Consultation meet adopts 29 recommendations for poll manifesto
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, March 06 2014 : Aimed at incorporating the masses' aspirations and interests in the manifestos of political organisations and individuals that would be contesting the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, a one-day 'people's manifesto consultation programme' was held today at Manipur Press Club.

The consultation programme culminated with the adoption of 29 recommendations.

The programme is a joint initiative of Human Rights Alert, All Manipur Nupi manbi Association, Child Welfare Ashram (Jiribam), Community Network for Empowerment, Just Peace Foundation Manipur, Manipur Alliance for Child Rights, North East Dialogue Forum, People's Campaign for Resurgent Manipur, People's Dialogue Initiative, Protection of Agricultural Land and natural Resources, Sharmila Kanba Lup, sustainable Livelihood Forum Manipur and United Voluntary Youth Council.

HRA Director Babloo gives a talk

The recommendations include repealing of the draconian Armed Forces Special Powers Act; constitute statutory 'peace building commission' for initiating humane, inclusive, transparent and sustainable peace processes; protect inter-State and international boundaries of the Manipur; provide appropriate legal and administrative safeguards to protect the rights of the indigenous population in the light of India's Look East Policy; expanding policy discourse on Minority in India to include the concept of the National, Racial and Ethnic Minorities and to provide them protection under the frame work of the International Convention on Elimination of Racial Discrimination ratified by the Government of India in 1968; establish Manipur Child and Woman Welfare Fund to promptly provide interim relief to the victims of violence; enact central legislation to ensure that universal access is made a legally enforceable right for all PLHIV; declaring Hepatitis-C epidemic as public health emergency and necessary befitting remedial measures taken up on a war footing; frame State Drug Use Policy through an inclusive process and duly enacted; Every public office and institutions in Manipur be made barrier free access for people with disability; increase budgetary allocation of children in the Union Budget from 4.6 percent to at least 10 pc; centrally sponsored Flagship Programs be made aware through the active involvement of civil society to the public and beneficiaries and accountability structures be made legally enforceable rights; Tourism promotion be done only through a proper environmental and social impact assessment so as to ensure that the rights of the indigenous peoples is respected and tourism industry developed through greater community participation and ensure ecologically friendly, culturally correct, alternative model be explored, community defined, not by five-star corporate culture.

The other recommendations relate to Manipur Food and Nutrition Policy to ensure food sovereignty by adopting agricultural land and enough stock in local production and proper distribution; implement Food Security Act by enacting state rule at the earliest with special focus to marginalized sections of society i.e.BPL, PLHIV, disabled, conflict widows and orphans, LGBTI; ensure and encourage 33 percent women reservation in all decision making bodies including Village Authority and Autonomous District Councils; revival and effective functioning of Manipur State Human Rights Commission; effective and transparent implementation of all the flagship programmes/schemes and ensure involvement of Civil Society/NGOs for effective implementation; equal infrastructure development both in the hill and valley; conservation and protection of forest and wild life; creation of more employment opportunities for youth; 24 hours power supply throughout the state, with more investment on small hydro projects and solar power; proper implementation of RTE Act and eradicate the culture of proxy teachers in Govt.schools towards inclusive quality education; ensure Local Area Development fund of MLAs and MPs are transparent and accountable to the public through regular social audits and RTI Act; effective and accessible health services to all the villages of the state with adequate infrastructure, human resource, equipment and medicines; develop State Water Policy; develop Policy of Green Manipur; equal budget allocation and distribution of SC/ST sub-plan budget; and set up Family Court in all the district headquarters.