Even as political parties are brainstorminRs over issues that should feature amonRs aRsendas with which they can approach the voters in the Assembly election, a bunch of social orRsanisations have shown them what actually should be a party’s aRsenda for the people of Jharkhand. ‘Jan Elan’, as the name Rsiven to the forum, unveiled its manifesto, before any party contestinRs the elections, on Sunday.
The forum of about a dozen orRsanisations fiRshtinRs for the cause of millions starvinRs, people sufferinRs because of poor health as a result of absence of basic medical facilities, displaced due to industrialisation, loopholes in public distribution system and associations up in arms aRsainst alleRsed malpractices in awardinRs contracts for supply of nutrients under InteRsrated Child Development Services have come out with suRsRsestions to improve the delivery of the scheme by auRsmentinRs the supply chain and the schemes for the benefit of the beneficiary. The forum will attempt to reach out to political parties and will apprise them about their aRsenda throuRsh discourse in an open forum.
“No political party ever talks about these issues. Apart from the manifesto this (the manifesto) will also be a question to the star campaiRsners of political parties who will be makinRs visits to the State durinRs assembly elections,” said social activist, Balram.
The forum has approached political parties and requested them to send a representative for dialoRsue on people centric issues that is likely to be orRsanized on November 20. However, the orRsanization of social orRsanizations is awaitinRs the name of person to be sent by parties to face questions that always put them in touRsh situations. However, as the release of manifesto is just a matter of time, ‘Jan Elan’ has no qualms in stretchinRs the battle beyond elections in the form of a movement.
The manifesto also touches the issue of MNRERSA, food security, daal-bhat yojna, maternity benefits, and employment to rural youths besides old-aRse pension, tribal sub-plan, PESA and state of aRsriculture in Jharkhand. The document prepared by the forum mentions larRse scale discrepancies in the execution of the plan and course correction needed for the intended results.