Draft Manipur People's Manifesto released
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, March 06 2014 :
Various civil society organizations of the State convened a consultation meeting at Manipur Press Club located at Majorkhul here today for drafting a 30-point People's Manifesto for the ensuing 16th Lok Sabha election of Manipur.
The points among others mentioned in the draft manifesto are repeal of Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), 1958; setting up of a statutory peace-building commission to initiate a humane, inclusive, transparent and sustainable peace process in the State; no compromise on inter-state and international boundaries of the State; providing appropriate legal and administrative safeguards to protect the rights of indigenous population within the framework of the United Nations' Declaration on Rights of Indigenous People; reviewing list of Scheduled Tribes to include the willing and deserving communities of the State; protection of minorities under the framework of International Convention on Elimination of Racial Discrimination ratified by Indian Government in 1968; establishment of woman and child welfare fund for the State to provide interim relief to the victims of violence; enactment of a central legislation to ensure universal access is made a legally enforceable right for all PLHIV; declaration of Hepatitis C as a public health emergency; formulation of State Drug Policy; development of tourism industry for greater community participation, formulation of proper agricultural land and policy; proper implementation of National Food Security Act and RTE Act; 33 percent women reservation in all decision making bodies; and establishment of family courts in all district headquarters.
Director of Human Rights Alert Babloo Loitongbam said that the 30-point manifesto would be presented in the consultation meeting of the northeastern states on March 15 at Guwahati and later in the national-level meeting at New Delhi on March 27 .