Seminar report
On
AAM AADMI PARTY
Submitted in the partial fulfillment for the requirement of the
Degree of Master of Business Administration (Integrated course)
(2014-2019)
Submitted to
Punjabi University, Patiala
Supervisor Submitted By Dr. Harpreet Singh Sandeep Kaur
MBA[IC] 1st
Roll no. 918
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Written words have the tendency to degenerate genuine gratitude
into stilted formality but this is the only way to express my
feelings. I am indebted to all those who supported me in this
learning process and in successful completion of my Seminar Report.
I wish to express my seminar report predication to all those with
whom in interacted and whose thought and insight helped me in
increasing my knowledge and understanding the seminar report.
I also owe my thanks to my teacher Dr. Harpreet Singh for their
kind guidance and unstinted support throughout the training and
even before.
Sandeep Kaur
DECLARATION
I Sandeep Kaur here by declared that the work which is being
presented in the project report AAM AADMI PARTY is the Original
Work by me under the supervision of Dr. Harpreet Singh (Assistant
Professor) for fulfillment of the award of degree Master of
-Business administration (integrated course) to the University
School Of Business Studies, Guru Kashi Campus, Talwandi Sabo
(Bathinda).
------------------------------
Signature
INDEX
1. History
2. Background
3. ideology and issues
4. agenda
5. support
6. protests
7. delhi assembly election, 2013
8. government of delhi
9. general election, 2014
10. delhi assembly election, 2015
11. economy and ecology
12. Conclusion
13. Suggestions
14. Bibliography
HISTORY
Aam Aadmi Party
is an Indian political party, formally launched on 26 November
2012 and is currently the ruling party of Delhi. It came into
existence following differences between the activists Arvind
Kejriwal and Anna Hazare regarding whether or not to politicise the
popular India Against Corruption movement that had been demanding a
Jan Lokpal Bill since 2011. Hazare preferred that the movement
should remain politically unaligned while Kejriwal felt the failure
of the agitation route necessitated a direct political
involvement.
The party made its electoral debut in the 2013 Delhi legislative
assembly election, where it emerged as the second-largest party,
winning 28 of the 70 seats. With no party obtaining an overall
majority, the AAP formed a minority government with conditional
support from the Indian National Congress. A significant part of
its agenda was to quickly introduce the Jan Lokpal bill in the
Union Territory. When it became clear after the election that the
other major parties would not support this bill, the AAP government
resigned. It had been in power for 49 days.
In the 2015 Delhi Legislative Assembly election, AAP swept
nearly all seats, winning 67 of the 70. Its chief opponent,
Bhartiya Janta Party, was reduced to 3 seats, while the Indian
National Congress was reduced to zero.
Background
The origin of the AAP can be traced to a difference of opinion
between Arvind Kejriwal and Anna Hazare, social activists who had
both been involved in Team Anna, a strand of the anti-corruption
movement for Jan Lokpal Bill that had gained momentum in India
during 2011 and 2012. Hazare had wanted to keep the movement
politically neutral but Kejriwal considered that direct involvement
in politics was necessary because attempts to obtain progress
regarding the Jan Lokpal Bill through talks with existing political
parties had, in his opinion, achieved nothing. A survey conducted
on a Facebook page that purported to be operated by India Against
Corruption and other social networking services had indicated that
there was wide support for politicization Hazare rejected the poll,
saying "elections require huge funds, which will be tough for
activists to organise without compromising on their values". He
also said it would be difficult to ensure that candidates are not
corrupted once elected.
Hazare and Kejriwal agreed on 19 September 2012 that their
differences regarding a role in politics were irreconcilable.
Kejriwal had support from some anti-corruption movement activists,
such as Prashant Bhushan and Shanti Bhushan, but was opposed by
others such as Kiran Bedi and Santosh Hegde. On 2 October,[13]
Kejriwal announced that he was forming a political party and that
he intended the formal launch to be on 26 November, coinciding with
the anniversary of India's adoption of its constitution in
1949.
