERMEN, CHILIKA FISHERMEN AND INLAND FISHERMEN, only BJD
talks about sea going fishermen’s compensation.
7- There is no mention of livelihood protection of SALT
WORKERS, KEWDA COLLECTORS and other Coastal artisans. Only Congress has
promised to set up a Board on KEWDA FARMERS (GROWERS)
8- It is not clear from Manifesto of political parties on
their plan to combat Flood, Cyclone and Drought and rescue life and protect
livelihood of millions who are sitting duck for these natural disasters. There
is no mention of long term solution, coastal drainage and water logging or
Disaster management plan. It is now a
reality that Odisha is on the verge of witnessing frequent natural disasters.
Only BJD has promised to have more cyclone shelters, ODRAF
TEAM and satellite phone facility and training centre, but about long term
Disaster Management and Risk Reduction plan?
9-It seems, Political parties have deliberately ignored the
threat of CLIMATE CHANGE, which is looming large over Odisha. It will pave way
for more CLIMATE REFUGEES that means more MIGRATION from Odisha. And more and
more areas will come under its threat. Extreme Climatic condition will affect
water resources, agriculture, health hazards and livelihood of communities.
10- There is no mention of Water resources’ management and
distribution.
11-on MIGARTION issue though mainstream parties have
accepted the reality, but what about their protection, Identity issue, fixing
accountability with labour contractors, employers and officials. There is a
need to revisit INTER STATE MIGRANT WORKMEN ACT, 1979, its re-modification;
amendment etc in the context of oversees employment, wage and interstate
protection.
12-Eventhough political parties have talked about
DISPLACEMENT issue, it has been limited to post industrial conflict, they talk
about equity etc, but what about million others who have been already
displaced- what are the plans of political parties on this issue, state
government should come with a WHITE PAPER.
13- It is good that all political parties have prioritized
Agriculture, but there is a need to promote agro based industries, more
irrigation facilities exploring mini hydel, micro-irrigation, check dams, and
rain water harvesting etc not large dams. Panchayat level irrigation plan may
be looked into.Similarly Rights of Farmers, Agricultural workers and Share
croppers. There should be a law to identification, recognition, benefits,
entitlement and protect the rights of SHARE CROPPERS and regulate the
arrangement. Govt. should give priority to ECOLOGICAL FARMING other than use of
chemical fertilizers and pesticides. In no circumstances agricultural land is
used for Industrial use. 25% of state budget should be spent on Agriculture.
Govt should look after marketing of agri products.
14-on health front, there is no mention of ‘Clinical
Establishment Act’ to regulate private hospitals and to regulate private
medical services. Government should ensure adequate provision of essential
medicines in all public health facilities, stop privatization of health
services, strictly implement ban on private practices of Govt. Doctors. Ensure
7% GDP on Health investments.
15- Gram Panchayat should be designated as the LOCAL
AUTHORITY for grievance Redressal under RTE. Privatization of elementary,
secondary and higher education to be discouraged. Teaching in Mother Tongue and
contextual curriculum to be introduced as a matter of fundamental right as per
the RTE Act and knowledge of local dialect to be criteria for recruiting
teachers in tribal areas.. MDM should be extended up to 10th. Development
and printing of text books should be decentralized so that local cultural
components are incorporated. Uniform syllabus for pre to higher secondary,
introduce common school system and recognize gram panchayat as the local
register for universal birth registration.
16.- 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 Sabha/Gram Sasan’s including Palli
Sabha’s role in consent for acquisition of land for development projects.
17- The state government must ensure inheritance rights of
women over the properties in the sprit of legislation already enacted.
18- Political parties should come forward to ensure fundamental
and human rights of Children, Women, Dalits, Tribal and disable communities.
19. Land Reforms, identification of Bhoodan land, tribal
land restoration, uniformity in computersation of land records, return of
unused land to land less and previous land owners should be the priority. There
should be a provision to identify the landless and ensure entitlements of the
land in a time limit before the acquisition of land. Replace the word “waste
land’ to ‘common land’.
20- Social Impact Assessment (SIA) expert group and
committee should specially address the concerns of landless, agricultural
labourers,forest workers, Artisans and share croppers and socially
discriminated groups such as Dalits, Adivasis and PVTGs.
21- Vesting COMMUNITY RIGHTS, rights over COMMUNITY FOREST
RESOURCES under FRA -2006.suitable amendments should be made in the Odisha Gram
Panchayat Act and the GRAMSABHA should be in the line of the provisions of FRA.
22- In no situation Industries should be allowed to use
ground water.
23 - In mining area resource ownership and management should
be in the hand of Government. Govt and political parties should go for setting
up Mining Area Development Board. And Mining Development Fund should be
created- 25% of the Mining Revenue should be deposited in district Fund- for
education, health, water, sanitation facilities of the local and displaced
people.
24-employment guarantee scheme for every youth should be the
top priority.
25- There is a need to introduce STATE POLICY OF OLDER
PERSONS.
END NOTES:
BHUBANESWAR,
MARCH 26TH
People’s manifesto- for the ensuing elections was released
on 26th of March 2014 in a press conference at Odesa Bhavan in Bhubaneswar.
The release function was followed by a daylong 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
people’s manifesto. Leaders of political parties along with People’s Manifesto
Committee (PMC) members unveiled the people’s manifesto. This programmee was
the culmination of 6 months long exercise done by the committee by conducting
thematic group meetings on 30 different subjects with the involvement of
various civil society organizations, Networks and Community based
organizations. A state level workshop was also organized during 22& 23
December 2013 to discuss on the outcome of thematic group meetings. Finally all
the outcomes and a compilation of recommendations’ and suggestions were submitted
to various political parties during Jan to March this year, through personal
meetings and group discussions.
(Sudarshan Chhotray)
Convenor
People’s Manifesto
Committee (PMC)
S-3/127, NILADRIVIHAR, CSPUR,
BHUBANESWAR-751021, ODISHA, CELL-9337111879
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