Manifesto Final - difuza

Published by :

TAMIL NADU PEOPLE’S FORUM FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

October, 1999

Contact Address :

No.5/1, Sathyapuri Street, West Mambalam,

Chennai - 600 033. India.

Phone : 0091-44-4896845

Fax : 0091-44-4612683

E-mail : [email protected]

FOREWARD

Manifestos of political parties are fast losing their relevance. Given the near-zero credibility of the political class as a whole, no one takesthese manifestos seriously any more.

And yet, these manifestos reveal the basic ideologies, the perspectives and the programmes of the respective parties. They also revealthe sections of the population on whom the party bases itself. Thus manifestos, however limited, can become bases for monitoring of theparties, when they come to power.

The Tamil Nadu People’s Forum for Social Development (TNPFSD) has been involved, over the last 4 years, in the task of monitoringthe social development policies of the Tamil Nadu Govt.

In 1996 the Forum helped the civil society organisation in Tamil Nadu to articulate a People’s Manifesto, in the context of the elections.

The People’s Manifesto was aimed to be “An Alternative Programme for Sustainable Development. Democratic and DecentralisedPolity and the Right to Livelihood”. It centred around the 3 major areas of concern :

Economic tasks for Sustainable Development

Political tasks for Democratic Polity

Social tasks and the Right to Livelihood.

In the context of the elections to the Indian Lok Sabha in 1999 again, the Forum has brought out a statement, “Social Development,Politics and the 1999 Lok Sabha Election”.

Both the documents, we believe, raise the basic demands and concerns of the vast majority of the population in Tamil Nadu. They alsospeak of specific programmes and projects.

Here, in this booklet, we have tried to study the manifestos of the various political parties viz-a-viz the standards set by the Peoples’Manifesto of the Forum.

We have tried to study as many national parties and Tamil Nadu regional parties as possible. Due to lack of access, we have not beenable to include parties such as the Bahujan Samaj Party, Janatha Dal (Secular) and the Samajwadi Party.

We hope the study will be a great help for various civil society groups and individuals in Tamil Nadu and in the Country - in their task ofmaking the political parties and the Government sensitive to the real concerns of peoples.

Our professional staff, Mr. Marimuthu, Mr. Cyril Alexander and Mrs. Stella Rozario, deserve special thanks for the publication of thisbooklet. Thanks also to the staff of Peoples’ Watch (TN), who helped us with an earlier draft.

Chennai

06.10.99.

MANU ALPHONSE

Co-Convenor, TNPFSD.

Content Page No.

Part - I National Parties 2 - 81

Part - II Regional Parties 82 - 145

PART - I NATIONAL PARTIES

1. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) / National Democratic Alliance (NDA)

2. Indian National Congress (INC)

3. Commnist Party of India (CPI)

4. Communist Party of India - Marxist (CPI-M)

5. Communist Party of India - Marxist - Leninist (CPI-ML)

6. Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD)

1. ECONOMIC TASKS FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

1.1 Eradication of Poverty

The poverty alleviation programmes must be improved andstrengthened.

The identification and implementation of the programmes should beby panchayats and peoples’ committees and not left to be decidedby the bureaucracy.

Mobilise resources by restructuringpriorities and mainstreaming thesepriorities into new programmes ofpro-poor growth and redistributiontowards poverty eradication withinthe first decade of 21st century.

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Will double expenditure on povertyalleviation and social developmentprogrammes over the next 5 years.

The implementation of suchprogrammes will be undertakenthrough the gram panchayats andin consultation with the gramsabhas. Thus, all funds for povertyalleviation and rural developmentwill be credited directly t o the fundsof elected Panchayat RajInstitutions.

1.2 Basic Human Needs For All

Basic needs must be guaranteed in the Indian constitution asfundamental rights.

All people should be guaranteed safe drinking water, safeenvironment, sanitation, waste management, public transport,electricity, cooking fuel.

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Ensure potable drinking water to allvillages in the next 5 years

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Top priority for supplying drinkingwater to people

Universal Coverage of Drinkingwater supply to all villages andhabitations within the next 5 years

No mention No mention No mention The eradication of the poverty of thelandless will be central to allanti-poverty programmes.

Will consolidate and rationaliseexisting poverty alleviationprogrammes to reduceadministrative costs andsubstantially enhance the funding ofanti-poverty and rural devt.programmes.

Will take radical steps to improvethe effectiveness of suchexpenditure by involving thecommunities living in poverty anddestitution towards which theseprogrammes are targetted.

The implementation of suchprogrammes will be under takenthrough the Gram Panchayats.

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A crash plan for providing safedrinking water in villages and urbanslums.


PEOPLE’S MANIFESTO NDA (BJP) CONGRESS

Tamil Nadu Peoples’ Forum for Social Development

CPI CPI (M) CPI (ML) RJD

Peoples’ Manifesto Vs Party Manifestos2 3

Local government bodies should be empowered to guarantee andprovide the basic needs for people.

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1.3. Control Price Rise - Strengthen PDS

Prices of all essential commodities in the open market also must bekept curbed.

The Public Distribution System should ensure food security for all.The PDS should be expanded bringing into its ambit 14 essentialcommodities. Prices of these commodities should be reduced by50%.

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Reform and improve the publicdistribution system so as to serve thepoorest of the poor in rural and urbanareas.

Setup a Food Development Bank ofIndia, create warehouse space anddevelop bulk handling facilities toensure food for all in the next fiveyears.

To keep the pr ices o fessent ia l commodi t iesunder control at all times,changes wil l be broughtabout in the Essent ia lCommodities Act.

The Publ ic D is t r ibut ionSystem will be substantiallys t rengthened anddef ic ienc ies in i tsfunctioning removed so asto ensure that essent ialcommodities reach familiesbelow the poverty line atsubsidised prices.

The efficiency of the FoodCorporat ion o f Ind ia ’sprocurement, storage anddistribution operations willbe enhanced substantially.


Will stop arbitrary price hikesthrough administered pricemechanisms.

Domestic market and internal trademust be strengthened.

Will continue to demand thestrengthening and expansion of theP.D.S.

A minimum 14 essentialcommodities should be included forsupply in PDS.

A network of fair price shops andco-operatives should cover allPanchayats.

For people below the poverty line,provisions should be made for thesupply of food grains at 50% of thecentral issue price.

FCI and distribution mechanismsshould be strengthened for efficiencyand elimination of wastage andleakage.

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High priority for strengthening andexpanding the P.D.S,

14 essential commodities should beincluded for supply in the P.D.S.

A network of fair-price shops andco-operatives should cover allPanchayats

Overhead costs should be curtailed,wastage and leakage from the FCIand the distribution mechanismshould be eliminated.

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Expansion of the public distributionsystem to ensure adequateavailability of essential commoditiesat fair prices for both urban and ruralpoor.

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Will ensure that an adequatestandard of food and nutrition ismade available to the poor.

The Public distribution system wouldbe streamlined so as to secureefficient delivery of services to thebeneficiaries.





External vigilance of the PDS by strict enforcement of the provisions ofthe Essential Commodities Act and other laws and by nominatingmembers of the voluntary organisations of proven track record tothe PDS vigilance committees.

No mention A special effort will be made toinvolve the respective StateGovernments, local bodies andwomen’s organisations.Consumer organisations will begiven full support to act aswatchdogs of programmeperformance.A beginning will be made to handover the Public Distribution Systemto elected Panchayats andNagarpalikas.

1.4. Promote Sustainable Agriculture

The New Agricultural Policy which stresses mono-culture cash crops,Horticulture and floriculture for export and leads to a decreasingproduction of food grains needs to be reversed.

To ensure Food security for all, people’s rights on and access toagricultural land, water, common resources, seeds, traditionalagricultural techniques and strategies should be fully guaranteed.

Eco-friendly technologies, our traditional and indigenousbio-agricultural practices should be protected and promoted forenhancing the productivity, profitability and sustainability ofAgriculture.

60% of plan funds for effectingpublic investment in agriculture, ruraldevelopment and irrigation, bydiverse incentive including taxshelters.

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A sustained 4.5% annual rate ofgrowth in agriculture is a pre-requisitefor the time bound eradication ofrural poverty, which is central to allanti-poverty programmes.

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1.5. Implement Land Reforms

Taking immediate steps to protect our bio-diversity is the need of thehour.

To protect and promote the interests of dry land farmers, alternateland management and appropriate agricultural practices should beimplemented.

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Continue to lay stress on landreforms, particularly in those stateswhere it has been lagging.

Landless rural dalit and adivasisfamily will be endowed with someland through the properimplementation of land ceiling andland redistribution legislation.

Promote security of tenure to thetiller, land consolidation, distributionof excess vacant land over andabove prescribed ceilings.

Registration of all tenancies thoughoperation Barga-type campaignsand maintenance of up to date landrecords.

Land reforms should be implemented in right earnest. Cultivablelands should be distributed to landless agricultural labourers.

Alienation of farmers’ lands by private commercial interests and byfinance companies should be put to an end.

The practices of the real estate business buying up agricultural lands,irrigation tanks, village common lands and converting them intoresidential flats should be banned.

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Implement radical land reforms,distribution of surplus lands abovethe ceiling and of cultivatablewastelands to the landless

collection of land records, protectionof tenants and their rights

Implement land reforms. Take overand distribute land above the ceiling,hand over cultivatable wastelands tothe landless

correct land records, ensure securityfor tenants.

No mention Ceiling on individual land holdingsand to introduce urban land ceilingafter working out the modalities.

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1.6. Protect Water Sources

Any move to amend the land laws to permit TNCs to buy agricultural landshould be resisted.

No mention Will resist liberalisation policies inagriculture, and will prohibit sale ofagricultural land for foreigncompanies.

Will prohibit sale of agricultural landsto foreign companies foragro-business.

Resisting the attempts to reverse theagenda of land reforms, fighting for itsstrict implementation.

Resist liberalisation policies in theagricultural sector.

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Will prepare a perspective plan for thefull development of currently assessedpotential by the year 2015 at thelatest.

Special attention to be paid todrought, prone areas, including theenhancement of the Drought ProneAreas Programme (DPAP) anddovetailing this into an overallprogramme for their accelerateddevelopment.

A local community - based NationalRainwater. Harvesting Programmewill be launched, in order tosupplement water availability andrecharge the country’s groundwaterreserves.

Evolve a national consensus on thesharing of inter-state rivers. Anpermanent solution to all inter-statedisputes will be found andimplemented.

Irrigation programmes and projects are to be speeded up. There shouldbe greater fund allocation for de-silting of existing lakes, irrigation tanks,and ponds. They should be regularly monitored.

Steps should be taken to protect all those lakes and ponds in the citiesto preventthe depletion of ground water and also to improve the quantityof ground water. The use of ground water resources for agro-business,commercial farms, industries should be strictly regulated.

Development of medium and small -scale irrigation projects and age-oldand traditional methods of waterutilization will receive urgent attention.

Party will take time bound steps tolink Ganga-Cauvery rivers.

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Will adopt a National Water Policy toprovide for effective and promptsettlement of disputes and their timebound implementation.

Greater allocation for irrigagtion

Community / Panchayat must have arole in the management of waterresources. Traditional lakes, pondsand other water sources must beprotected and maintained

Greagter allocation for irrigation

Provide for community / Panchayatrole in management of waterresources

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Special emphasis on droughtproneareas, including the enhancement ofthe Drought Prone Area Programme(DPAP)No mention

Control must be exercised onindiscriminate use of groundwater

Exercise control on indiscriminateuse of groundwater


No mention No mention No mention Will help to evolve a nationalconsensus on gthe sharing of waterinter state rivers and a permanentsolution to all inter-state disputes willbe found and implemented.





Tamil Nadu Peoples’ Forum for Social Development Peoples’ Manifesto Vs Party Manifestos12 13

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The present Forest Bill should be withdrawn immediately and substitutedby the People’s Forest Bill with provisions for joint forest management,regenerating forest lands; the control and power over the forests to bevested with the adivasis; restoration of lands alientated from the localtribals.

The destruction of forests by the big industrial houses, contractors,politicians and forest depatment officers, should be halted immediately.Growing diverse species of trees and cultivating in the natural conditionof the forests should be preserved for the forest dwellers.

Aquaculture based Shrimp Industries all along the coast which, despiteSupreme Court orders banning their functioning, continue to function,should be closed.

Will unveil a National EnvirolmentPolicy to balance development andecology.

The Ganga and Yamuna rivers’cleaning programme will berevamped and revitalised. Similarscehemes for other water bodies willbe initiated

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1.7. Conserve Natural Resources : Protect Envirolment


Formulate an envirolment policywhich will help maintain the balancebetween people, land, water and air.

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Stringent action to be taken againstcontractors illegally cutting downforests.

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Formulate an envirolment policywhich will help maintain the balancebetween people, land, water and air.

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Stringent action to be taken againstcontractors illegally cutting downforests.

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Committed to effective relief andrehabilitation measures, andresettlement programmes for peopleaffected by development projects,especially the tribal communities.

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All initiatives in the guise of development projects that affect thecoastal eco-system, the marine resources, livelihood of the coastalpeople and degradation of cultivable lands and mangrove lands,should be stopped with immediate effect.

Trawling should be completely banned in the inshore Area as itdestroys the marine eco-system and marine life causing depletionof fish resource and even extinction of some species.