The party's name reflects the phrase Aam Aadmi, or "common man",
whose interests Kejriwal proposed to represent. A party
constitution was adopted on 24 November 2012, when a National
Council comprising 320 people and a National Executive of 23 were
also formed. Both the Council and the Executive were expected to
have more members in due course, with the intention being that all
districts and all classes of people would have a voice. Various
committees were proposed to be formed to draft proposals for
adoption by the party in a process that was expected to take
several months. Although one aim was to limit nepotism, there were
complaints at this initial meeting that the selection of people
invited to attend was itself an example of such practices[14] The
party was formally launched in Delhi on 26 November[15] and in
March 2013 it was registered as a political party by the Election
Commission of India.
Ideology and issues
The AAP says that the promise of equality and justice that forms
a part of the constitution of India and of its preamble has not
been fulfilled and that the independence of India has replaced
enslavement to an oppressive foreign power with that to a political
elite. The party claims that the common people of India remain
unheard and unseen except when it suits the politicians. It wants
to reverse the way that the accountability of government operates
and has taken an interpretation of the Gandhian concept of swaraj
as a tenet. It believes that through swaraj the government will be
directly accountable to the people instead of higher officials. The
swaraj model lays stress on self-governance, community building and
decentralisation.
Kejriwal has said that the AAP refuses to be guided by
ideologies and that they are entering politics to change the
system, Kejriwal said "We are aam aadmis. If we find our solution
in the left we are happy to borrow it from there. If we find our
solution in the right, we are happy to borrow it from there."
In early 2014, there was some media speculation that an alliance
might form between the AAP and Communist Party of India (Marxist)
(CPIM). Prakash Karat, the CPIM leader, thought that there were
some ideological similarities between the two parties, such as
their agendas relating to social justice and decentralisation of
power. The AAP's Prashant Bhushan explicitly refuted any joining of
forces, claiming that there was corruption within the CPIM.[21] A
columnist, T. C. A. Srinivasa Raghavan, has said that AAP is
right-wing when it comes to morality and left-wing when it comes to
economics.
Agenda
As of November 2013, the AAP was proposing to introduce four
primary policies:[24]
Jan Lokpal legislation.
Political decentralisation.
Right to Reject.
Right to Recall.
Support
On 26 November 2012, the formal launch day of the AAP, the
former law minister, Shanti Bhushan, donated 10 million
(US$160,000). Prashant Bhushan, his son, is a member of the party's
National Executive Committee.[27]
On 18 May 2013, a group of Indian-Americans from 20 different
cities in the USA held a convention in Chicago and extended support
to the AAP. The convention was attended by two AAP leaders, Kumar
Vishwas and Yogendra Yadav, and Kejriwal addressed it via video
conferencing.[28] Aruna Roy and Medha Patkar, who had differences
with Kejriwal on certain issues, supported him after his 15-day
fast against inflated electricity bills.
On 22 March 2014, the Janata Dal (Secular) party of Delhi
announced it would merge with the Aam Aadmi Party, citing Arvind
Kejriwal's tenure as Chief Minister of Delhi.
Protests
On 23 March 2013, Kejriwal began an indefinite fast in an
attempt to mobilize people against inflated power and electricity
bills at a house in Sundar Nagri, a low-income group resettlement
colony in North-East Delhi.[31] During the protest he urged Delhi
citizens not to pay the "inflated" water and electricity bills.[32]
The AAP also demanded an audit of power and electricity supply in
Delhi by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India also
supported by Civil Society Groups like National Alliance of Peoples
Movement (NAPM).[33] The AAP claimed that the protest gathered
support from 100,000 people in Delhi on a single day and from more
than 300,000 people up to 28 March 2013.[ Anna Hazare urged
Kejriwal to end the fast on 29 March and he did so on 6 April.
On 10 June 2013, Kejriwal supported the agitation by Delhi auto
rickshaw drivers, who were protesting the Delhi government's ban on
advertisements on auto rickshaws. Kejriwal claimed the government's
ban was because the drivers supported his party and carried AAP's
advertisements on their vehicles. He said that the AAP would put
10,000 advertisements on auto rickshaws as a protest.[35] In
retrospect, after Kejriwal had been elected and then resigned his
position, a union representing the drivers expressed
dissatisfaction saying "Arvind Kejriwal, who had won the elections
because of the support of the auto drivers, has betrayed them by
not fulfilling any of the promises made before the elections".
