MANIFESTO FOR ELECTIONS 2014: MISSING LINKS IN THE MANIFESTOS OF POLITICAL PARTIES

PEOPLE’S MANIFESTO COMMITTEE (PMC) PRESS RELEASE MANIFESTO FOR ELECTIONS 2014: MISSING LINKS IN THE MANIFESTOS OF POLITICAL PARTIES Bhubaneswar, April 15th During Elections Political parties come up with their Manifestos to woo voters. It has often been seen that real issues concerning common people are missing. Manifestos which are supposed to be GOVERNANCE AGENDA for any political party or formation, should focus more on concrete condition of the state, it’s socio-economic and geographical reality and possible solution there in rather than announcing soups and popular packages, which do not serve people in long term for their socio and economic empowerment. The approach and priorities of political parties should be on primary and fundamental areas of human need like food security, safe dwelling houses, safe drinking water, job assurance and minimum wage besides ensuring their rights over natural resources. Health, Education, Sanitation, rural infrastructure, grassroots’ governance like strengthening three tier Panchayati Raj system by vesting more power and planning rights to them, formation of Village Panchayats like other states, strengthening Pallisabhas- are the other areas of concern for many, where more attention should be given. Though a large section of people depend on agriculture, forest resources and marine resources for sustenance and livelihood, we have missed the opportunity to develop and plan their future. Despite, introduction of plethora of programmees and long term schemes we have failed to uplift tribal and Dalit communities. Efforts should be on to recognize their legitimate rights. The most vulnerable among the deprived communities like traditional fishermen, salt workers, rural artisans, displaced people, agricultural laborers, forest dependent communities, Migrant Laborers and above all climate refugees, frequent disaster affected population should be given priority in any development plan and programmees. They need utmost care and safety socially and economically. But the first reading of Manifestos of different political parties revealed: It is good that two major political parties BJD and Congress have announced in their Manifestos that for smooth functioning of Panchayat system villages with 1000 population will be declared as GRAM PANCHAYATs (BJD), Congress on the other hand has also promised that it will declare every Revenue village as Panchayats. This is a good sign that political parties are thinking in this line. But there is a need to re-organize entire three tier Panchayat structure and Bock administration. Since long Gram Swarajya Samukhya (GSS) and Odisha Coalition on Panchayati Raj (OCPR) have been demanding to form smaller Panchayats for greater administration, decentralization of power and to strengthen Palli Sabha. We have also raised the issue with political parties through PEOPLE’S MANIFESTO 2014 and finally it came through. Government should take up this issue in war footing and a TASK FORCE should be constituted to study the implementation of the system in other states like Maharashtra. PMC has expressed its deep concern over the unnecessary delay of political parties in releasing their Manifestos. Few political parties have released their Manifestos just days before the first phase of elections. 1-Though more than 40% area of the state has been declared as schedule area, mainstream parties have ignored the constitutional rights of scheduled tribe people i.e. implementation of Panchayat Extinction to Scheduled Area Act (PESA) 1996. Only Samata Kranti Dal has mentioned PESA will be implemented in a year’s time. 2- No party talked about Tourism promotion, leave aside Eco-Tourism or ecological sustainable tourism. 3- Except BJP no other parties like BJD or Congress mentioned on strengthening COOPERATIVE MOVEMENT. 4- There is no mention of strengthening PALLISABHA & GRAMSABHA, even in scheduled areas of the state which is constitutionally guaranteed. 5- There is no clear cut vision of political parties on developing 482 KM long ODISHA COASTLINE, to protect its resources, conservation of heritages, protection of wild life and above all flora and fauna. There is no mention of CHILIKA, other rivulets, estuaries, sanctuaries etc. 6-Political parties have ignored the long pending demand of TRADITIONAL MARINE FISHERMEN, CHILIKA FISHERMEN AND INLAND FISHERMEN, only BJD talks about sea going fishermen’s compensation. 7- There is no mention of livelihood protection of SALT WORKERS, KEWDA COLLECTORS and other Coastal artisans. Only Congress has promised to set up a Board on KEWDA FARMERS (GROWERS) 8- It is not clear from Manifesto of political parties on their plan to combat Flood, Cyclone and Drought and rescue life and protect livelihood of millions who are sitting duck for these natural disasters. There is no mention of long term solution, coastal drainage and water logging or Disaster management plan. It is now a reality that Odisha is on the verge of witnessing frequent natural disasters. Only BJD has promised to have more cyclone shelters, ODRAF TEAM and satellite phone facility and training centre, but about long term Disaster Management and Risk Reduction plan? 9-It seems, Political parties have deliberately ignored the threat of CLIMATE CHANGE, which is looming large over Odisha. It will pave way for more CLIMATE REFUGEES that means more MIGRATION from Odisha. And more and more areas will come under its threat. Extreme Climatic condition will affect water resources, agriculture, health hazards and livelihood of communities. 10- There is no mention of Water resources’ management and distribution. 11-on MIGARTION issue though mainstream parties have accepted the reality, but what about their protection, Identity issue, fixing accountability with labour contractors, employers and officials. There is a need to revisit INTER STATE MIGRANT WORKMEN ACT, 1979, its re-modification; amendment etc in the context of oversees employment, wage and interstate protection. 