Anti-people developmental projects should be given up. The displacedfamilies should be adequately compensated and alternative landresettlement should be given to them.

Chemical and Petro-chemical industries, pharmaceutical industries,atomic energy and defense related industries, which drain largeamount of toxic wastes into the sea should not be permitted.

Such existing industries should install pollution treatment plants withlatest technologies within a time-frame and thus environmentalwell-being should be safe-guarded.

All licenses given by the Ministry of Food Processing for foreignvessels for joint ventures and charter vessels to fish in Indian watersmust be cancelled.

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Will enact a rehabilitation policy forthose displaced by developmentprojects

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A uniform national rehabilitationpolicy for persons displaced bydevelopment projects. Rehabili-tation to be planned prior to anyproject; and displaced persons toreceive priority in reaping thebenefits from project.

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A uniform national rehabilitationpolicy for persons displaced bydevelopment projects

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1.9. Self-Reliant Industrial Policy Needed; Strengthen Informal Economy

Coastal tourism spreading dangerously and affecting very livelihoodof fishing communities and natural resources and marine resourcesneeds to be curbed.

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Update National Action Plan onTourism and prioritise tourismdevelopment as a core activity.

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Tourism is seen as a source forgeneration of jobs and foreignexchange revenue.

Giving special importance toeducated unemployed.... will create100 lakh jobs per year

Revive Indian manufacturingindustry, in particular through newinvestments and new technologies,and via the establishment of a broadbased National ManufacturingCompetitive Council.

Industry will be supported to copeeffectively with the challenges posedby different WTO agreements.

A new company law will be enactedto ensure that the competition is freeand fare.

We need an industrial policy that is employment oriented, thatrespects ILO labour standards, natural resources, the environment,traditional knowledge and skill of the people and abolishes childlabour. We need to strengthen our indigenous industry.

Halt the implementation of the present package of economic policiesinfluenced by IMF-World Bank and characterised by an open doorpolicy to transnational companies.

Strengthen national economy andindigenous industrial base

New investment and institutionalthrust to agriculture, the self-employed, the unincorporatedsector, infrastructure developmentand housing will act as the vehiclesfor massive employment creation atall levels.

Assert more strongly India’s nationalinterests, especially at theforthcoming review conference ofWTO

An alternative path of economicdevelopment, which will strengthenthe cause of self-reliance andaccelerate economic developmentwith social justice.

India should take the lead to forgecommon cause with the countries ofthe South to negotiate terms whichwill safeguard our interests withregard to TRIPS, TRIMS, etc.

An alternative path of economicdevelopment, which will strengthenthe cause of self-reliance andaccelerate economic developmentwith social justice.

During the review of WTOagreement in 1999, India shouldinsist on critical review of theagreements made in the UruguayRound, safeguard India’s positionwith regard to TRIPS and opposeany multilateral agreement oninvestment. Work for removal ofWTO incompatible legislation likeScetion 301 of the U.S. Trade Act.

Development of labour intensiveindustry with special emphasis onthe small industry.

Safeguarding the national economy,the key financial infrastructural andagricultural sectors in particular, fromthe pedatory forays of foreign capitaland miperialist institutions like IMF,WB and WTO.

A developmental model to removehunger and unemployment.

A strong decentralised economypromoting labour intensive industrywith special emphasis on smallindustry.

Will not promote economic growthbound by intellectual property rights.

1.8 TourismPEOPLE’S MANIFESTO NDA (BJP) CONGRESS




Entry of foreign capital should be decided on State’s priorities andtechnology needs and the industry’s environment track record. Astrong regulatory framework has to be put into place for these issues.

Reservation of products for exclusive production of Small ScaleIndustries must continue. The policy of reservation, exemption fromexcise duty and other fiscal benefits should be continued.

Will encourage FDI in core areasand discourage FDI in non-priorityareas.

Will bring into being, besidesfinancial support institutions, otherinstitutional systems for providingservices, tech, and marketingfacilities to artisans, small scalevillage handloom and handicraftsand such other industries.

Will encourage FDI as to reach thetarget of at least 8-10 billion dollarsearly in the next decade.

Small scale industry will be freedfrom bureaucratic harassment.

1.10. Stop Dismantling Public Sector

All efforts to dismantle the public sector must be halted. The policyof withdrawal of budgetary support and reducing orders to publicsectors units must be reversed.

Political Parties must give an assurance that the Public Sector willnot be privatised including the employment of labour.

We urge political parties to take a stand on the corruption andPrivatisation in the banking and Insurance sector. There must be ahalt to permitting any more private banks and the insurance sectorshould be protected against multinational insurance giants.

Encourage private sectorparticipation in all sectors

Commercial insolvency Tribunal toreform PSUs including restructuring,rehabilitation and disinvestment.

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Disinvestment of Govt. share holdingin public sector companies and theholding of financial institutions inprivate companies.

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Protect domestic industry againstindiscriminate lowering of importduties and takeover of existing Indiancompanies by foreign companies.

Encourage small scale and tinysector industries with adequateincentives and sufficient credit.

Protect domestic industry againstindiscriminate lowering of importduties and takeover of existing Indiancompanies by foreign companies.Foreign capital to be solicited forthose areas for which clear-cutpriorities are set.

Encourage small scale and tinysector industries with adequateincentives and sufficient credit.

No mention Strong protective mechanism in ourinterface with the internationaleconomy particularly in internationalfinance.

Special Emphasis on smallindustries.Will revitalize the khadi and villageindustries commission.Labour-intensive sectors andself-employed sectors to besupported.

Defend the public sector fromplanned destruction

End disinvestment in public sectorunits, and revive of sick public sectorunits

Revive industries that are importantfor self reliant growth.

No mention Will reject the theory that the Stateshould withdraw and release fundsand resources for the private sector

Balanced approach towards publicand private sectors.



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1.11. Fiscal Policy and Monetary Control

The need of the hour is promotion of social banking and not merelybilising poor peoples’ savings through self help programmes and usingthese savings for financing the rich.

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Our fiscal policy of raising budgetary revenues mainly through indirecttaxes, which badly affect the poor needs drastic changes. Taxes onproperty, wealth, income, excise and professions etc should bedrastically increased and enforced.

Tax holidays and tax concessions given to multinationals and jointventures in core sectors, export-oriented industries, hotel industry,shrimp industries and deep-sea fishing vessels should be withdrawn.

Similarly income and wealth of rich farmers, plantations, agro-businessand finance companies engaging in commercial tree planting shouldbe heavily taxed.

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Broaden the direct taxes base. Raisethe tax rates on the affluent sections.

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Broaden the direct taxes base. Raisethe tax rates on the affluent sections.

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1.12 Alternative Science and Technology

S&T policy will be geared tomobilising technology in support ofagricultural and industrial growth andmodernisation to making India amajor developer of knowledge basedproducts and services, and tolaunching a national innovationmovement.

Our science and technology policy should be directed towardsdevelopment of modernised and appropriate technology, protectionand support for research in organic agricultural practices andtechnologies.

Ensure integration of efforts in thefield of science and technology withdevelopment programmes in varioussocio-economic scctors.

Will further speed up themodernisation of NationalLaboratories, strengthen researchand development and establish newas well as strengthen existing centrsof excellence.

Will strive to improve the scientifictemper in the country and will givepriority to research and developmentin key areas like Biotechnology,super-fast computers, informationand space technologies.

Will strive for a comprehensive policyon Science and Technology, whichwill enhance the quality of science forthe development of knowledge andfor the development of the nation.

In promoting self reliance, it isessential that a science andtechnology policy be adopted whichprovides for development of scientificinstitutions and development ofsubstantial R & D potential in India, isto be achieved. This R + D based byPublic funded R & D through CSIRlaboratories.

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ISRO, DRDO and BARC will continueget unstinted political and investmentsupport, with their linkages to the restof the economy being maximised.New technology development andapplication missions will be launchedin the areas of defence, agriculture,energy, health and animal husbandry.

Computerisation projects will belaunched in areas of maximum impactsuch as land records, taxadministration, banks and publicutilities.

The Technology Development Boardwill be fully funded to support projectsfor commercialising indigenousR & D and public - privatepartnerships in key areas.

Biotechnology, renewable energytechnologies and new materials willreceive special focus. Biotechnologyapplications in agriculture and healthwill be emphasised.

Specific programmes for themodernisation of agriculturaluniversities and national laboratorieswill be initiated.

India will be marketed as a majordestination for research,development and engineering. Aword class Intellectual Property Rightssystem will be put in place.

Will support the efforts for linkage ofscience with universities and willsupport science for weaker sectionsof the population. It will work for thepromotion of a scientific outlook.





All Science and Technology, Research and Development must beimplemented with respect for the sustainable livelihood of people, land,environment, water and other natural resources.

Science and Technology should augment rather than displace humanskills and should include the integration of traditional knowledge,utilization of renewable energy resources and methods which areenvironmentally appropriate and non-destructive.

There should be no amendment of the Indian Patent Act of 1970 whichwill erode India’s sovereign right to develop domestic Research andDevelopment.

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1.13. Education for All

Political parties must express their commitment to bring forward acomprehensive legislation guaranteeing free compulsory qualityeducation for all children upto std X and detail a mechanism to ensurethat the state governments adhere to this for ensuring all children theright to education in any school free of cost.

Aims at eradication of illiteracy byincreasing governmental and nongovernmental spending on educationupto 6% of GDP

Primary Education to be made freeand compulsory upto class V.

The National Literacy Mission’s workwill be consolidated and expanded.

Committed to investing at least 6%of the nation’s GDP in education andearmarking 50% of this expenditurefor elementary education, to attain thistarget by the end of the 9th five-yearplan.

The right to primary education will bemade a fundamental right.

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To curb brain drain, it will demandadequate support for basic researchand development and more funds forthis purpose.

Review the passage of theamendments to the Indian Patent Act1970

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Allocation of 10 % of Union Budgetand a minimum of 30% of states’budgets for education, to reach thetarget of 6 % of GDP within 5 years.

Compulsory primary educationaccompanied by free mid-day meals,provision of textbooks and othereducation materials.

Allocation of 10% of Union Budget foreducation.

Introduce compulsory primaryeducation accompanied by freemid-day meals, provision oftextbooks and other educationmaterials.

Allocation of at least 6% of GDP foreducation.

No mention Emphasis on primary education inrural areas, especially for girls.Mid-day meal programmes in schoolswould be strengthened.





A time bound programme foruniversalising access to elementaryeducation for all children upto the ageof 14 years by the year 2003 will beimplemented.

A Special scheme for themodernisation of universities linked toorganisational and financial reformswill be introduced.

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Tution fees and maintenanceallowance to every SC/ST student isadmitted to any university will beguaranteed for a maximum period ofsix years.

Take appropriate legal measures toprotect norganised workers

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Take steps to protect Indian Workersworkingin foreign countries.

Grant full autonomy, operation andfinancial support to select institutionsof higher learning.

Gradually reduce State subsidies.

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The attempts at privatising the existing educational institutions forhigher studies should be stopped.

Strict monitoring should be there to check whether the existingself-financing colleges adhere to the guidelines set forth by theUniversity Grant Commission and of the rules and regulations of theUniversities in question.

The Yashpal Committee Report’s recommendations to improve thequality of education should be implemented. The teacher student ratioshould be 1:30.

In all schools playground, toilet facilities, drinking water, library andsuch other facilities should be made available.

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Will removal discrepancies andcontradictions in the Act for theprotection of Construction workers

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Will exalt laws to conduct elections forTrade Unions based on secret ballotsystem.

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No mention Will ensure that 33% reservations forwomen becomes the law of the land.

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Pernalty provisions in the laws againstsexual violence and dowry atrocitieswill be made more stringent.

Disqualification of oficials, MPs,MLAs and councilors who have beenconvicted of offences against womenand maximum punishment for theoffenders.

Establish courts that will render justicewithin 90 days, against those whohave committed sexual offencesagainst women.

Free secondary level education togirls.

Rapid expansion of the primaryschool network and recruitment ofprimary school teachers.

Upgrade salaries in elementaryschools and provide schoolsequipped with at least minimumfacilities.

Support to mass literacyprogrammes.

Democratisation of the highereducation system and developmentof vocational education.

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Institute plans to provide freeeducation for girls upto college levelincluding professional courses.

Setup a developent bank for womenentrepreneurs in small scale sector.

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Sufficient quality hostel facilities should be made available to the poorerstudents.

Rapid expansion of the primaryschool network.

Upgrade salaries of elementaryschool teachers and provide schoolsequipped with minimum facilities.

Support to mass literacyprorammes.

Democratisation of the highereducation system and developmentof vocational educataion.

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Increse expenditure on public healthto 5% of GDP.

Create an adequate network ofprimary health centres with sufficientstocks of medicines as laid down bythe Ministry of Health.

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Inrease expenditure on public helathto 5% of the GDP.

Provide an adequate network ofprimary health centres with sufficientstocks of medicines.

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National Health Policy would bereviewed comprehensively and recastwith appropriate human and financialsupport.No mention

Efforts will be made to provideprimary health and veterinary care,especially in rural areas.





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A new National movement forsanitation and hygiene will be started.Effective sanitation and wastedisposal technology willbe deployedin towns and cities, with theinvolvement of the panchayats andNagarpalikas.