Delhi Assembly election, 2013
Main article: Delhi Legislative Assembly election, 2013
The 2013 Delhi state assembly elections were the party's first
electoral contest. The Election Commission approved the symbol of a
"broom" for use by the AAP in that campaign.[37] The party said
that its candidates were honest and had been screened for potential
criminal backgrounds.[38] The AAP published its central manifesto
on 20 November 2013, promising to implement the Jan Lokpal Bill
within 15 days of coming to power. In November 2013, a sting
operation conducted by Media Sarkar, alleged that several leaders
of AAP, including Kumar Vishwas and Shazia Ilmi had agreed to
extend their support to some people seeking assistance with land
deals and other financial arrangements in return for donations in
cash to AAP. Ilmi offered to withdraw her candidature as a result
but the party refused to accept her offer, describing the footage
as fabricated and a violation of the Model Code of Conduct. The
Election Commission ordered an inquiry regarding the legitimacy of
the video.
AAP emerged as the second-largest party in Delhi winning 28 of
the 70 Assembly seats; the Bharatiya Janata Party as the
single-largest party won 31 while its ally Shiromani Akali Dal won
1, Indian National Congress won 8 and two were won by others. On 28
December 2013, the AAP formed a minority government in the hung
Assembly, with what Sheila Dikshit describes as "not unconditional"
support from Indian National Congress. Arvind Kejriwal became the
second-youngest Chief Minister of Delhi. As a result of the Delhi
elections, AAP became a recognized state party in Delhi.
Government of Delhi
After coming to power in Delhi, Arvind Kejriwal announced
reduction in electricity bills for up to 400 units, driven by
subsidy. He also ordered an audit of power distribution companies.
The AAP government also announced that the homes with metered
connections will receive 20 kilolitres of free water per month, but
will have to pay 10 per cent more if they exceed that limit. The
government scrapped Foreign Direct Investment in multi-brand
retail, thus preventing development by international businesses
such as Tesco and Walmart. It established an anti-graft helpline
for the citizens to report corrupt officials.
The government's plan to conduct Janata Durbars (public hearings
with ministers) were abandoned due to mismanagement. Vinod Kumar
Binny, an AAP Member of the Legislative Assembly was expelled after
rebelling against the party.
On 20 January 2014, Kejriwal and his ministers staged protests
at Rail Bhavan against the Union Government Home Ministry. These
came after his Law Minister, Somnath Bharti, had been dissatisfied
with the response from the Delhi police to allegations relating to
a neighbourhood popular with immigrants from Uganda and Nigeria.
Kejriwal was demanding that the police should come under direct
control of the Delhi government and that officers who had refused
to do as Bharti had requested should be suspended. He said that the
protest will not hamper his work as he had brought along files and
would carry on working from the venue of the protest. He later
claimed that it was the first time in Indian political history that
a Chief Minister had protested on the streets to raise his
Government's demands for a fair inquiry. After two days, he ended
his fast when the Lieutenant Governor, Najeeb Jung, intervened by
sending on leave two of the policemen involved and setting up a
judicial enquiry.
Also in January 2014, the party's office in Ghaziabad was
attacked by right-wing activists protesting against Prashant
Bhushan, who has expressed a personal opinion against the Armed
Forces (Special Powers) Act in Jammu & Kashmir by talking of a
referendum in that state to decide whether the people want the army
to handle internal security. This caused the AAP to determine that
its prominent members would in future refrain from expressing
opinions on anything that was not agreed by a broad consensus
within the party.
Financial support for the party from non-resident Indians have
halved while it has been in government, possibly reflecting
disenchantment. It has also admitted that its systems may have
significantly overstated members introduced through a nationwide
recruitment campaign that was affected by hoaxers.
In February 2014, the AAP tried to introduce a Jan Lokpal Bill
in the Delhi Assembly, However, Jung said that the AAP government
tabling the bill without his agreement would be "unconstitutional"
because the correct procedures for introduction had not been
followed. This view was supported by Congress and the BJP, and Jung
advised the Assembly Speaker not to allow the tabling. The AAP
government stated that it was following all the procedures and
there was no need to obtain prior approval from the centre or Lt
Governor to table the bill, and tried to table the bill. When BJP
and INC blocked the introduction of the bill, the AAP government
resigned and Delhi was placed under President's rule instead.[54]
Kejriwal alleged that there was a nexus among Congress, BJP and the
industrialist Mukesh Ambani, and the two parties had "ganged up"
against AAP after it filed an First Information Report against
Ambani. In March, the party declared that it would seek
re-election.
