Left parties submit proposals to Govt
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 13 2025: The State Left parties have made a series of proposals to the Centre to include them in the Finance Bill.

Apart from special humanitarian packages for internally displaced persons and funds for Highway Protection Force, the Left parties including CPI(M), CPI, RSP and AIFB have urged the Centre to give Special Category status to Manipur and bring IIT and AIIMS status institutions to the State.

In a statement issued today, the Left parties said humanitarian aid for IDPs in the form of PM's Special Packages must be given to the State.

Airfare for Manipur passengers should be made cheaper, and the Finance Bill must include funds for Highway Protection Force and improving connectivity, air, road and railways, they said.

Special Category status must be given to Manipur and, Disturbed areas allowances should be given to Central and State Government employees in the State.

Further, the Centre should establish IIT and AllMS status institutions in Manipur, they added.

Other proposals/demands of the Left parties include--

1) Introduction of a wealth tax of 4 percent on the 200 billionaires in the country; and an increase in corporate tax
2) Provide legal guarantee for Minimum Support Price for agricultural produce and withdrawal of the draft National Policy Framework on Agricultural Marketing
3) Halt privatization of Public Sector Units and handing over of public assets to the private sector through the National Monetisation Pipeline and, withdrawal of 100 percent FDI in Insurance sector
4) Increase MNREGA allocation by 50 percent; introduction of Urban Employment Guarantee Act; an increase in the Centre's provision for old-age pensions and other social security benefits
5) Increase outlays for health to 3 percent of GDP and education to 6 percent of GDP
6) Increase food subsidy to strengthen public distribution system
7) Increase allocation for SC, ST sector and for women and child development substantially, including increased outlay for ICDS, and a hike in the Central share of the honorarium for scheme workers
8) Increase funds for Centrally-sponsored schemes, and an end to cesses and surcharges on petroleum products which are not included in the divisible pool of taxes for sharing with States.

The Left parties will campaign for the inclusion of the demands/proposals in the Union Budget before it is finally adopted through the Finance Bill.

To mobilise the people in support of these proposals, the Left parties will conduct a week-long mass campaign from February 14 to 20, they said.

The State units of the Left parties will chalk out the plans to conduct mass campaigns and reach maximum number of people through door-to-door campaigns, street corner meetings, demonstrations and rallies, they added.

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