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Ensure supply of essential drugs atprices affordable to the commonpeople.

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The government should take steps without delay to realise its goal of“Health for all by 2000 A.D.”

In government’s fund allocations, just 1.5% is set aside for the Healthcare. As per the World Health Organisation’s guiding principle thisshould be raised to 5%. We demand that at least 8% GDP should bespent on Public Health Care.

Corporatisation and Privatisation of medical care should be stopped.Legislation should be enacted for issuing license and regulating privatehospitals and nursing homes.

A Central/State legislation to provide for banning of private practiceamong doctors in Government service with adequate compensationto the doctors, compulsory licensing of all hospitals, nursing homesand medical diagnostic centres so as to live up to the standards set bythe Bureau of Indian Standards for such services.

All attempts to close existing health care institutions should be stopped.The basic infrastructure facilities to these hospitals should be madeavailable along with sufficient supply of medicines.

Government hospitals should stock and use only those medicines thathave the basic 160 generic formation as recommended by the WorldHealth Organisation. Also permission should not be granted topharmaceutical companies to use medicines which have ingredientsother than the prescribed 160 generic formulations. Pharmacies alsoshould be keep in stock and sell only such medicines as prescribed bythe World Health Organisation.

To avoid crudest violation of human rights, the Human OrgansTransplantation Act should be strictly implemented.

There is a need to bring into effect a National Charter on Patients’Rights, particularly the right to information and a National Drug Policyregarding purchase of drugs as per the WHO regulations.

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Ensure supply of essential drugs atprices affordable to the commonpeople. Drug price control to bevigorously implemented, to checkprice increses.

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1.14 Strengthening Public Health





The national programmes for thecontainment and control ofcommunicable diseases, particularlymalaria, TB, leprosy, AIDS andCholera will be completelyreinvigorated. Other nationalprogrammes such as the control ofblindness and diarrhoea throughsimple cost effective techniques, willalso be given renewed investmentand management focus. The party willensure that polio is fully eradicated inthe first decade of the 21st century. Anepidemiological surveillance systemwill be set up all over the country tofacilitate early detection and promptresponse for the rapid containmentand control of the outbreak ofdiseases.

No mention

An Education Commission in HealthSciences, along the lines of the UGC,will be set up to provide the requisitefinancial and technical support forprofessional and para- professionaleducation in health sciences. OneUniversity for Health Sciences will beset up in each state, as theimplementing aim of EducationCommission.

Increase the outlay on preventivemedicine and eradication ofdiseases like malaria, TB etc.

Campaign against AIDS.

No mention

No mention

Control population growth and ensuremedical care.

The national tuberculosis programme should also be strengthened inview of universal upsurge of this disease.

In the family planning programme the emphasis should be onvasectomy.

Increase the outlay on preventivemedicine and eradication ofdiseases like malaria, TB, etc.

No mention

No mention

No mention

No mention

No mention





No mention

No mention

No mention

The Indira Awas Yojana scheme willbe expanded and consolidated. thescheme toprovide free house sites tothe rural poor will be continued.

Housing to be accorded the status ofa basic right.Housing schemes for urban and ruralpoor to be stepped up; free housingsites to be provided.A national level housing policy to beevolved, defining the status of housingconstruction so that centralgovernment, state governments,private and other cooperativesocieties participate in this sphereaccordingly.

No mention

No mention

No mention

No mention

No mention

No mention

No mention

Evolve a National Housing andHabitat Policy to provide housing forall.

No mention

Housing should be made a Fundamental Right of people to live in aplace in security and dignity.

There should be detailed re-settlement policy based on Supreme Courtjudgements regarding right for adequate housind, fair re-settlement.

Traditional, modern, low cost building materials must be provided byPDS with subsidy.

Low cost, good quality house construction materials should be suppliedat subsidised prices, through a public distribution system managed byDwellers Co-operatives. The policy of the government to resolve thehousing crisis through mere substandard house constructionprogrammes should be reviewed.

Dwellers Unions of the inadequately housed should be formed andregistered at the village Panchayat and municipal ward levels. TheDwellers Unions together with local government bodies should beempowered to hold in trusteeship and to regulate and manage theentitlement provided under this act.

Housing to be accordedc the statusof a basic right’

Housing schemes for urban and ruralpoor to be stopped up.

No mention

No mention

No mention

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1.15 Housing as a Basic Right





No mention

No mention

Devolve more powers to the states-economic, fiscal, administrative andpolitical- through constitutionalamendments

Activation of the Inter-State Counciland empowering NationalDevelopment Council with adequatepowers on planning.

Article 356 to be amended to curtailthe power of the centre.

All national languages listed in the 8th

Schedule of the Constitution to beequally promoted and developed.

Appointment of a commission toreview the Constitution to ensureharmonious centre-state relations.

Create a Backward AreaCommission for each state.

Set up a committee to study feasibilityof treating all languages in the 8th

schedule of the Constitution as officiallanguages.

No mention

2.1. State Autonomy is Constitutional and Essential.

Genuine Federalism at the Centre and genuine autonomy to Tamilnaduand all States – political, legislative, economic, fiscal and administrative– alone can broaden and deepen the bonds of unity and integrity amongthe people of various regions in India. The Indian constitution has tobe amended accordingly.

The arbitrary use of Art. 356 of the Constitution should be stopped. Ifthis is not possible, Article 356 should be repealed.

Constitutional amendments fordevolving more powers in theeconomic, fiscal and administrativeareas.

The federal system has to beinstitutionalized by activising the theInter-State Council and empoweringthe National Development Councilwith sufficient powers

Priority for replacing Article 356 witha suitable provision so that thedraconian power of the Centre todismiss state governments is curbed

Maximum autonomy for the state ofJammu & Kashmir by revising Article370 of the Constitution; regionalautonomy to be provided to Jammuand Ladahk regions within the stateframework.

No mention

No mention

Federal Structure with strongdelegation of powers to the states.

No mention

2. POLITICAL TASKS FOR DEMOCRATIC POLITY





Will work towards the implementationof the Constitutional Amendments

Effective devolution within the next 5years to the Panchayat Raj institutionsof all subjects listed in the 11th

Schedule, and to the Nagarpalikas ofsubjects listed in the 12th Schedule ofthe Constitution.

It will be ensured that, budgets, staff,other resources and correspondingauthority are integrated into thedevolution package.

Direct transfer to Panchayats andNagarpalikas of their share of centralrevenues, as determined by thecentral Finance Commission, andexpeditious action on therecommendations of state financecommissions.

Direct crediting to Panchayat fundsand to the accounts of municipalities,of central funds for rural developmentand anti-poverty programmes

No mention

Decentralisation of powers to thedistrict bodies and Panchayats;ensure local participation in theformulation of plans and projects.Elections to such 3-tier Panchayatsshould take place as laid down by thelaw.

No mention

No mention

No mention

Decentralisation right down to thegrassroots level by activating andinvolving Panchayats and localbodies.

No mention

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No mention

Real decentralisation needs to be carried out by conferring more powerand financial resources to elected bodies at all levels of Panchayat.As per the objective of the Constitutional 73rd and 74th Amendment,serious efforts should be made to enable people at the grassrootshave the right to governance.

40 to 50 % of state budgetary resources at least must be vested withlocal - government.

State governments must devolve several of its powers accompaniedby required financial resources to local government bodies – urbanand rural

All matters of education and health care including the related institutionsand personal should be brought within the control of panchayat bodies.

Constitutional amendments todevolve more powers in theeconomic, fiscal and administrativeareas; decentralisation of powers tothe districts bodies and Panchayats.

No mention

No mention

No mention

No mention

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No mention

Effective measures would be takento make the Panchayat Raj Systemwork so as to realise the objective ofdemocratic decentralisation.

No mention

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2.2. Decentralised Democracy should become a Reality





The empowerment of the GramSabha, as the foundation of thePanchayat Raj system, so that theyare statutorily required to give theirapproval for proposals prepared byPanchayats, examine and passaccounts, and authorise the issue ofutilisation certificates.Election of District PlanningCommittees in accordance withconstitutional and legislativerequirements, to integrate into districtplans the plans for their respectiveareas prepared by the Panchayatsand Nagarpalikas.Will Promote free, fair andrepresentative elections to the localbodies, the expeditious resolution oflegal suits that have delayed electionsin some states, and theimplementation of court directives inthis regard.Will ensure the utmost respect forelected women members and womenoffice-bearers of the Panchayats andNagarpalikas.Establish a composite Ministry ofPanchayats and Nagarpalikas toestablish a mutually reinforcingrelationship between rural and urbandevelopment.Panchayat Raj institutions will not beallowed to be used against theweaker sections of society.

No mentionNo mentionPlanning must begin from the Gram Sabha and their voice should befinal. Decisions regarding land sale and transfer, land alienation,setting of large projects – power, irrigation, defense etc, location ofindustry, hotels, agro-business, marine processing etc must first of allbe discussed in concerned grama sabha and their decision should beprior and final.






The discouragement / prohibition ofthe establishment of parallel bodiesto undertake functions entrusted tothe Panchayats by the Constitutionor state legislation.

The functionaries of the Panchayatsand Nagarpalikas will be broughtunder the disciplinary control of theelected authorities to facilitate theirconstitutional responsibility for theimplementation of programmes foreconomic development and socialjustice.

2.3. Clean and Sensitive Public Administration

The present Public Administration system with its in-built colonialinstitutions and procedures needs a radical overhaul.

A new orientation to the role of the civil servant needs to be provided.Honest civil servants at all levels should be protected from harassmentand high handedness. Every senior administrator must make publichis or her gross wealth annually.

Simple institutional mechanisms should be set in place for ordinarycitizens to file complaints or initiate legal proceedings against corruptor insensitive administrators.

Will introduce time-boundprogrammes for neededadministrative reforms, includingthose for the police and civil services.

No mention

No mention

A new Administrative ReformsCommittee will be established toprepare a detailed blueprint for apublic administration system.

High priority is given to the passageof a Lok Pal Bill

An Ethics Committee for the LokSabha will be set up to ensure probityand integrity.

No mention

Lok Pal Act to be adopted, providingfor investigation and a bindingrecommendation of prosecution ofpublic servants up to the level of thePrime Minister.

No mention

No mention

Lok Pal Act to be adopted, providingfor investigation and a bindingrecommendation of prosecution ofpublic servants up to the level of thePrime Minister.

No mention

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For a Transparent, participatory modeof governance.

No mention

No mention





No mention

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2.4. Electoral Reforms for Fair and Free Elections

Electoral Reforms are urgently needed.

Political parties and their candidates should strictly follow the revisedcode of conduct by the Election Commission of India.

Political parties should not field candidates with records of criminaland economic offence or with known communal and caste bias andthose who have committed offence against women and weakersections of society.

The Election Commission should strictly monitor the election processwith independent citizens committee in each constituency. The materialcollected should be scientifically documented.

Set up a National Commission tointroduce electoral reforms on thebasis of recommendations of theGoswami Committee, the IndrajitGupta Committee and the LawCommission Report.

No mention

No mention

No mention

No mention

No mention

Redical electoral reforms to prohibitpersons with criminal backgroundfrom contesting elections, via acomprehensive Electoral ReformsBill.No mention

Comprehensive electoral reform isneeded.

No mention

No mention

No mention

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No mention

Effective steps to prohibit personswith criminal backgrounds fromcontesting elections.

No mention

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No mention

Electrical reforms to debar knownhistory sheeters, communalpropagandists and scammers fromcontesting elections.

No mention

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A comprehensive legislation should be immediately enacted as aConstitutional Amendment under Article 19, guaranteeing the right toinformation to individuals and organisations from government bodies,Indian and foreign companies, government aided institutions, publicand private hospitals etc.

Government should mandatarily place all public information with thelocal bodies offices (rural & urban) to enable people to access it.

A Right to Information Act must bepassed to ensure that the system ofgovernance is more accountable tothe people.

No mention

A Right to Information Act must bepassed to ensure that the system ofgovernance is more accountable tothe people.

No mention

No mention

No mention

No mention

No mention





Amendment of Section 77 of theRepresentation of Peoples Act toplug loopholes in enforcing ceiling onelection expenditure.

No mention

2.5. Promote Secularism and Defeat Communalism

The Constitutional values of secularism should be upheld and widelypropagated.

All State institutions and public sector institutions including banks,insurance firms, etc should stop promoting the dominant religionthrough display of portraits, organising poojas, religious meetings etc.

Apex Research Institutions have been converted into places to promoteobscurantist and communal ideas for political parties especially theIndian Council of Historical Research, Indian Council of ArchaeologicalResearch; NCERT, IIT’s and several Apex Universities. Political partiesmust make an open declaration accepting not to politicise andcommunalise Apex Educational and Research bodies funded by StateResources.

No mention

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No mention

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No mention

Will work for separation of religion andpolitics.

Protection of the basic rights ofreligious belief by stringent punitiveaction against those fundamentalistorganisations and individuals whoinstigate communal strife.

Syllabus and curriculum to inculculatesecularism, progressive values,scientific temper and national unity.

Legislation for separation of religionand politics.

No mention

Syllabus and curriculum to inculculatesecularism, progressive values,scientific temper and national unity.

Defending secularism through strictseparation of religion from politics.

Put an end to the communal clashes.