General election, 2014
Main article: Indian general election, 2014
The party fielded 434 candidates in the 2014 Indian general
election, in which it did not expect to do well. It recognised that
its support was based primarily in urban areas and that different
strategies might be required for regions such as Uttar Pradesh
where caste-based politics are the norm. The party pointed out that
its funding was limited and that there were too many demands for
local visits from Kejriwal. The intention was to field a lot of
candidates to maximise the likelihood that it could achieve
official recognition by the ECI as a national party.[57][58] The
outcome was that four AAP candidates were elected, all of whom were
from Punjab. As a result of the performance in these elections, AAP
became a recognized state party in Punjab. The party obtained 2% of
all votes cast and 414 of its candidates forfeited their deposit by
failing to secure one-sixth of the vote in their
constituencies.[61] Although the party secured 32.9 per cent of the
votes in Delhi, it failed to win any seats there.
Immediately after elections, Shazia Ilmi (a founder and PAC
member) resigned from party, alleging that the party was being run
by a coterie and lacked internal democracy.
The criticism of Arvind Kejriwal's style of leadership continued
with National Executive member Yogendra Yadav's writing a letter to
his party members, charging his party members to be "falling prey
to personality cult. He said:
Let me reiterate that Arvind bhai is no ordinary leader and
there are no two opinions about his continuing as the national
convener; nor have I ever doubted his status as first among equals
within the partys leadership. The real question is whether there
are limits to personal discretion of the leader.
After the National Executive meet on 8 June, party and Arvind
Kejriwal acknowledged these differences and announced launch of
"Mission Vistar" (Mission Expand) to include more people in local
as well as national decision making.
Delhi Assembly election, 2015
Main article: Delhi Legislative Assembly election, 2015
The Delhi state assembly elections for the Sixth Legislative
Assembly of Delhi were held on 7 February 2015 as declared by
Election Commission of India.[67] The Aam Aadmi Party scored a
landslide victory by winning 67 of the 70 seats. The BJP was able
to win only three seats and the Congress party drew a blank, with
all its candidates defeated. Arvind Kejriwal became the Chief
Minister for the second time. AAP had started campaigning in Delhi
right from November 2014 and declared candidates for all 70 seats
inducting new faces for as many as 27 candidates. AAP convener
Arvind Kejriwal was the chief minister candidate and successfuly
contested elections from the New Delhi seat again Other known names
and prominent faces in their candidate list are Jarnail Singh,
Surinder Singh (commando), Ex Transport Minister for Delhi Saurabh
Bhardwaj, Ex Education Minister Manish Sisodia, Ex Law minister
Somnath Bharti who came into limelight for controversy and
confrontation with Police. The party said that its candidates were
honest and had been screened for potential criminal
backgrounds.
Arvind Kejriwal had declared the election as a straight fight
between AAP and the Bharatiya Janata Party because Indian National
Congress seems to have lost its presence. BJP has declared former
IPS officer and India Against Corruption activist Kiran Bedi as its
chief ministerial candidate who, according to Shanti Bhushan, one
of the founding members of Aam Aadmi Party, is the biggest
challenge for Arvind
ECONOMY AND ECOLOGY
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) envisions a balanced development model for
India that fosters a dynamic, equitable and ecologically
sustainable economy where
Every citizen in this country will have access to basic needs
like food, housing, education, health care, power, water, toilets
and other basic amenities
Farmers can prosper and secure their livelihood
Youth are assured livelihood and gainful employment
Honest entrepreneurship is encouraged and thrives
People are empowered and have opportunities to realize their
fullest potential
Rule of law is enforced without any influence and disputes are
resolved swiftly
Human and ecological capital are continually enriched
Taxation system based upon simplicity, certainty and
transparency
in a fair policy environment backed by participatory,
transparent, and accountable institutions.
