Communist Party
of India- Marxist on Saturday offered a third alternative to the people
of Himachal through its election manifesto for the coming assembly election, that was released by the senior party
leaders at Shimla. CPIM recommended the need for a peoples’
alternative against the anti-people and neo liberal policies being
pursued by both the BJP and Congress while announcing its political
agenda before the polls.
State Secretariat members Dr Onkar Shad, Dr
Kuldeep Tanwar and Tikender Panwar in a joint press conference announced
that for a first time after 1990 a joint front comprising of CPI-M, CPI
and Himachal Lokhit Party, is fighting on all 68 seats of the State
assembly. The party will contest 15 seats.
It is a result of our persistent struggle against the
mainstream parties who were chasing the pro-rich, pro-corporate neo
liberal agenda from past two decades, that we have come in a position to
challenge them today”, said the leaders.
Exposing the dismal financial condition
of the hill State, the party demanded a special status to the hill State
again which was lost during the 9th Finance Commission
recommendations. The tough social and geographical conditions in the
State should be reconsidered and it should be provided an extra grant of
Rs 1000 crore for protecting its forests and environment, every year.
The party also demanded 10 percent royalty on every per unit of
electricity it is producing in the State and an increase in the 12
percent distress cost it is getting so far. The State should also be
allowed to charge a levy on cement and other industries and the
industrial package snatched by the Congress led UPA-II government should
also be restored for the industrially backward hill State.
The CPI-M has promised a daily wage of
Rs 300 to the workers and 70 percent reservation to the people of
Himachal in all jobs generated in the state. With an emphasis on self
employment it has assured an unemployment allowance of Rs 1000 per month
to all the jobless people in the State, if voted to power. It has
insisted for more subsidies to the farmers in distress and an emphasis
and special incentives for the organic farming in the State. A 90
percent subsidy has been demanded for the anti hail nets to save the
produce of farmers.
The left leaders have suggested a strict
implementation of the recommendations of the regulatory authority that
has been made to check the functioning of private universities and other
educational institutions that have mushroomed up in a large number in
the State. The outsourcing in health services should be immediately
stopped and more medical staff should be sent to the remote and tribal
areas of the State. More food stuff should be given in the PDS to the
poor and marginal people of the State, said the CPI-M.
The infrastructural facilities should be
improved and roads that are life lines in hills should be given a top
priority. The party has promised fast track courts for deciding the
corruption cases, vigorously fighting the FDI in retail, more powers to
the urban and rural local bodies, forest and timber rights and
eradication of wild animal menace from the State. (Courtesy : Hill post)