Firm defence of academic autonomyagainst all attempts at saffronregimentation.

Committed to a democratic andsecular India.

No mention

No mention

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No mention

Political parties should not be exempt from following the Income TaxAct. All Political parties must submit a detailed account of incomeand expenditure to a public auditor, preferably a representative of theController and Auditor General of India and a certificate obtained. Suchcertificates should be submitted to the Election Commission and onlythen should a political party be allowed to contest.

The right to recall elected canditates must be given statutory sanction.

No mention

No mention

Amendment of section 77 of theRepresentation of People’s Act toplug loopholes, enforcing ceiling onelection expenditure. State funding inthe form of material for recognisedpolitical parties, based on the IndrajitGupta Committee Report.

No mention

Amendment of the Anti-DefectionLaw sothat any electedrepresentative wholeaves the partyhas to vocate the seat forthwith.

No mention

Ensure citizen’s right to recall electedrepresentatives guilty ofnon-performance and disgracefulacts.

No mention

No mention





No mention

The Protection of Places of WorshipAct 1991 will be strictly enforced.

Special courts will be established toexpeditiously try cases arising out ofcommunal disturbances.

2.6. Protect and Promote Human Rights

The Report of the Justice Ahmadi Committee for strengthening theNational Human Rights Commission should be immediately acceptedby Government and tabled for public debate before amendments tothe Protection of Human Rights Act is enacted.

The provision to institute a state level Human Rights commission shouldbe implemented. Its functioning should be democratic, transparent andaccountable to the people. Its investigation team must be headed andoperated independent of the police. The Commission should have thepowers of summoning and even prosecuting in cases of gross violationof human rights.

No mention

No mention

The activities of the National HumanRights Commission will be given fullsupport and encouragement.

Every effort will be made to set upHuman Rights Commissions in everyState.

No mention

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Committed to upholding concept ofsecularism based on Sarva PanthBamadara.

No Political party should be permitted to use religious sentiments forcanvassing votes.

No mention

Will take measure for a speedyjudicial verdict for the Ayodhyadispute, referring it to the SupremeCourt under Article 138(2)

Enforcement of the Protection ofPlaces of Worship (SpecialProvision) Act 1991.

Effective prohibition on the use ofreligious issues for electoralpurposes.

Ayodhya dispute to be referred toSupreme Court under article 138(2)for a judicial verdict;

Implementation of the Protection ofPlaces of Worship Act

Special steps to prosecute all thosefound guilty by the Sri KrishnaCommission for the Mumbai riots of1993.

No mention

Meeting out exemplary punishment tothe culprits of Babri Musjid demolitionand post-Ayodhya riots.

No mention





No mention

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No mention

Will immediately setup a NationalPolice Commissiontosuggest adetailed plan of action for reformingthe police system and apparatus.

No mention

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Replace Police Act 1862 with amodern democratic Act based on therecommendations of the NationalPolice Commission.

No mention

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We seek that the National Commission for Women and StateCommissions and the National Minorities Commission and StateCommissions be given statutory status on the lines of the NationalHuman Rights Commission.

The Human Rights Courts but should be independent and imbibedwith human rights values and jurisprudence, in line with internationalhuman rights standards.

The human rights model curriculum drafted by NCERT and NHRCshould become a compulsory course curriculum in schools andcolleges.

All persons detained under TADA should be immediately releasedunconditionally. All other repressive detention laws like the GoondasAct should be repealed.

There is urgent need for redrafting prison legislation to bring inappropriate changes in the outmoded Indian Prisons Act 1894 andState Jail Manuals. The NHRC has recently prepared a Draft PrisonBill which the commission should circulate widely and organise statelevel discussions.

No mention

No mention

No mention

No mention

No mention

Formation of women’s commissionand human rights commission inevery state and giving greater powersto these commissions nationally aswell as in the states.

No mention

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Repeal of black laws, release ofpolitical prisoners and statutorycompensation to all victims of staterepression.

No mention

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Will Constitute a National JudicialCommission to appoint judges ofHigh Courts and Supreme Court.

Reforms in judicial system to providespeedy relief at affordable costs to thecommon people and to heightenaccountability

To ensure expeditious and affordablejustice to the poor in rural area, nyayapanchayats will be established by lawin all the states.

Though supporting PIL, safeguardsare needed to prevent misuse forpolitical purposes.

No mention

Constitute a National JudicialCommission to appoint judges ofHigh Courts and Supreme CourtReform the judicial system to providespeedy relief at affordable cost to thecommon people and heightenaccountablility.

No mention

No mention

Will set up a National JudicialCommission, which will recommendjudicial appointments in the highcourts and Supreme Court, and drawa code of ethics for the judiciary.

No mention

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The courts system must be restructured so as to make justiceaccessible to the common people. Ways must be developed for alljudicial officers to be sensitized about human rights jurisprudence andinternational standards.

The Supreme Court should reject the 1982 petition challenging PILand should instead expand and deepen the operational strategiesopened up by this radical jurisprudence.

Political parties must take their stand clear about their support for dalitpolitics and specifically against human rights violence against dalits.To prevent discrimination, abuse and atrocities against Dalits and topunish those who perpetrate crimes against Dalits, the SC & STPrevention of Atrocities Act 1989 and Rules should be strictlyimplemented.

Constitute a National JudicialCommission to appoint judges ofHigh Courts and Supreme CourtReform the judicial system to providespeedy relief at affordable cost to thecommon people and heightenaccountablility.

No mention

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No mention

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Party is committed to a democraticand secular India where the rights anddignity of all people are guaranteed.Party will ensure that the protectionof the state is made available to all,specially to the down trodden.

No mention

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Will emphasize Right to work asfundamental Right.Defend the interests of the workingclass, and advocate Job security forworkers.Employment Assurance Schemeshould be implemented.

Will emphasize Right to work asfundamental Right.Defend the interests of the workingclass, and advocate Job security forworkers.Employment Assurance Schemeshould be implemented.

Incorporation of the right to work asfundamental right.

Provision of a monthly subsistence ofRs. 1000/- for workers of sick andclosed industries.

No mention.No mentionNo mentionThe right to social security should be made a fundamental right. Acomprehensive and integrated social security law should be enforced.





3. SOCIAL TASKS AND THE RIGHT TO LIVELIHOOD3.1. Workers

Minimum wages legislation is to beimplemented without any dilution, inall sectors of the economy. Theminimum wage itself will be keptunder constant scrutiny.

Will bring legislstaion is to bedesigned to ensure constitutionalprotection for cooperatives to functionas democratic, autonomous andvoluntary organisations.

No mention

No mention

Provision of a needs-based minimumwage for workers.

Strengthen various co-operativemovements among farmers and workfor expansion of cheap credit facilitiesto farmers.

Expand and extend the old agepension scheme for all deservingcases, both in rural and urban areas.Upgrading pensions by linking themwith the cost of living.‘One rank one pension’ for ex-servicemen. The 33 yearsconditionality for drawing pension of50% of salary for non-commissionedranks is to be removed

No mention

Will strictly implement laws relating toequal pay for equal work

No mention

No mention

No mention

In accordance with the norms set forth by the Standing LabourCommittee, the minimum wages under the Minimum wages Act shouldprovide a decent standard of living for the workers and his/her familyto be able to live in security and dignity. Central and State Governmentsmust suitably revise the notified wages in different industries andoccupations and what is fixed should be strictly implemented.

It is urgently needed to enact and implement the Model Co-operativeSocieties Act to enable co-operatives to grow as self-reliant grass rootdemocratic organisations owned, managed and controlled by membersfor their economic and social betterment operating their business onco-operative principles.

The pension scheme must be implemented immediately.

There is need for carrying out a fresh working class Income andExpenditure Survey for constructing and compiling a new series ofConsumer Price Index numbers for industrial workers.

Provision of a needs-based minimumwage for workers, and revision of thestatutory minimum wage in thatdirection, with provision for automaticlinkage of emoluments with the priceindex.

Strengthen various co-operativemovements among farmers and workfor expansion of cheap credit facilitiesto farmers

No mention

No mention

No mention

No mention

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No mention

No mention

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No mention

No mention

Laws that have been made in respectin respect of labour in the unorganisedsector will be implemented vigorously,and where necessary, new laws willbe formulated.

Start new middle-level technicalinstitutes in clusters where, forexample, weavers and artisans areconcentrated.

Special social security and insuranceschemes for weavers, handloomworkers, fishermen, toddy tappers,leather workers and plantation labourwill be introduced.

No mention

No mention

No mention

No mention

Comprehensive legislation forunorganised workers.

No mention

No mention

No mention

No mention

No mention

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No mention

No mention

No mention

The 22 varieties allotted for the handloom sector must be protectedand all efforts should be made to implement this notification.

Strict norms for safe working as well as for removal of hazards in everyindustrial activity needs to be implemented.

The Second National Labour Commission should be constituted insuch a manner that all sectors of unorganised labour includingagricultural labour, fish workers, domestic workers, home basedworkers, self employed. Etc. are adequately included.

ESI coverage should be extended to all the workers including theseasonal and unorgnised workers. Hospitalisation facilities shouldbe extended to the family members also.

A comprehensive Domestic Workers Act, which guarantees amongother needs minimum wages, the setting-up of creches and providesfor remedies against sexual assault should be enacted.

A comprehensive Agricultural Workers Act, that regulates employer-employee relations, provides for remedies in case of dispute andprovides social security, living wages and work guarantee should beenacted.

No mention

No mention

Comprehensive legislation forworkers in the unorganised sectorand home-based workers.

No mention

No mention

No mention

No mention

No mention

Enactment of a comprehensivecentral legislation to improve theconditions of agricultural labourers.

No mention

No mention

No mention

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No mention

No mention

Facilities in all existing industrialTraining and vocational Training,Institutes and in Polytechnics will beupgraded to international standards.Private industry will be activelyencouraged to participate in therunning of these institutes.

New Industrial Relations Bill thatreflects the contemporary needs ofthe economy will be introduced.

No mention

No mention

Protection of employment andemoluments.

Recognition of trade unions throughsecret ballots and protection of TUrights.

Schemes for workers’ participation inmanagement and observance ofcollective bargaining.

No mention

No mention

A comprehensive legislation and welfare schemes for constructionworkers should be urgently enacted. The enactment should providefor job security, pension, safety, wages and other social securitymeasures along with bonus.

Anganwadi workers should be treated as regular employees and paidfull wages and other service benefits at par with government employees.

No mention

No mention

Rejuvenate labour and social securitylaw enforcement machinery, withamendments in the laws to providefor stringent punishment for violationsand expanded coverage.

Recognise trade unions throughsecret ballots, and protect trade unionrights and right to collectivebargaining by a truly representativeforum.

Effective scheme for workers’participation in management in boththe public and private sector.

No mention

No mention

Resisting world bank attacks onworkers’ rights, raising of labourstandards in deprived areas like teagardens, SSI Units, and informalsections and monthly subsistenceallowance of Rs.1,000/- for workersof sick and closed industries.

No mention

No mention





Amend the Constitution to provide for1/3 reservations for women in the LokSabha, Rajya Sabha, Vidhan Sabhasand Vidhan Parishads.

Increases across the board in thenumber of women in governmentservices. Launch a drive for increasedwomen’s representation in primaryschools as teachers, in the policeforce and in the judiciary at all levels.

No mention

No mention

Schemes for distributing assets suchas house sites and land either jointlyor singly in the name of women willbe introduced.

The name of the mother will be madeacceptable in all forms andapplications.

Women-headed households will becovered under special programmes.With the growing population ofwidows in the country and the social,cultural and legal prejudices, aprogramme for their social, economicand legal emancipation andempowerment will be introduced.

Adopt the Constitutional amendmentproviding for 1/3 reservation forwomen in the legislature.

Equal legal rights for women of allcommunities.

No Mention

Issue join pattas in the name ofhusband and wife.

Equal rights in property and jointmatrimonial property rights.

Legislation for reservation of 33% ofseats in Parliament and stateassemblies for women.

No mention

No mention

No mention

In all decision-making institutions, from village panchayat to LegislativeAssembly and Parliament, 33% to 50% reservation should be madefor women.

Further among women 50% reservation should be made for womenfrom among dalits, adivasis, most backward classes & minorities.

In all political parties 33% to 50% reservations should be for women.

Joint patta is to be issued in the name of husband and wife for housesites and land. House sites with patta should be given to single women,women abandoned by their husbands, Dalit women, Adivasi women,Devadasis and to women who lost their homes in communal clashes.

Implement 1/3 reservation for womenin legislatures.

Equal legal rights for women of allcommunities.

No Mention

Issue join pattas in the name ofhusband and wife.

Equal property and inheritance rightsfor women and joint matrimonialproperty rights.

No mention

No mention

No mention

No mention

Increased participation of women inlocal self-government; Ensuringequality both in spirit and letter of thelaw;

No Mention

No mention

No mention

3.2 Women





The Indira Mahila Yojana will berecast. The IMY, based on mahilasabhas and comprising the entireadult female population of a grampanchayat area, will provide villagewomen with a forum to present theirconcerns to the panchayats via thewomen members of the panchayat.Will also be able to select fromamong themselves saathins, who willinteract with the administration toensure that programmes targeted towomen and children are orientedtowards the priorities determined bythe Mahila sabha.