AAP draws its economic vision from its political beliefs that
are rooted in decentralized governance, transparency,
accountability, and equity. It believes that India needs to evolve
a distinctive development model, given the aspirations of Indias
citizens and the scale and complexity of its challenges. This model
will be continuously refined as AAP involves a growing
cross-section of Indians in the policy-making process and
incorporates evidence-based learning. AAP believes in an
open-minded, holistic approach that is not limited by ideological
orthodoxies in both domestic and international economic governance.
It is neither Left nor Right and will support every good idea, old
or new, if it is in the interest of India. Above all, AAPs economic
policy discourse will always be inspired by the Indian
Constitutions Directive Principles of State Policy.
As on today, a combination of corruption, crony capitalism, bad
governance and lack of investment in the productive economy have
impacted the growth and development of the India economy. The
mainstream political parties that have ruled this country for the
last 66
years since independence, do not have any fresh ideas to solve
the countrys problems. They both represent the same economic agenda
of inequitable growth coupled with corrupt and ineffective social
spending. Large sums of money are being spent on various social
schemes without any accountability and outcomes. The country today
looks for an alternative to the current economic policies. AAP will
provide such alternative economic agenda. Clean, open and
transparent governance is in the heart of AAPs economic agenda.
Clean and effective governance is the starting point for long-term
sustainable growth in any economy.
Aam Aadmi Party believes in economic development that is
equitable and sustainable. AAP is against the current policies of
crony capitalism which have brought the country to its knees, and
we will take all steps to eliminate crony capitalism. As a country,
we should focus on achieving growth and expansion of the economy
which can create millions of jobs as well as generate resources to
fund the social obligations of the government. Job creation shall
be the primary objective of the economic policies of AAP, and to
this end we will promote honest businesses and entrepreneurs.
1. Facilitating robust economic growth with holistic
well-being
AAPs policies seek to place India on a sustainable, equitable,
globally competitive, and high-growth trajectory. AAP believes that
a dynamic, robust economy cannot be sustained by a fragile and
inequitable society. Therefore, AAPs idea of development is in
harmony with the needs, skills, resources, and aspirations of the
common man.
i. AAPs policies aim to empower every citizen to attain the
highest level of fulfilment across the hierarchy of needs: from
roti, kapda and makan to security, dignity and personal
potential.
ii. Integrating economic and environmental policies, to render
them increasingly consistent over time; in maximizing the well
being today, without compromising the ability of future generations
to do so.
iii. Creating world-class infrastructure, in both urban and
rural areas, for ensuring a dynamic economy; participation of
private sector in infrastructure development.
2. Creating Decent Jobs and Gainful Employment for our
Youth:
Apart from the alarming existing unemployment and
underemployment levels across age groups, India has over 12 million
new youth seeking jobs every year.
i. AAP is committed to tapping Indias demographic dividend
through economic policies that focus on creating decent employment
and livelihood opportunities for young women and men in honest
enterprises across agricultural, manufacturing, or services
sector.
ii. AAP seeks to afford greater opportunities for lifelong
learning and skilling leveraging technology so as to encourage both
continued individual and national growth.
iii. Focus on job creation by promoting honest enterprise; this
would be done by reducing corruption and streamlining the system of
excessive regulations and licenses.
3. Simplify Rules, Create Accountable Institutions, Curb Black
Economy
AAP favours an efficient, accountable, and transparent
government that ensures an appropriate and timely implementation of
its policies and conducts regular review of its performance. The
vested interests in the country have tried to keep the systems and
processes so complex that change becomes difficult. India loses
lakhs of crores every year due to corruption in provision of public
services. With the high cost of compliance, license-raj, lack of
transparency and accountability and unwarranted delays, businesses
either are unable to take off or even if they do survive, their
productivity barely increases and the number of employees actually
ends up decreasing over time. To improve this situation, AAP
will:
i. Simplify rules and regulations, ensure effective
administration of law, enforce the rule of law and deliver
justice swiftly, encourage honest compliance and punish heavily
the defaulters.
ii. Ensure the return of Black Money stashed in foreign banks to
India; time-bound and stringent action against those found guilty
of stashing black money.
iii. Curtail the wide-spread use of black money in real estate
and property dealings.
iv. Move towards a simple, progressive and stable tax structure.
