Bhubaneswar : A number of villagers living in some of backward areas of the state, after a series of painstaking exercise and with the involvement of voluntary organizations, have come forward with a ‘people’s manifesto’ to highlight the areas which need political attention.
The manifesto christened as ‘Aama Istahaar’ has been prepared by brainstorming of 1,050 villagers from 15 districts. This is said to be an outcome of a series of meetings among themselves. The Odisha Shramajeebee Manch (OSM), Mahila Shramajeebee Manch (MSMO) along with other 21 member organizations released the people’s manifesto at the Redcross Bhawan here Saturday.
According to the manifesto, wage revision and increase in number of working days are some of the demands mentioned. “200 days work in MGNREGA and wages payment within seven days, dal and oil at reasonable price under the Food Security Act, irrigation facilities to agricultural land, and implementation of Forest Rights Act are some of the demands that the people want to be part of the agenda for the political parties,” Arun Dihudi, member of the Odisha Sramjeebee Sangh said.
The manifesto also cited other demands like handing over power to Gram Sabha with reference to Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act 1996, safe drinking water through pipe connection for all, education for all, social security measures, equal status to women in all spheres, health for all and securing of human rights and rights of Tribals, Dalits And Minorities.
This manifesto has been given to eminent leaders of national and regional political parties such as Congress, BJP, BJD, CPI, CPIM, CPIML, Samajwadi Party, NCP, AAP, Samata Kranti Dal, Bahujana Samaj Party to include the issues in their political manifesto and the Sangathan leaders have also requested them to follow up the issues after the election.