Special social security schemes forwomen working in the unorganisedand informal sectors will be launched.

Special credit and micro-financeprogrammes for women will beintroduced.

More hostels and facilities for workingwomen and students in cities andtowns will be provided

No mention

Special courts dealing with women-related issues will be established allover the country. Launch a massivepolitical campaign to enddiscrimination and atrocities againstwomen and girls through a processof education, empowerment and theprovision of legal rights.

Special schemes for female -headedhouseholds in rural areas andincreasing employment opportunitiesfor women.

No mention

Strict measures against atrocities onwomen. Special Act dealing withatrocities against women, withprovision of special courts to hearthese cases.

Institute plans to provide freeeducation for girls up to college level,including professional courses. Setup a Development Bank for womenentrepreneurs in small-scale sector.

No mention

No mention

Women should be guaranteed vocational / technical training, creditfacilities and employment. All efforts should be taken for women to getequal rights.

All hazardous contraception and drugs detrimental to women’s healthshould be banned.

Strong legal measures should be undertaken to prevent violenceagainst women.

Special schemes for female-headedhouseholds in rural areas ndincreasing employment opportunitiesfor women.

No mention

Legislation against domesticviolence and the sexual abuse ofchildren.

No mention

No mention

No mention

Improving the economic status ofwomen; Party is fully committed to theempowerment of women by providinggood quality education andemployment opportunities andintroduce reservations for women atall levels, reflecting the social anddemographic reality.

No metnion

Steps to eliminate violence againstwomen;





Strict measures will be taken againstfemale infanticide and foeticide.Special insurance and social securityschemes for the girl child among theweaker sections will be launched.

Laws to combat sexual harassmentin the workplace will be enacted andstrictly enforced.

No mention

No mention

No mention

No mention

No mention

No mention

No mention

Comprehensive national policyguidelines toend indiscriminateissuing of liquor licenses.

No mention

No mention

No mention

No mention

No mention

Penalising women under IPC for Infanticide should be stopped as itamounts to victimising the victim. The Prenatal Diagnostic TechniquesAct which bans sex-selection tests should be strictly enforced. All scancentres should be made to register and a more independentmonitoring mechanism evolved with powers to search, seizedocuments in scan centres and summon medical professionalsaccused of violating the law.

The Supreme Court judgements prohibiting and punishing sexualharassment in the work place must be published and strictly enforced.

To prevent indecent, obscene portrayal of women in Films, T.V. serials,Press coverage, etc. the Indecent Representation of Women(Prohibition) Act 1986 should be strengthened.

All government policies and programmes should include the provisionsof CEDAW.

Stringent efforts to check increasing alcoholism must be initiated.

No mention

No mention

A comprehensive media policy tocheck the growing trend ofcommodification of women.

No mention

No mention

No mention

No mention

No mention

No mention

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No mention

Appropriate use of media.

No mention

No mention

No mention

Abolition of child labour.

Universal provision of childcareservices.

No mention

Abolish child labour and enforce therights of children subject to suchexploitation.

Universalise childcare services andend privatisation of anganwadis andother such social services.

No mention

Implementation of Supreme Courtguidelines on abolition of child labour/bonded labour and contract laboursystem.

No mention

No mention

It is important for political parties to detail the party’s commitment toimplement the Convention on the Rights of the Child, since India hasacceded to this Convention.

The practice of child labour should be eradicated. All Child Labourbelow 14 years of age should be prohibited in all forms of employment.As mentioned in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of thechild the work of children between 15 to 18 years old should beregulated.

3.3. Children - Child Labour

Will present a National Charter for

Will take measures to eliminate childlabour.

No mention

Laws against child labour will bestrictly enforced and specialeducational facilities will be createdin areas where child labour prevails.





3.4. Dalits

The 1986 Child Labour Act should be accordingly amended, specificallythe proviso that exempts household based labour to employ children.

Legislation to check sexual abuse ofchildren.

Elementary education with provisionfor vocational training and healthcarefacilities for working children; endexploitation of child labour.

Adequate resources would beprovided for the supplementarynutritional programme.

A Special programme to preventgrowing number of street children.

Special Courts will be set up underthe Scheduled Castes and ScheduledTribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Actto ensure speedy justice to victims ofatrocities.

Special coaching and educationalfacilities for SC/ST/OBC students atall levels will be expanded.

Finance and developmentcorporations set up for SC / ST / BCs,and also for safai karamcharis, will bestrengthened and made moreeffective instruments for providingfinancial and technical assistance.

The Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955 and the SC & ST Prevention ofAtrocities Act, 1989 should be strictly implemented and the offendersshould be penalised. The victims of these violence should becompensated adequately under the SC & ST Prevention of AtrocitiesAct, 1989 and the special courts should be established immediately.

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Party will present a National Charterfor Social Justice (Samajik Nyay)based on the principle of socialharmony (Samajik Samkarasata)

Safeguard the interests of SCs, STsand BCs by appropriate legal,executive and societal efforts and bylarge-scale education andempowerment.

Demand full protection for dalits andtribal people via the provisions of thePrevention of Atrocities Act.

Ensure quotas for reservation for SCs/ STs are filled up.

Reservations for OBCs to beimplemented.

Stringent action against untouchabilityand atrocities against SCs / STs viathe provisions of the Prevention ofAtrocities Act.

Ensure that quotas for SCs / STsreservation are filled up.

OBC reservation to be implemented.

Will struggle to abolish the practiceof untouchability.

For SC/ST & OBC party will ensurereservation for jobs in all the sectorsincluding private industriesdominated or studied by foreigncapital.

Like election commission, acommission will be set up to ensurethe implementation of reservation forSC/ST and OBCs.

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The policy of reservations in publicemployment for dalits, adivasis andOBCs will continue and beimplemented vigorously. Allreservations quotas, including thoserelating to promotions, will be filled ona time-bound basis.Clarity regarding the implementationof existing reservations for SCs / STswill be provided by having a separateReservation Act.Special recruitment drives,particularly in relation to Class I andClass II vacancies, will be launched.Land reforms in areas where dalitsare in confrontation with othersections of society will be expedited.A comprehensive nationalprogramme for minor irrigation of alllands held by dalits and adivasis willbe launched.Strict implementation of theidentification, release andrehabilitation programme for bondedlabour.

Provide legal protection to existingpercentages of reservation in govt.,employment and educationalinstitutions at the centre and statelevel. If required, amend theConstitution to maintain the system ofreservation.

Party is committed to extending theSC/ST reservations for another 10years. Reservation percentages,above 50% as followed by certainstates, shall be sanctified throughnecessary measures.

All the constitutionally guaranteed rightsof SC/ST will be upheld.

Committed to extending the SC/STreservation for another 10 years.

Reservation parentage, above 50% asfollowed by certain states shall besanctified through necessary legislativemeasures.

In favour of bringing out centrallegislation for proper implementation ofthe Mandal Commission Report in everystate.

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3.5. Fishing Community






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Will work towards ending deploymentof the deep-sea, and protecting therights of fishing communities.

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A new deep-sea fishing policy, which centres around encouraging anddeveloping the fisher people to enhance their deep-sea fishingoperations at a sustainable level with appropriate technologies, shouldbe advocated and implemented.

We appeal to all political parties to take a stand, rejecting any dilutionof the 1991 CRZ regulation including recent recommendations to theNational Coastal Zone Management Authority as this amounts to agross violation of the traditional rights of the Coastal People and theirecology.

Common coastal lands along the coast and upto the habitation of thefishing village must be vested solely with the fishing village and theirpanchayats.

There is the need for an Inland Fisheries (organic) Promotion andDevelopment programme which restores the traditional practice ofemploying fishermen for reservoir fishing under the control of the StateFisheries Department.

Free house sites should be given with joint ownership rights for all fishingfamilies based on actual usage keeping in mind their special needs.A detailed plan for provision of drinking water, community centres,electricity, roads, sanitation, street lights, afforestation of coastal forests,prevention of erosion, etc should be implemented in all fishing villages.

A Fisheries Bank to cater to the specific credit needs of the artisanalfishermen and marketing needs of fishing women should beestablished. Fishing co-operatives need to be rejuvenated based onan amended status and function as multipurpose co-operativesincluding facilities for storage and marketing the catch of the fishingcommunity.

Will work towards ending deploymentof the deep - sea.

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No mention No mentionNo mentionThough women constitute 50% of the adult fishing population theirinterests and needs do not figure in any significant manner in policies,programmes and budgets. We urge political parties to recognise thecontribution of women to fisheries development through their extensivemarketing and involvement in processing of fish products.


3.6. Disabled

The concerns of the disabled should also be included on the socialdevelopment and human rights agenda.

The People with disabilities (equal opportunities, protection of rightsand full participation) Act 1995 must be made a reality.

Right to work is a very important right for the disabled. Job and specialfacilities at the work place has to be provided for people with disabilities.The 3% government reservation for only some categories is highlyinadequate.

National Social AssistanceProgramme (NSAP) with focus on theaged and the disabled, and for thosein the unorganised sector, is tobecome fully funded in the next 2-3years.

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Will enact a National fund for thedisplaced.

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3.7. Minorities

Constitutional provision for the protection and promotion of the rightsof the minorities should be strictly implemented.

Substantial legislation will beintroduced for the effectiveimplementation of the rights conferredon minorities under Articles 29 and 30of the Constitution.

Will not support nor initiateamendments in the personal laws ofthe minorities.

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No mention Protect the rights of minorities andimplement provisions of theConstitution to prevent discrimination.

No mention Party will work for the uplift of religiousand ethnic minorities by providingbetter education and employmentopportunities in a secure environment.





The Constitution will be amended toestablish a Commission for MinorityEducational Institutions and to providedirect affiliation for minorityprofessional institutions with centraluniversities.

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All those born in SC/ST communitieswill be accorded the samereservation and other facilities as areavailable to Scs/STs presentlyrecognised under the Constitutions.This will be done without prejudice tothose SC/ST communities presentlyrecognised under the Constitiution.

Pursue the Congress 7-pointIntensified Programme for theProtection and Promotion of theMinorities.

Measures to increase therepresentation of minorities in allpublic, police and para-militaryservices, both in the central and instate governments.

Formulation and implementation ofschemes for economic, social andeducational upliftment of theminorities, particularly the artisancommunities. Statutory status to begiven to a Minorities Commission atcentre and at the state level.

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Reservation to be extended to dalitChristians and dalits belonging toother religions.

Create appropriate mechanisms toend discrimination in employmentand other economic affairs.

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Committed to the economic, socialand educational development of theminorities.

The Constitutional rights given to minority institutions should beprotected and guaranteed.

The Minorities Commission should be made an independent statutorybody with representatives of various experts among the minorities.

Organisations, films, Newspapers and other mass media that portrayminorities, especially Muslims, as anti-social and anti-national shouldbe prosecuted.

Government of India should immediately amend the Constitution toprovide reservation for all Christian dalits.

Special schemes for promotingeducational facilities for deprivedminorities, and provision for equalopportunities for employment.

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Reservation to be extended to dalitChristians.

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Constitute a National Commissionto examine the question of thebackwardness of the minorities, inline with relevant provisions of theConstitution, in particular Articles 15(4) and 16 (4).

The National MinoritiesDevelopment Corporation and theState Minorities DevelopmentCorporations will be made direct-lending institutions.

3.8. Urban Hutment Dwellers

Strictly enforce ULCRA and the necessary amendments to deleteexemption clauses and loopholes. All the surplus land acquired underULCRA must be used only for hutment dwellers.

The development of hutment dwellers should be left with the electedbodies and not with Slum Clearance Board.

Women hutment dwellers should be granted interest free loans for self-employment and joint pattas for the house sites.

Keeping in mind the interest of hutment dwellers the master plan ofTown and Country Planning Act and Development Control Rules shouldwidely be debated.

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Concrete steps to ensure duerepresentation in government andpublic sector services, includingpolice and security forces. Quotasystem in employment for minoritieson Kerala pattern.

Adequate funds for minorities financecorporation and proper functioning toensure success of self-employmentschemes.

Protection and encouragement of theUrdu language.

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Implement the Panchayats (Extensionto Scheduled Areas) Act 1996.

A separate, statutory NationalCommission for STs will be set up,which, along with the NationalCommission for SCs, will beequipped with administrative, judicialand financial powers.

State govts. will be urged to enactlegislation conferring ownershiprights in respect of minor forestproduce on dalits, adivasis andOBCs who work in the forests.

Protection of the land rights ofadivasis and restoration of landalienated from them illegally

Demand full protection for dalits andtribal people via the provisions of thePrevention of Atrocities Act.

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Ensure quotas for reservation for SC/STs are filled up.

Right to access to forests and forestproduce; the Forest Act to beamended for this purpose.

Regional autonomy provided to tribalcompact areas wherever necessary.

Development of the languages andculture of adivasis.

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A Vanavasi fund for the benefit ofVanavasis shall be established.

All land transfer from ST to non-ST should be immediately banned.

Displacement of adivasis from forests using various reasons shouldbe necessarily and immediately stopped.

Protect land rights of Adivasis andrestore land alienated from themillegaly.

Stringent action against untouchabilityand atrocities against SCs/STs viathe provisions of the Prevention ofAtrocities Act.

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Ensure the rights of access to forestand forest produce. The forest act tobe amended for this purpose.