Aim to increase tax to GDP ratio by enforcing better
compliance.
v. No more routine tax amnesty programs and stringent measures
to recover taxes from evaders.
vi. Use technology and e-governance to extensively administer
all government services
Promoting Honest Business, Unleashing Indias Entrepreneurial
Energy:
The scale of sustainable growth and livelihood creation for
which India aspires cannot be met unless we tap into the
irrepressible Indian entrepreneurial spirit. We believe that most
businesses are honest, but the current environment does not let
them flourish.
i. AAP will create an eco-system where every enterprising
citizen or community has access to capital, information, and
infrastructure, such that innovative and productive
entrepreneurship becomes the new engine for accelerating growth in
our country.
ii. AAP believes that government should not be in the business
of running businesses. Active participation of private sector is
required for enterprises to thrive and create jobs. The government
should encourage honest enterprise through lower compliance costs
and a corruption-free environment, the provision of efficient and
reliable infrastructure and services, and incentivizing productive
innovation.
iii. Focus on clean, open and transparent governance, which will
create a level playing field for honest businesses to thrive and
succeed on their own merits.
iv. AAPs policies will aim to foster healthy competition in the
market economy and curb monopolistic and anti-competitive
practices.
Empowering citizens, particularly the poor and vulnerable
AAP believes that through the empowerment of the citizens of
India, the governments development efforts can be both
better-directed and amplified manifold. AAP will recall the face of
the poorest and the weakest when contemplating any economic measure
to ensure that its policies do not disadvantage them in any way and
that they can contribute their talents towards Indias prosperity.
AAP believes that the poor are best helped by empowering them with
enhanced capability and the means to earn their livelihood with
dignity. In case of those incapacitated and unable to engage in
productive employment, AAP will try to facilitate a social security
net that allows for a dignified existence.
Reinvigorating the Rural Economy
For an equitable, pan-national, and sustainable growth, AAP will
strive to provide all necessary amenities for sound farming
practices and productive enterprises to proliferate in hereto
neglected rural India. A vibrant decentralized rural economy with a
prosperous agricultural sector is pivotal in creating a wide
economic base and ensuring the long-term food, energy, and
ecological security of India. AAP believes:
i. India still lives in its villages. Without the development
and prosperity of the villages, India cannot be prosperous. AAP is
committed to ensuring that the people in rural areas have access to
all the basic facilities enjoyed by their urban counterparts.
ii. Decentralisation and devolution of powers to Gram Sabhas, so
that they can make decisions about development of their
villages.
iii. AAP seeks to counter the growing trend of migration under
economic distress through a concerted push in traditional
industries, small-scale enterprises, and agricultural sector, with
better infrastructure availability, easy access to
formal credit, appropriate technological interventions, and
support for fair pricing.
iv. AAP will invest in creating infrastructure in Tier-II and
Tier-III cities and smaller towns so that they could become the
engines for the economic development of the surrounding areas.
Improving Farmers Livelihood
The rural economy is in distress and thousands of farmers are
committing suicide every year. On one hand, because of expensive
seeds and fertilizer, farming is becoming expensive. On the other
hand the government fixes such low rates for the crop that even the
input cost is not covered. For example, in Rajasthan (2011-12),
cost of production of maize was Rs.1164 per quintal but the MSP was
Rs.980. This is what pushes farmers into committing suicide.
Despite tens of thousands of crores of government expenditure in
the name of farmers, there seems to be little improvement in the
farmers lives and livelihoods. AAPs policies would shift the focal
point from merely increasing production, to ensuring farmers income
security and dignified livelihood. This was the basic tenet of the
National Farmers Policy made by Swaminathan Commission, which was
never implemented. AAP will:
i. Implement recommendations of the Swaminathan Commission
Report.
ii. Fair and remunerative MSP for diverse crops which would be
50% more than the real input cost. Extend MSP to 25 crops,
including pulses, millets, and oilseeds, through direct procurement
or timely market intervention.
iii. Prevent farmers suicides by ensuring farmers including
small and tenant farmers access to credit and insurance.
iv. Ensure access to adequate healthcare facilities in rural
areas, which are often immediate causes of farmers suicides
v. Ensure that farmers get a higher share of entire supply
chain, by greater investment in agro-processing industries and
marketing infrastructure (like cold storage,
warehouses, etc); evolve appropriate methods for investment in
rural infrastructure.
vi. Support for ecologically sustainable agriculture; special
marketing incentives for organic produce; promote indigenous
varieties of crops and livestock.
vii. Support local watershed management schemes to reduce the
burden on large-scale irrigation projects.
viii. Regulate Genetically Modified crops to ensure that safety
to food, human health and environment is ensured before the
introduction of irreversible technologies.