12-Eventhough political parties have talked about DISPLACEMENT issue, it has been limited to post industrial conflict, they talk about equity etc, but what about million others who have been already displaced- what are the plans of political parties on this issue, state government should come with a WHITE PAPER. 13- It is good that all political parties have prioritized Agriculture, but there is a need to promote agro based industries, more irrigation facilities exploring mini hydel, micro-irrigation, check dams, and rain water harvesting etc not large dams. Panchayat level irrigation plan may be looked into.Similarly Rights of Farmers, Agricultural workers and Share croppers. There should be a law to identification, recognition, benefits, entitlement and protect the rights of SHARE CROPPERS and regulate the arrangement. Govt. should give priority to ECOLOGICAL FARMING other than use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. In no circumstances agricultural land is used for Industrial use. 25% of state budget should be spent on Agriculture. Govt should look after marketing of agri products. 14-on health front, there is no mention of ‘Clinical Establishment Act’ to regulate private hospitals and to regulate private medical services. Government should ensure adequate provision of essential medicines in all public health facilities, stop privatization of health services, strictly implement ban on private practices of Govt. Doctors. Ensure 7% GDP on Health investments. 15- Gram Panchayat should be designated as the LOCAL AUTHORITY for grievance Redressal under RTE. Privatization of elementary, secondary and higher education to be discouraged. Teaching in Mother Tongue and contextual curriculum to be introduced as a matter of fundamental right as per the RTE Act and knowledge of local dialect to be criteria for recruiting teachers in tribal areas.. MDM should be extended up to 10th. Development and printing of text books should be decentralized so that local cultural components are incorporated. Uniform syllabus for pre to higher secondary, introduce common school system and recognize gram panchayat as the local register for universal birth registration. 16.- Necessary amendments may be brought in the existing land legislations to include the principles enunciated in recent legislations on Adivasi/Dalit self rule such as the Gram Sabha/Gram Sasan’s including Palli Sabha’s role in consent for acquisition of land for development projects. 17- The state government must ensure inheritance rights of women over the properties in the sprit of legislation already enacted. 18- Political parties should come forward to ensure fundamental and human rights of Children, Women, Dalits, Tribal and disable communities. 19. Land Reforms, identification of Bhoodan land, tribal land restoration, uniformity in computersation of land records, return of unused land to land less and previous land owners should be the priority. There should be a provision to identify the landless and ensure entitlements of the land in a time limit before the acquisition of land. Replace the word “waste land’ to ‘common land’. 20- Social Impact Assessment (SIA) expert group and committee should specially address the concerns of landless, agricultural labourers,forest workers, Artisans and share croppers and socially discriminated groups such as Dalits, Adivasis and PVTGs. 21- Vesting COMMUNITY RIGHTS, rights over COMMUNITY FOREST RESOURCES under FRA -2006.suitable amendments should be made in the Odisha Gram Panchayat Act and the GRAMSABHA should be in the line of the provisions of FRA. 22- In no situation Industries should be allowed to use ground water. 23 - In mining area resource ownership and management should be in the hand of Government. Govt and political parties should go for setting up Mining Area Development Board. And Mining Development Fund should be created- 25% of the Mining Revenue should be deposited in district Fund- for education, health, water, sanitation facilities of the local and displaced people. 24-employment guarantee scheme for every youth should be the top priority. 25- There is a need to introduce STATE POLICY OF OLDER PERSONS. END NOTES: BHUBANESWAR, MARCH 26TH People’s manifesto- for the ensuing elections was released on 26th of March 2014 in a press conference at Odesa Bhavan in Bhubaneswar. The release function was followed by a daylong workshop on people’s agenda and charter to which representatives of various political parties. Parties responded on questions raised by participants and on suggestions made in people’s manifesto. Leaders of political parties along with People’s Manifesto Committee (PMC) members unveiled the people’s manifesto. This programmee was the culmination of 6 months long exercise done by the committee by conducting thematic group meetings on 30 different subjects with the involvement of various civil society organizations, Networks and Community based organizations. A state level workshop was also organized during 22& 23 December 2013 to discuss on the outcome of thematic group meetings. Finally all the outcomes and a compilation of recommendations’ and suggestions were submitted to various political parties during Jan to March this year, through personal meetings and group discussions. (Sudarshan Chhotray) Convenor People’s Manifesto Committee (PMC) S-3/127, NILADRIVIHAR, CSPUR, BHUBANESWAR-751021, ODISHA, CELL-9337111879 EMAIL: focusorissa@gmail.com, sudarshanchhotray@gmail.com http://www.thestatesman.net/news/49695--parties-have-overlooked-critical-issues-affecting-the-public.html?page=1 http://www.dailypioneer.com/state-editions/bhubaneswar/parties-manifestos-miss-basis-issues--of-people-pmc.html http://www.orissadiary.com/CurrentNews.asp?id=49229 http://realtime.rediff.com/news/realtime/Odisha-Assembly-Lok-Sabha-Elections-2014-Missing-Links-In-The-Manifestos-of-Political-Parties/bef9ab138cb880bf?src=interim_alsoreadimage http://eodishasamachar.com/en/priority-of-political-parties-should-be-on-primary-fundamental-areas-of-human-need/ http://www.dailypioneer.com/state-editions/bhubaneswar/time-for-pro-people-manifesto-not-vote-centric-promise.html