Regional autonomy should beprovided for tribal compact areaswherever necessary.

Foster the development of thelanguages and the culture of Adivasis

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3.9 Adivasis





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The educational and employment reservation facilities extended torepatriates from Srilanka and their children have been completelystopped. The concessions given in education and in employment mustextend at least for a period of 10 years.

The human rights of Srilankan refugees should be respected and theyshould be treated on par with the other refugees from other regionslike Bangladesh, Burma, Bhutan, Vietnam etc according to acceptedInternational human rights standards. All facilities like adequate food,shelter, and health care must be provided. Treating refugees asanti-social elements or militants violates their rights and must bestopped

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3.10 Repatriates and Refugees





PART - II REGIONAL PARTIES

PARTY ALLIANCE

1. Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) NDA

2. Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) NDA

3. Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) NDA

4. All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) CONG

5. Tamil Maanila Congress (TMC) TMC

6. Pudhiya Tamizhagam (PT) TMC

1. ECONOMIC TASKS FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

1.1 ERADICATION OF POVERTY

The poverty alleviation programmes must be improved and strengthened.

The identification and implementation of the programmes should be bypanchayats and peoples’ committees and not left to be decided by thebureaucracy.

Mobilise resources by restructuringpriorities and mainstreaming thesepriorities into new programmes ofpro-poor growth and redistributiontowards poverty eradication withinthe first decade of 21st century.

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No mention No mention No mention Total eradication of Poverty within theyear 2020 by following rapideconomic reforms.



No mention Take effective measures to curbrising prices.


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1.2 BASIC HUMAN NEEDS FOR ALL

Basic needs must be guaranteed in the Indian constitution as fundamentalrights.

All people should be guaranteed safe drinking water, safe environment,sanitation, waste management, public transport, electricity, cooking fuel.

Local government bodies should be empowered to guarantee and providethe basic needs for people.

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1.3. CONTROL PRICE RISE - STRENGTHEN PDS

Prices of all essential commodities in the open market also must be keptcurbed.




PEOPLE’S MANIFESTO DMK MDMK


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Will struggle to provide 3 meals aday, shelter, cloth and medicanfacilities for toiling mass on free ofcost.

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Ensure essential commodities areadequately available with nominalprices for poor people in the publicdistribution system.

Construct huge cold storage plants inthe FCI godowns in order to potectperishable foodstocks.

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The Public Distribution System should ensure food security for all. ThePDS should be expanded bringing into its ambit 14 essential commodities.Prices of these commodities should be reduced by 50%.

Eternal vigilance of the PDS by strict enforcement of the provisions of theEssential Commodities Act and other laws and by nominating members ofthe voluntary organisations of proven track record to the PDS vigilancecommittees.

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1.4 PROMOTE SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE

The new Agricultural Policy which stresses mono-culture cash crops,Horticulture and floriculture for export and leads to a decreasing productionof food grains needs to be reversed.

To ensure Food security for all, people’s rights on and access to agriculturalland, water, common resources, seeds, traditional agricultural techniquesand strategies should be fully guaranteed.

Eco-friendly technologies, our traditional and indigenous bio-agriculturalpractices should be protected and promoted for enhancing the productivity,profitability and sustainability of Agriculture.

Taking immediate steps to protect our bio-diversity is the need of the hour.

To protect and promote the interests of dry land farmers, alternate landmanagement and appropriate agricultural practices should be implemented.

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Active encouragement of rapidgrowth in agriculture throughliberalisation policies.

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Abolition o Benami titles, andacquisition and distribution oftheabove lands to the landless.

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Land reforms should be implemented in right earnest. Cultivable landsshould be distributed to landless agricultural labourers.

Alienation of farmers’ lands by private commercial interests and by financecompanies should be put to an end.

The practices of the real estate business buying up agricultural lands,irrigation tanks, village common lands and converting them into residentialflats should be banned.

Any move to amend the land laws to permit TNCs to buy agricultural landshould be resisted.

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Free lands for the working class

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1.6 PROTECT WATER SOURCES

Irrigation programmes and projects are to be speeded up. There should begreater fund allocation for de-silting of existing lakes, irrigation tanks, andponds. They should be regularly monitored.

Steps should be taken to protect all those lakes and ponds in the cities toprevent the depletion of ground water and also to improve the quantity ofground water. The use of ground water resources for agro-business,commercial farms, industries should be strictly regulated.

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Ensure the speedy imlementation oflinkingof Ganga - Cauvery projects.

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Urge the Centre to Protocol andenrich inland water resources andbodies, groundwater and surfacewater.

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Protection of Inland and coastal waterbodies.

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1.5 IMPLEMENT LAND REFORMS



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1.7. Conserve Natural Resources : Protect Envionmen

The representatives of the farmers of both Karnataka and Tamilnadu whobenefit from cauvery waters should come together for a dialogue and find apermanent solution for the fair distribution of Cauvery water.

Divert western rivers of the country tothe eastern part and thereby enrich theirrigation system.

No mentionImplement award ofthe interimCauvery Tribunal.

Implement environmental laws toprotect drinking water and air.

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Promote sustainable and traditionalaquaculture.

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The present Forest Bill should be withdrawn immediately and substitutedby the People’s Forest Bill with provisions for joint forest management,regenerating forest lands; the control and power over the forests to be vestedwith the adivasis; restoration of lands alienated from the local tribals.

The destruction of forests by the big industrial houses, contractors, politiciansand forest department officers, should be halted immediately. Growingdiverse species of trees and cultivating in the natural condition of the forestsshould be preserved for the forest dwellers.

Aquaculture based Shrimp Industries all along the coast which, despiteSupreme Court orders banning their functioning, continue to function, shouldbe closed.

The Tamilnadu Aquaculture Regulation Act should be amended. TheTamilnadugovernment order reducing the coastal regulation zone to 200mts from HTL must be revoked and MEF’s notification of 500 mts fromHTLshould be rigorously followed.

All initiatives in the guise of development projects that affect the coastaleco-system, the marine resources, livelihood of the coastal people anddegradation of cultivable lands and mangrove lands, should be stoppedwith immediate effect.

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Implement the Forest Act 1980 withthe participation of people.

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Promote sustainable and traditionalacquaculture.

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Protection of the life resources of theforest.

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Protection of the life resources of thefores.

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Peoples’ Manifesto Vs Party Manifestos

Will urge that all of India’s rivers benationalised. As a first step, for riversand waterways flowing in the SouthernRegion, necessary steps will be takento set up a Grid Authority for the SouthernRegion.

Implementing the interim award of theCauvery Tribunal.

Nationalistion of all Indian rivers.

Implementation of Interim award ofCauvery Tibunal.

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Services of NGOs for monitoring thejudgements against pollutingindustries.

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Trawling should be completely banned in the inshore Area as it destroysthe marine eco-system and marine life causing depletion of fishresource and even extinction of some species.

The anti-people developmental projects such as the East-Coast Roadproject, should be given up. The displaced families should beadequately compensated and alternative land resettlement should begiven to them.

Chemical and Petro-chemical industries, pharmaceutical industries,atomic energy and defense related industries, which drain large amountof toxic wastes into the sea should not be permitted.

Such existing industries should install pollution treatment plants withlatest technologies within a time-frame and thus environmentalwell-being should be safe-guarded.

All licenses given by the Ministry of Food Processing for foreign vesselsfor joint ventures and charter vessels to fish in Indian waters must becancelled.

The State Pollution Control Board should be restructured in such away that it ensures scientific and impartial way of functioning.

Hazardous industries affecting the livelihood and environment and thosetechnologies that are outdated are encouraged and permitted to enterTamilnadu.

The Sterlite Industry, injurious to the people and to the environment, shouldnot be given a green signal here.

The Dupont Thaper Nylon 6.6 factory at the Gummidipoondi Sipcot campus,should be stopped at all cost.

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National rehabilitation policy forpeople who are either dislacedoraffected by the developmentproject.

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National rehabilitation policy forpeople who are either displaced oraffected by the development projects.

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Speedy implementationof the EnnoreIndustrial Complex Project.

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Will take speedy measures toconstruct the industrial complex andEnnore port.

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The Clean the Waterways project in Chennai is resulting in displacementof more than 1 lakh urban poor on the banks of the waterways in theimmediate phase. This must be halted as the proposal is to buildcommercial complexes below the MRTS rail project after evicting the poorwho have lived here for several decades. We demand that no family shouldbe evicted. Instead, all the families on the banks should be granted tenurialrights and financially supported for achieving adequate housing andimproving their living environment.

The Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and sewarage Board, who collectsand pumps sewerage into the canal from corporate houses, industries,commercial office complexes, residences, hospitals, hotels etc, must firstanswer how it is going to manage its sewerage, if the canal is to be cleaned.

We demand that all constructions of the North Chennai Thermal PowerStation & the Ennore Satellite Port. They are causing immense destructionto the water bodies and marine life between Ennore estuary and Pulicatand seriously affect the lives of all coastal communities.

All swampy areas, barakish water areas, mangrove forests andinternationally protected wetlands like Pulicat lake should be preservedunder the most stringent joint supervision of the Fisheries department andthe fishing community.

The proposed Petro-chemical Park & LNG Terminal etc., to come up onKattupalli (island) Panchayat must be abandoned. It will lead to uprootingthe villages, damaging the coastal ecology and to grave pollution anddestruction of marine life.

The acquisition of nearly 25,000 acres of agricultural land nearThiruperumpudur for handing over to foreign industrial ventures must bestopped.

The chemical industrial estate at Cuddalore is already a death zone becauseof the highly toxic effluents pumped out into the Uppanar river and the sea.Added to this, now the Tamilnadu Government is acquiring nearly 30,000acres of additional land for SIPCOT II Phase to establish more pollutingcompanies including tanneries. We condemn these efforts.

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We urge the DMK Government to reverse its decision to allow a privatepower plant Cuddalore Power Corporation and the Pennar Refinery both ofwhich will suck up the ground water, damage fresh water acquifiers anddisplace and livelihood of hundreds of farmers, agricultural labourers andfishing communities.

Many of these projects are without prior sanction or licence from panchayatbodies. And they violate several environmental laws and rules and exhibitlittle or no respect for the Tamilnadu Pollution Control Board.

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The Tamilnadu government’s policy that by 2020AD tourism would be oneof the major economic activities of Tamilnadu is highly objectionable anddeserves downright condemnation.

Coastal tourism spreading dangerously and affecting very livelihood offishing communities and natural resources and marine resources needsto be curbed.

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1.8. TOURISM

1.9. SELF-RELIANT INDUSTRIAL POLICY NEEDED; STRENGTHEN INFORMAL ECONOMY

We need an industrial policy that is employment oriented, that respectsILO labour standards, natural resources, the environment, traditionalknowledge and skill of the people and abolishes child labour. We need tostrengthen our indigenous industry.

Halt the implementation of the present package of economic policiesinfluenced by IMF-World Bank and characterised by an open door policy totransnational companies.

Entry of foreign capital should be decided on State’s priorities and technologyneeds and the industry’s environment track record. A strong regulatoryframework has to be put into place for these issues.

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Resist new Industrial policy andevolve a policy better suited to theconditions of India.

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Priority for generation of employmentin economic policy

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Resist new industrial policy.

Resist liberalisation policies includingamendments to the patent andcopyright Act and WTO agreements.

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Incentives to labour intensiveindustries and at the same time givingthrust to technologically developedindustries.

Will implement appropriate reliefprogrammes and schemes to curbthe excesses of economicliberalisation.

Make India a destination of FDI

Will promote kind of economicgrowth that generates employement.

Welcome to liberalisation policiesand economic reforms.

Encourage industrial technologysuitable to our industrial development

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Encouragement of small scale andmedium industries.

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No mentionReservation of products for exclusive production of Small Scale Industriesmust continue. The policy of reservation, exemption from excise duty andother fiscal benefits should be continued.


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Find new ways to integrate PSUs andprivate industry.

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All efforts to dismantle the public sector must be halted. The policy ofwithdrawal of budgetary support and reducing orders to public sectors unitsmust be reversed.

Political Parties must give an assurance that the Public Sector will not beprivatised including the employment of labour.

We express our anguish over the move to sell away the Salem Steel Plantto private corporations without giving workers their first right to themanagement of plant.

Similarly we condemn serious efforts to sell the mines and power plant ofthe Neyveli Lignite Corporation piece by piece to foreign industrial interests.

We urge political parties to take a stand on the corruption and Privatisationin the banking and Insurance sector. There must be a halt to permittingany more private banks and the insurance sector should be protectedagainst multinational insurance giants.

The need of the hour is promotion of social banking and not merely mobilisingpoor peoples’ savings through self help programmes and using thesesavings for financing the rich.

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In certain inevitable circumstances,PSUs may be handed over to privateindustries.

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1.10. STOP DISMANTLING PUBLIC SECTOR

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Our fiscal policy of raising budgetary revenues mainly through indirect taxes,which badly affect the poor needs drastic changes. Taxes on property,wealth, income, excise and professions etc should be drastically increasedand enforced.

Tax holidays and tax concessions given to multinationals and joint venturesin core sectors, export-oriented industries, hotel industry, shrimp industriesand deep-sea fishing vessels should be withdrawn.

Similarly income and wealth of rich farmers, plantations, agro-businessand finance companies engaging in commercial tree planting should beheavily taxed.