Environment and Natural Resources Policy
In spite of being endowed with abundant natural resources, the
aam aadmis access to basic resources for well-being has been
severely curtailed. All the recent big scamssuch as land, coal,
gas, and even spectrum are directly linked to natural resource
allocation and point towards an unethical scramble for our shared
wealth and a deepening danger for our democracy. For their own
personal gains, most of the existing political class have allowed
the nations natural wealth to be looted away in total disregard for
the affected local communities, environmental and social costs,
intergenerational equity, and without any benefit to the public
exchequer. AAP will ensure:
i. The ownership of all major natural resources like major
minerals, water and forests will vest in the State. However
ownership of minor minerals and minor forest produce and rainwater
will vest with the local communities.
ii. The local communities (Gram Sabhas) shall play a vital role
in the management of major natural resources. The exploitation of
minerals, water and forests within a Gram Sabha area will not be
done without the consent of the Gram Sabhas.
iii. Commercial exploitation of natural resources would be done
based on a royalty and revenue sharing agreement with local
communities, to ensure that those who pay the cost of development,
are also beneficiaries of this process. Preference to be given to
Gram Sabha cooperatives for commercial exploitation of
minerals.
iv. If mining or commercial exploitation of major natural
resources requires persons to be displaced, the consent of the gram
sabha will have to be taken and the oustees will be provided
alternative sources of livelihood.
v. Reform Ministry of Environment and Forests and its agencies
so that they can empower and facilitate Gram Sabhas to be effective
custodians and managers of their local natural resources.
vi. Phased shift towards renewable sources of energy; promote
decentralized renewable energy solutions, such as solar power,
biogas plants, watermills, and wind pumps, to reduce infrastructure
and maintenance costs and encourage local ownership.
vii. Priority on developing local and decentralised water
resources based on extensive rainwater harvesting, watershed
development, soil-water conservation programs, small projects and
alternative cropping practices.
Land Acquisition Policy
The past few decades have seen large scale land acquisition in
the country. Land acquisition process is one where the dependent
communities often undergo extreme stress and are unable to cope
with a loss of livelihood. Unless displaced communities are
equipped with proper assets and skills, this may lead to massive
social unrest throughout the country. A new Land Acquisition Act
was passed by the parliament in 2013. While this is a good
beginning, AAP would like to work towards fairer rehabilitation
by
Ensuring that all acquisition done post September 2011 (date
when the bill was tabled in the parliament) comes under the ambit
of the new act.
Ensure a narrow and well defined ambit of the term public
purpose for which land can be acquired.
Ensuring acquisition happens only with the consent of the Gram
Sabha
Making it mandatory to provide employment to one person per
family that is losing land or livelihood (It is not a mandatory
condition under the current act, only a recommendation), so that
those who pay the price of development, can become beneficiaries in
the process.
No Contractualization of Jobs
The employment structure in the country has seen a strong shift
towards contractual forms of employment in the last 10-15 years
across different sectors. While there is a need for employee
accountability, contractualisation is highly exploitative since
basic benefits and safeguards extended to regular employees are
absent for contract workers. For example, deductions for Provident
Fund (PF) and Employee State Insurance (ESI) are often not
deposited on employee accounts. Many employees work throughout the
year without any paid leave. The Aam Aadmi Party is strongly
opposed to exploitation in the work place. We will take the
following steps to improve the condition of workers:
i. We will not allow contractual employment for posts that
require work to be done throughout the year. Examples include
doctors, teachers, nurses, drivers, sanitation workers etc. Their
jobs will be regularized which will allow workers to enjoy all
benefits that permanent employees do.
ii. In jobs that require temporary engagement for a few days or
months (for example in the construction industry), it is not
possible to eliminate contract labour. We will, however, take steps
to ensure better working conditions in these sectors.
iii. Strict implementation of minimum wages; strong action will
be taken regarding any violations of the law.
iv. Non-discrimination with contract workers in terms of access
to canteens, uniforms, company transport.
