PEOPLE'S MANIFESTO 2014

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 26^TH 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

focusodisha@gmail.com

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BHUBANESWAR, MARCH 26^TH

PEOPLE’S MANIFESTO- FOR THE ENSUING ELECTIONS WAS RELESED ON 26^TH 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.

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Time for pro-people Manifesto than Vote centric Manifesto

 Bhubaneswar, December 22^nd, 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 13^th 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)

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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

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LAND

Summarization of issues

1. 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,

1. No acquisition of  agricultural land to non-agricultural purposes
2. Return of unused land to land less /  previous land-owner
3. 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.

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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.

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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 10^th 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

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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:

1. It’s a hurriedly drafted document ghost-written by the other External Agencies.
2. Notwithstanding the importance and implication of the document, the process of preparation of draft document has not been inclusive.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. It blames the people of Orissa keeping their old cows and bullocks and encourages that they should allow such animals to die.
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. 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.
11. 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.

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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.

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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-à-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 5^th 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)

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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)

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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

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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

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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.

Contributed by CFSHR

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 14^th General Election and State Assembly Election

Right to Information Act which came into full force w.e.f. 12^th 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

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-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------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[1]  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[2] 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[3]. 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

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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,

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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)

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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

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[1] According to the Government of Odisha, only 11 per cent of the village roads were paved in 1999-2000. http://www.Odisha.gov.in/works/rnetwork.htm

[2] According to the Economic survey 2004-05, only about 40 per cent of the villages in Odisha have all –weather connectivity, which is much lower when compared to the national average of 60 per cent.

[3] http://www.jsk.gov.in/orrisa/orrisa.pdf