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1.11. FISCAL POLICY AND MONETARY CONTROL

1.12. ALTERNATIVE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

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Our science and technology policy should be directed towards developmentof modernised and appropriate technology, protection and support forresearch in organic agricultural practices and technologies.

All Science and Technology, Research and Development must beimplemented with respect for the sustainable livelihood of people, land,environment, water and other natural resources.

Science and Technology should augment rather than displace human skillsand should include the integration of traditional knowledge, utilization ofrenewable energy resources and methods which are environmentallyappropriate and non-destructive.

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More funds for research anddevelopment.

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More funds for research anddevelopment.

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Take efforts to transfer education fromconcurrent list to the state list. Makeappropriate reforms in theeducational system for inculcatingsocial justice in the youngergeneration.

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There should be no amendment of the Indian Patent Act of 1970 which willerode India’s sovereign right to develop domestic Research andDevelopment.

Political parties must express their commitment to bring forward acomprehensive legislation guaranteeing free compulsory qualityeducation for all children upto std X and detail a mechanism to ensurethat the state governments adhere to this for ensuring all children theright to education in any school free of cost.

The attempts at privatising the existing educational institutions for higherstudies should be stopped.

Strict monitoring should be there to check whether the existingself-financing colleges adhere to the guidelines set forth by the UniversityGrant Commission and of the rules and regulations of the Universitiesin question.

The high court verdict regarding capitation fee should be given duerespect in Tamilnadu and its guidelines enforced.

Education for all and literacy for allwithin specific period goal.Compulsory education for ten yearsfor every child.

Compulsory education for ten yearsfor every child.

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Education will be directly linked withproduction.

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100 101

1.13. EDUCATIONAL FOR ALL

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PMK ADMK TMC PT


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The Yashpal Committee Report’s recommendations to improve thequality of education should be implemented. The teacher student ratioshould be 1:30.

In all schools playground, toilet facilities, drinking water, library and suchother facilities should be made available.

Sufficient quality hostel facilities should be made available to the poorerstudents.

In all schools primary level education should be imparted through Tamilmedium only. In all schools only one common curriculum should beadhered.

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102 103

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1.14. Strengthening Public Health

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The government should take steps without delay to realise its goal of “Healthfor all by 2000 A.D.”

In government’s fund allocations, just 1.5% is set aside for the Health care.As per the World Health Organisation’s guiding principle this should beraised to 5%. We demand that at least 8% GDP should be spent on PublicHealth Care.

Corporatisation and Privatisation of medical care should be stopped.Legislation should be enacted for issuing license and regulating privatehospitals and nursing homes.

A Central/State legislation to provide for banning of private practice amongdoctors in Government service with adequate compensation to the doctors,compulsory licensing of all hospitals, nursing homes and medical diagnosticcentres so as to live up to the standards set by the Bureau of IndianStandards for such services.

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More funds for primary health centres

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Free medical facilities for toilingmasses.

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PMK ADMK TMC PT


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All attempts to close existing health care institutions should be stopped.The basic infrastructure facilities to these hospitals should be made availablealong with sufficient supply of medicines.

Government hospitals should stock and use only those medicines that havethe basic 160 generic formation as recommended by the World HealthOrganisation. Also permission should not be granted to pharmaceuticalcompanies to use medicines which have ingredients other than theprescribed 160 generic formulations. Pharmacies also should be keep instock and sell only such medicines as prescribed by the World HealthOrganisation.

To avoid crudest violation of human rights, the Human OrgansTransplantation Act should be strictly implemented.

There is a need to bring into effect a National Charter on Patients’ Rights,particularly the right to information and a National Drug Policy regardingpurchase of drugs as per the WHO regulations.

The national tuberculosis programme should also be strengthened in viewof universal upsurge of this disease.

In the family planning programme the emphasis should be on vasectomy.

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104 105

1.15 Housing as a Basic Right

To right to housing to be placed in theConstitution as a fundamental right.

No mentionNo mentionHousing should be made a Fundamental Right of people to live in a place insecurity and dignity.




PMK ADMK TMC PT


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There should be detailed re-settlement policy based on Supreme Courtjudgements regarding right for adequate housind, fair re-settlement.

Traditional, modern, low cost building materials must be provided by PDSwith subsidy.

Low cost, good quality house construction materials should be supplied atsubsidised prices, through a public distribution system managed by DwellersCo-operatives. The policy of the government to resolve the housing crisisthrough mere substandard house construction programmes should bereviewed.

Dwellers Unions of the inadequately housed should be formed andregistered at the village Panchayat and municipal ward levels. The DwellersUnions together with local government bodies should be empowered tohold in trusteeship and to regulate and manage the entitlement providedunder this act.

The Govt. of Tamilnadu should immediately enact a comprehensive HousingRights legislation to guarantee and provide adequate housing for all.

A fresh survey of all hutment areas in urban Tamilnadu needs to beconducted and all hutment areas needs to be regularised.

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Free Houses for working class

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Party will raise in the Lok Sabha theissue of the need for transparency inadministrative decisions of centreand state Governments.

Will make Tamil one of the officiallanguages of India

Urge the centre to give a share inforeign exchange accured out of stateexports.

Removal of Article 356

New constitutional law to establish agenuine federal system.

Will make Tamil one of the officiallanguages of India.

No mention

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Will make Tamil one of the officiallanguages of India.

No mention

Pledges to remove Article 356 of theIndian Constitution

Genuine Federalism at the Centre and genuine autonomy to Tamilnaduand all States – political, legislative, economic, fiscal and administrative –alone can broaden and deepen the bonds of unity and integrity among thepeople of various regions in India. The Indian constitution has to be amendedaccordingly.

Greater powers and financial resources to Tamilnadu should be devolvedas recommended by the Sarkaria Commission.

The arbitrary use of Art. 356 of the Constitution should be stopped. If this isnot possible, Article 356 should be repealed.

Set up a Federal Republic at thecentre, with full autonomy for thevarious states constituting the IndianUnion.

Making all 19 national languages,including Tamil, official languages ofIndia.

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Greater share for the states of therevenue derived from taxes imposedby the centre

Amendment in the cnostitution toensure more powers to the States.Effort to make Tamil as a Classicallanguage.

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Proper safeguards for not misusingArticle 356 in the Constitution.

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2. POLITCAL TASKS FOR DEMOCRATIC POLITY

2.1. State Autonomy is Constitutional and Essential

2.2. Decentralised Democracy should become a Reality

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Review of 3 tier local administrativestructures and implement appropriatelegal reforms.

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Real decentralisation needs to be carried out by conferring more powerand financial resources to elected bodies at all levels of Panchayat. As perthe objective of the Constitutional 73rd and 74th Amendment, serious effortsshould be made to enable people at the grassroots have the right togovernance.

The 1994 Tamilnadu Panchayat Raj Act should be redrafted to wholesomelyachieves the objectives of panchayat raj.

40 to 50 % of state budgetary resources at least must be vested with local- government.

State governments must devolve several of its powers accompanied byrequired financial resources to local government bodies – urban and rural

All matters of education and health care including the related institutionsand personal should be brought within the control of panchayat bodies.

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A part of the amount derived from theshare out of tax revenue, will be paidto local administrative structures.

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Planning must begin from the Gram Sabha and their voice should be final.

Decisions regarding land sale and transfer, land alienation, setting of largeprojects – power, irrigation, defense etc, location of industry, hotels, agro-business, marine processing etc must first of all be discussed in concernedgrama sabha and their decision should be prior and final.

The Gram Sabha’s right to information must have statutory sanction in theTamilnadu Panchayat Act.

The control of rural development agencies with the district administrationover the Panchayati institutions found in chapter 10 of the TamilnaduPanchayat Act is violate of the spirit of the 73rd Constitutional Amendmentand thus must be immediately amended.

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2.3. Clean and Sensitive Public Administration

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The present Public Administration system with its in-built colonial institutionsand procedures needs a radical overhaul.

A new orientation to the role of the civil servant needs to be provided. Honestcivil servants at all levels should be protected from harassment and highhandedness. Every senior administrator must make public his or her grosswealth annually.

Simple institutional mechanisms should be set in place for ordinary citizensto file complaints or initiate legal proceedings against corrupt or insensitiveadministrators.

A comprehensive legislation should be immediately enacted as aConstitutional Amendment under Article 19, guaranteeing the right toinformation to individuals and organisations from government bodies, Indianand foreign companies, government aided institutions, public and privatehospitals etc.

Government should mandatarily place all public information with the localbodies offices (rural & urban) to enable people to access it.

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Establishment of an Ombudsman’soffice with autonomy to try offences andomissions committed by publicservants, including the Prime Minister.

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Will strongly support Lok Pal Bill to beenacted as an Act in Lok Sabha.

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Remove the anomalies andmalpractices in the electoral system.

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The centre has tobear the expenditureof the candidates.

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Equal representation for all states inRajya Sabha.

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Push for creation of a law for right torecall election representatives such asMLAs and MPs.

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Party will urge the centre not to reducethe number of constituencies ofTamilnadu based on population size,due to tamilnadu having achieved thetarget in family planning andpopulation control.

Electoral Reforms are urgently needed.

Political parties and their candidates should strictly follow the revised codeof conduct by the Election Commission of India.

Political parties should not field candidates with records of criminal andeconomic offence or with known communal and caste bias and those whohave committed offence against women and weaker sections of society.

The Election Commission should strictly monitor the election process withindependent citizens committee in each constituency. The materialcollected should be scientifically documented.

Political parties should not be exempt from following the Income Tax Act.All Political parties must submit a detailed account of income and expenditureto a public auditor, preferably a representative of the Controller and AuditorGeneral of India and a certificate obtained. Such certificates should besubmitted to the Election Commission and only then should a political partybe allowed to contest.

The right to recall elected canditates must be given statutory sanction.

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Polling booths at the locality where SC/ST people reside.

2.4 Electoral Reforms for Fair and Free Elections

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The Constitutional values of secularism should be upheld and widelypropagated.

All State institutions and public sector institutions including banks, insurancefirms, etc should stop promoting the dominant religion through display ofportraits, organising poojas, religious meetings etc.

Apex Research Institutions have been converted into places to promoteobscurantist and communal ideas for political parties especially the IndianCouncil of Historical Research, Indian Council of Archaeological Research;NCERT, IIT’s and several Apex Universities. Political parties must makean open declaration accepting not to politicise and communalise ApexEducational and Research bodies funded by State Resources.

No Political party should be permitted to use religious sentiments forcanvassing votes.

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Will resist linking politics with religion.

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Will co-operate to install a pro-people,pro-minorities, pro-oppressedcastes, progressive Govt. at thecentre.

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2.5 Promote Secularism and Defeat Communalism

2.6. Protect and Promote Human Rights

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The Report of the Justice Ahmadi Committee for strengthening the NationalHuman Rights Commission should be immediately accepted byGovernment and tabled for public debate before amendments to theProtection of Human Rights Act is enacted.

The provision to institute a state level Human Rights commission shouldbe implemented. Its functioning should be democratic, transparent andaccountable to the people. Its investigation team must be headed andoperated independent of the police. The Commission should have thepowers of summoning and even prosecuting in cases of gross violation ofhuman rights.

We seek that the National Commission for Women and State Commissionsand the National Minorities Commission and State Commissions be givenstatutory status on the lines of the National Human Rights Commission.

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Human Rights Education andTraining will be given to police.

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Human Rights Education andTraining will be given to police.

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Monitoring team will be created toprevent human rights and consumerrights violations, and enlarge the basesto ensure the protection of human rights.

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The Human Rights Courts but should be independent and imbibed withhuman rights values and jurisprudence, in line with international humanrights standards.

The human rights model curriculum drafted by NCERT and NHRC shouldbecome a compulsory course curriculum in schools and colleges.

All persons detained under TADA should be immediately releasedunconditionally. All other repressive detention laws like the Goondas Actshould be repealed.

There is urgent need for redrafting prison legislation to bring in appropriatechanges in the outmoded Indian Prisons Act 1894 and State Jail Manuals.The NHRC has recently prepared a Draft Prison Bill which the commissionshould circulate widely and organise state level discussions.

The courts system must be restructured so as to make justice accessibleto the common people. Ways must be developed for all judicial officers tobe sensitized about human rights jurisprudence and international standards.

The Supreme Court should reject the 1982 petition challenging PIL andshould instead expand and deepen the operational strategies opened upby this radical jurisprudence.

Political parties must take their stand clear about their support for dalitpolitics and specifically against human rights violence against dalits. Toprevent discrimination, abuse and atrocities against Dalits and to punishthose who perpetrate crimes against Dalits, the SC & ST Prevention ofAtrocities Act 1989 and Rules should be strictly implemented.

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Ensure the independent functioing ofjudiciary.

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3. SOCIAL TASKS AND THE RIGHT TO LIVELIHOOD

Will urge for the amendment of theconstitution to make right toemployment as fundamental right.No mention

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Ensure provision of 22 varieties forhandloom weavers. ImplementHandloom Weavers Protection Act

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Take appropriate legal measures toprotect unorganised workers.

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The right to social security should be made a fundamental right.A comprehensive and integrated social security law should be enforced.

