The People’s Manifesto Committee (PMC) has alleged that almost all the major political parties have not included various basic fundamental issues of the people, particularly of Dalits and unprivileged, and of the State as well in their recently-published election manifestos.
PMC convenor Sudarshan Chhotray in a Press release said that though more than 40 per cent area of the State has been declared as Scheduled area, mainstream parties have ignored the constitutional rights of Scheduled Tribe (ST) people ie implementation of Panchayat Extinction to Scheduled Area Act (PESA) 1996.
No parties have given importance to tourism promotion, strengthening of palli sabha and gram sabha, development of 482 km long Odisha coastline, protection of its natural resources, conservation of heritages, protection of wildlife and above all flora and fauna in their manifestos.
It is good that all political parties have prioritised agriculture, but no parties have given importance to promote agro based industries, streamline of irrigation, micro-irrigation facilities and rain water harvesting, the release stated.
The release stated that on health front, there is no mention of ‘Clinical Establishment Act’ to regulate private hospitals and to regulate private medical services in manifestos.