MPP, NCP unveil election manifestos
Pledge re-imposition of ILP, removal of AFSPA
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, January 15, 2012:
Promising an alternative government which would usher in an era of peaceful co-existence among all the ethnic groups in the state, regional party Manipur People's Party (MPP) has come out with its election manifesto.
Party President Dr Nimaichand Luwang released the election manifesto during a function at the office of MPP here today.
The election manifesto, the 'duties and works for a resurgent Manipur' under three sections, namely political, economic and social, enumerates the various policies and programes that MPP promises to accomplish in the event of taking the rein of power after the ensuing elections to the 10th Manipur Legislative Assembly.
In the political realm, the election manifesto noted that Manipur has been the common home of various ethnic groups living in peace and harmony since time immemorial and pledged to protect the territorial integrity and common identity of this land.
It says that MPP will do its utmost to safeguard the identities and nourish the culture, traditions, and customary practices of all the ethnic groups of Manipur.
Observing that the armed struggle in Manipur has a political objective which cannot be suppressed by force, the manifesto stated that MPP will strive to bring it to a solution only by resorting to political means.
The manifesto also pledges to repeal the 'unpopular AFSPA' and create new full-fledged districts for administrative convenience and people's welfare.
Maintaining that corruption is one of the greatest evils that eats into the vitals of a society, MPP also promised to enact anti-corruption laws in Manipur to check corruption.
Other promises include introduction of Manipur Legislative Council where all the smaller ethnic groups may send.
their representatives, enacting new land laws for the convenience and well-being of the people in the hills, giving enhanced power to the Gram Panchayat and other local bodies, raising of a Manipur Regiment, deployment of a Highway Protection Force and prevention of economic blockades, development of National Highway 37 as an all weather-road, creation of a State Security Advisory Body, giving press and media their due freedom, introduction of Inner Line Permit and a law to debar settlement of new-comers to Manipur, framing of an environmental policy to stop indiscriminate felling of trees and encourage planting of more trees, etc.
Pledging 'to reconstruct the shattered economy of Manipur', the economic agenda detailed in the election manifesto of MPP include making all the lands in Manipur productive through use of scientific knowledge and equipments, enhancement of agricultural and horticultural products as well as agro-based industries, saving agricultural land for agricultural purposes, payment of compensation to the people affected by Loktak Project and taking over the same by the state government, taking advantage of the Look East Policy and transforming Moreh into a special economic zone along with developing border trade, to improve the economy of Manipur by boosting the handloom and handicrafts of Manipur to the International status, to give gainful employment to each and every family and to give employment or self-employment to the educated and skilled young men and women of Manipur.
The election manifesto of MPP also focuses on proper and gainful use of the abundantly grown medicinal plants of Manipur and also grow more for manufacture of useful drugs, setting up perfumery industries, tapping the potential of Loktak lake along with taking up revenue generating activities to the maximum and setting up to date fishing and fish-processing industries and tourism works and construction of efficient inter-village roads for convenient connectivity between villages.
Under its social commitments, MPP pledges to come up with an up-to-date education policy to produce well-behaved, good and meritorious students who could become the future of Manipuri society, to preserve the culture and customary laws of all ethnic groups with equal treatment and respect, to provide adequate sports infrastructures to further raise the level of sportspersons of Manipur to International standard, to form an Indigenous Game Development Body for promotion of games of Manipur-origin like Polo and Kang, efforts to develop the languages of all ethnic groups of Manipur and opening of a directorate to develop Meetei Mayek.
Furthermore, MPP assured that policies will be formulated for the welfare of minorities, take up steps to prevent spread of HIV/AIDS, pay special attention to checking drug abuse and use of intoxicants among youngsters, extension of adequate assistance towards development of Shumang Kumei, Manipuri cinema and performing arts, develop the arts and culture of all ethnic groups of Manipur, implementation of Youth Policy, welfare measures for employees and pensioners in the state, enactment of a Child Right Protection Law for the safety and welfare of young innocent children, to provide adequate power to every household by using the knowledge of new scientific technology and also to provide drinking water to all along with development of road and transport, special attention to be given to provide health centres to all the nooks and corners of Manipur and to protect all places and protection of all historical places and sites under the Historical Monument Act.
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