In accordance with the norms set forth by the Standing Labour Committee,the minimum wages under the Minimum wages Act should provide a decentstandard of living for the workers and his/her family to be able to live insecurity and dignity. Central and State Governments must suitably revisethe notified wages in different industries and occupations and what is fixedshould be strictly implemented.

It is urgently needed to enact and implement the Model Co-operativeSocieties Act to enable co-operatives to grow as self-reliant grass rootdemocratic organisations owned, managed and controlled by membersfor their economic and social betterment operating their business onco-operative principles.

The pension scheme must be implemented immediately.

There is need for carrying out a fresh working class Income and ExpenditureSurvey for constructing and compiling a new series of Consumer PriceIndex numbers for industrial workers.

The 22 varieties allotted for the handloom sector must be protected and allefforts should be made to implement this notification.

Strict norms for safe working as well as for removal of hazards in everyindustrial activity needs to be implemented.

The Second National Labour Commission should be constituted in such amanner that all sectors of unorganised labour including agricultural labour,fish workers, domestic workers, home based workers, self employed. Etc.are adequately included.

ESI coverage should be extended to all the workers including the seasonaland unorgnised workers. Hospitalisation facilities should be extended tothe family members also.

A comprehensive Domestic Workers Act, which guarantees among otherneeds minimum wages, the setting-up of creches and provides for remediesagainst sexual assault should be enacted.

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A National Handloom Policy to bringrelief to handloom weavers.

A Special national scheme for womenweavers to equip themselvesprofessionally.

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New schemes for workers who losetheir jobs due to lockouts or closures.

Will struggle for the equal wages formen and women workers andminimum wages.

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Subsidies for the Handloom weaversthroughout the year.

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New schemes for workers who losetheir jobs due to lockouts or closures.

Will struggle for the equal wages formen and women workers andminimum wages.

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Subsidies for the Handloom weaversthroughout the year.

No mention

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3.1. Workers :

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Take appropriate legal measures toprote t unorganised workers.

No mention

Give 1/3 representation for labourersin the management of PSUs.Ensure the secret ballot system forrecognised trade unions.

Take appropriate legal measures toprotect unorganised workers.

No mention

Take steps to protect Indian workersworking in foreign countries.

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A comprehensive Agricultural Workers Act, that regulatesemployer-employee relations, provides for remedies in case of dispute andprovides social security, living wages and work guarantee should beenacted.

A comprehensive legislation and welfare schemes for construction workersshould be urgently enacted. The enactment should provide for job security,pension, safety, wages and other social security measures along with bonus.

Anganwadi workers should be treated as regular employees and paid fullwages and other service benefits at par with government employees.

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Will remove discrepancies andcontradictions in the Act for theprotection of Construction workers

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3.2. Women

Ensure 33% reservation for womenin Lok Sabha and in LegislativeAssemblies.

Increases across the board in thenumber of women in governmentservices. Launch a drive for increasedwomen’s representation in primaryschools as teachers, in the policeforce and in the judiciary at all levels.

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Implement the 33% reservation forwomen belongings to OBC, SC/STin Parliament and in LegislativeAssemblies.

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Legislation for reservation of 33% ofseats in Parliament and stateassemblies for women.

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Institute plans to provide freeeducation for girls upto college levelincluding professional courses. Setup a development bank for womenentrpreneurs in small scale sector.

In all decision-making institutions, from village panchayat to LegislativeAssembly and Parliament, 33% to 50% reservation should be made forwomen.

Further among women 50% reservation should be made for women fromamong dalits, adivasis, most backward classes & minorities.

In all political parties 33% to 50% reservations should be for women.

Joint patta is to be issued in the name of husband and wife for house sitesand land. House sites with patta should be given to single women, womenabandoned by their husbands, Dalit women, Adivasi women, Devadasisand to women who lost their homes in communal clashes.

Women should be guaranteed vocational / technical training, credit facili-ties and employment. All efforts should be taken for women to get equalrights.

Will ensure that 33% reservations forwomen becomes the law of the land.

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33% reservations for woman.

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No mention

Penalty provisions in the laws againstsexual violence and dowry atrocitieswill be made more stringent.Disqualification of officials, MPs,MLAs and councilors who have beenconvicted of offences against womenand maximum punishment for theoffenders.Establish courts that will render justicewithin 90 days, against those whohave committed sexual offencesagainst women.

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All hazardous contraception and drugs detrimental to women’s healthshould be banned.

Strong legal measures should be undertaken to prevent violence againstwomen.

Penalising women under IPC for Infanticide should be stopped as it amountsto victimising the victim. The Prenatal Diagnostic Techniques Act whichbans sex-selection tests should be strictly enforced. All scan centres shouldbe made to register and a more independent monitoring mechanism evolvedwith powers to search, seize documents in scan centres and summonmedical professionals accused of violating the law.

The Supreme Court judgements prohibiting and punishing sexualharassment in the work place must be published and strictly enforced.

To prevent indecent, obscene portrayal of women in Films, T.V. serials,Press coverage, etc. the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition)Act 1986 should be strengthened.

All government policies and programmes should include the provisions ofCEDAW.

Stringent efforts to check increasing alcoholism must be initiated.

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Will struggle to put an end to theviolence against women, whether itis sexual violence or psychologicalviolence, discrimination, strict lawsagainst eve teasing will beimplemented.

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3.3. Children - Child Labour

124 125

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It is important for political parties to detail the party’s commitment toimplement the Convention on the Rights of the Child, since India hasacceded to this Conversion.

The practice of child labour should be eradicated.

All Child Labjour below 14 years of age should be prohibited in all forms of

employment.

As mentioned in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the child

the work of children between 15 to 18 years old should be regulated.

The 1986 Child Labour Act should be accordingly amended, specifically

the proviso that exempts household based labour for employ children.

It is important to compile status Report of children in Tamilnadu by an

independent Committee of experts.

the Tamilnadu government’s 15 point programme and State Plan of Action

are mostly not implemented.

The Kerala and the Tamilnadu governments should take immediate

measures the agricultural production which will lead to the eradication of

child labour in this region.

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Eradication of child labour.

The existing child labourers will berehabilitated and they will be giveneducational and vocational training.

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Eradication of child labour.

The existing child labourers will berehabilitated and they will be giveneducational and vocational training.

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PMK ADMK TMC PT


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Necessary amendments in the IndianConstitution to protect the 69%reservation.

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Make the appropriate amendmentsin Indian Constitution for theprotection of 69% reservation.

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In deciding the reservation, party willurge the centre to remove the creamylayer concept which is based oneconomic criteria.

Urge the centre to implementreservations in central Govt. andeducational institutions.

Will make effort to implement 69%reservation in all professionalcolleges including medical colleges.

The Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955 and the SC & ST Prevention ofAtrocities Act, 1989 should be strictly implemented and the offenders shouldbe penalised. The victims of these violence should be compensatedadequately under the SC & ST Prevention of Atrocities Act, 1989 and thespecial courts should be established immediately.

Govt. should take efforts to undertake a study to identify panchami lands inTN and to hand over the lands to the dalits. Government must provide allfacilities including finance to cultivate these lands.

Traditional “Nadu”, a system of governance and control, which existed inmedieval times as means to oppress dalits, exists in some districts. Thisshould be immediately banned.

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Make necessary amendments to theIndian Constitution for speciallegislation for 69% reservation in allother states.

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Will ensure that all the reservationsbased on the recommendations ofMandal Commission given to OBCin Central Govt., Departments andalso in educational institutions.

Will make all efforts to continue thepresent reservation system for SC/ST

Priority will be given to OBC/SC/STin the government leases.

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For SC/ST & OBC party will ensurereservation for jobs in all the sectorsincluding private industriesdominated by foreign capital.

Like election commission, acommission will be set up to ensurethe implementation of reservation forSC/ST and OBCs.

3.4. Dalits

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No mention

End deep sea fishing by foreigncompanies.

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The fishing community should be categorised as scheduled tribes andaccorded statutory status at the earliest as per the Mandal CommissionReport.

A new deep-sea fishing policy, which centres around encouraging anddeveloping the fisher people to enhance their deep-sea fishing operationsat a sustainable level with appropriate technologies, should be advocatedand implemented.

We appeal to all political parties to take a stand, rejecting any dilution of the1991 CRZ regulation including recent recommendations to the NationalCoastal Zone Management Authority as this amounts to a gross violation ofthe traditional rights of the Coastal People and their ecology.

Common coastal lands along the coast and upto the habitation of the fishingvillage must be vested solely with the fishing village and their panchayats.

There is the need for an Inland Fisheries (organic) Promotion andDevelopment programme which restores the traditional practice ofemploying fishermen for reservoir fishing under the control of the StateFisheries Department.

Free house sites should be given with joint ownership rights for all fishingfamilies based on actual usage keeping in mind their special needs.A detailed plan for provision of drinking water, community centres, electricity,roads, sanitation, street lights, afforestation of coastal forests, preventionof erosion, etc should be implemented in all fishing villages.

A Fisheries Bank to cater to the specific credit needs of the artisanalfishermen and marketing needs of fishing women should be established.Fishing co-operatives need to be rejuvenated based on an amended statusand function as multipurpose co-operatives including facilities for storageand marketing the catch of the fishing community.

Though women constitute 50% of the adult fishing population their interestsand needs do not figure in any significant manner in policies, programmesand budgets. We urge political parties to recognise the contribution ofwomen to fisheries development through their extensive marketing andinvolvement in processing of fish products.

The coastal management plan for Tamilnadu has to be thoroughly redraftedafter reconstituting a fresh committee of independent experts, repsentativesof organisations of the fishing community and representatives of NGOs.

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Institute plans for fishermen’s debtrecovery and implement manyschemes for their upliftment.

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3.5. Fishing Community :

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Create transport facilities for coastalcities in Tamilnadu.

Costruct export facilities in fishingareas.

Speedy implementation of SethuSamudram Project.

Allocation of funds for projectspreventing sea erosion in coastalvillages and will implement suitableprogrammes to prevent sea erosionalong Chennai - Thiruvotriyur Road.

Will include Sethu Samudram Projectin the Five Year Plan

Will include Sethu Samudram Projectin the Five Year Plan.

3.6. Disabled

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The concerns of the disabled should also be included on the socialdevelopment and human rights agenda.

The People with disabilities (equal opportunities, protection of rights andfull participation) Act 1995 must be made a reality.

Right to work is a very important right for the disabled. Job and specialfacilities at the work place has to be provided for people with disabilities.The 3% government reservation for only some categories is highly inad-equate.

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Homes for the aged and orphanagechildren.

3.7. Minorities

Will safeguards rights of Minorities.

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Constitutional provision for the protection and promotion of the rights of theminorities should be strictly implemented.

The Constitutional rights given to minority institutions should be protectedand guaranteed.

The Minorities Commission should be made an independent statutory bodywith representatives of various experts among the minorities.

Will ensure for the minorities their“right to live in all its true dimensions.

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Will ensure that all the benefit arereached to minorities.

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The feasibility of providing reservationfor Muslims will be considered afterthe Supreme Court judgement thisregard.

Organisations, films, Newspapers and other mass media that portrayminorities, especially Muslims, as anti-social and anti-national should beprosecuted.

Government of India should immediately amend the Constitution to providereservation for all Christian dalits.

The arbitrary use of detention laws against Muslims in Tamilnadu is stronglycondemned.

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3.8. Urban Hutment Dwellers

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Strictly enforce ULCRA and the necessary amendments to delete exemptionclauses and loopholes. All the surplus land acquired under ULCRA mustbe used only for hutment dwellers.

The development of hutment dwellers should be left with the elected bodiesand not with Slum Clearance Board.

Women hutment dwellers should be granted interest free loans forself-employment and joint pattas for the house sites.

Keeping in mind the interest of hutment dwellers the master plan of Townand Country Planning Act and Development Control Rules should widelybe debated.

The Tamilnadu Slum Clearance Act needs to be amended so that theTamilnadu Slum Clearance Board is made to protect the interests of slumdwellers and not indiscriminately evict hutment dwellers.

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All land transfer from ST to non-ST should be immediately banned.

Displacement of adivasis from forests using various reasons should benecessarily and immediately stopped.

All Adivasi hamlets in Tamilnadu with 50% or more Adivasis should bedeclared as 5th Schedule Areas of Article 244. These scheduled areasshould be suitably reorganised into appropriate administrative units ofself-governance.

The T.N Panchayat Raj Act should not be applied in these scheduled areas.Instead the recommendations of the Bhuria Committee Report should beimplemented.

Legislation should be enacted in Tamilnadu to restore alienated Adivasilands since 1960 (as in the state of Kerala) to the Adivasis. These landsshould be under the control of adivasis only.

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3.9. Adivasis :

3.10. Repatriates and Refugeees :

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Will work for protecting the interestsof Srilankan Tamil refugees.

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Will work for protecting the interestsof Sri Lankan Tamil refugees.

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The educational and employment reservation facilities extended torepatriates from Srilanka and their children have been completely stopped.The concessions given in education and in employment must extend atleast for a period of 10 years.

The human rights of Srilankan refugees should be respected and they shouldbe treated on par with the other refugees from other regions likeBangladesh, Burma, Bhutan, Vietnam etc according to acceptedInternational human rights standards. All facilities like adequate food, shelter,and health care must be provided. Treating refugees as anti-social elementsor militants violates their rights and must be stopped

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Manifesto Final - difuza

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