Social Security for the Unorganised Sector
92% of the workforce in India comprises of workers in the
unorganized sector. This includes domestic workers, construction
labour, security guards, rag-pickers, workers in small shops and
restaurants, street-vendors, etc. who contribute significantly to
the society and the economy, but often function under extremely
exploitative conditions. In order to improve the condition of
workers in the unorganized sector the Aam Aadmi Party will:
i. Ensure the creation of guidelines regarding their wages,
working hours, or required facilities in place of work.
ii. Regularize their working conditions and spaces, to prevent
ongoing harassment by the police.
iii. Ensure minimum social security benefits such as access to
healthcare, old-age pensions, accident cover. Explore possibilities
for evolving contributory schemes.
Protecting the Common Man from Rising Prices
Today the biggest problems for the aam aadmi are the rising cost
of living and unemployment. Statistics show that incomes have
residents has risen, but in reality, due to the rise in costs of
all basic necessities such as electricity, water, vegetables, food
grains, petrol, diesel, education and health, the true economic
situation of most families is worse than before. Whether it is
onions and tomatoes or water and electricity or childrens school
fees, everything has become very expensive today. For the common
man, inflation is reflected in the costs of daily necessities. Aam
Aadmi Party will take up the following measures:
i. Corruption and crony capitalism are two significant factors
behind the rising prices of basic good and necessities of the aam
aadmi. AAP is committed to fighting corruption in
all domains, and this would be an important factor in combating
rising prices.
ii. In retail and wholesale business, stringent measures will be
taken to prevent hoarding and profiteering. Black market cannot
survive without political patronage. Aam Aadmi Party will use the
full strength of the law and government. The black marketeers will
be arrested, their godowns raided and the hoarded goods will be
released so that foodgrains, vegetables and fruits will be
available for lower prices.
iii. The expenditure on education is a substantial part of each
familys expense. We will bring a law regulating the unbridled fees
charged by the private schools and preventing them from collecting
donations. We will improve the standard of government schools so
that the aam aadmi can send their children to government schools
with assurance about quality. These steps will reduce the cost of
education.
iv. We will increase the number of government hospitals and
substantially improve the quality of services, so that the aam
aadmi can fully utilize these services. This will reduce
the expenditure on doctors and medical treatment.
Ration shops and the public distribution system protect the aam
aadmi from rising costs. But the ration shop system is steeped in
corruption. The Aam Aadmi Party government will end corruption in
the public distribution system with the involvement of mohalla
sabhas. Instead of direct cash transfer, we will ensure direct
transfer of ration materials to the families and will include dal
and oil in the public distribution system.
Conclusion
In netshell We Can Say that Aam Aadmi Party Came into existence
between the activistc Arvind Kejriwal AndAnna Hazare. The Partys
name reflects the pharase . Aam Aadmi or Common man. Aam Aadmi
party Envisions a balanced development model for Indian that
fosters a dynamic , ecologically sustainable econmy.
Suggestions
1 There is no central high command in Aam Aadmi party. The party
structure follows a bottom to top approach where the council
members elect the Executive Body and also holds the power to recall
it.
2. No MLA or MP of this party will use red lights or any other
beacons on his or her vehicles.
3. No MLA or MP of this party will use any special security. We
believe that elected people's representatives need the same
security as a common man.
4. No MLA or MP of our party will live in opulent and luxurious
government housing.
5. No one would need to buy an election ticket in our party.
Candidates contesting elections from an area will be selected by
the people of that area.
6. In all political parties today criminals and mafia goons are
given election tickets. Such people will never be given tickets in
our party. A thorough screening process will ensure that no one
with a criminal record or proven corruption charges could stand for
elections from our party.
Bibliography
0. Htpp// www.wikipedia.com//Apppary/main
0. www.scribd.com
0. www.silicon.com
0. http://en.wikipedia
0. www.google.com