The Trinamool Congress will press for a slew of reforms — including electoral, judicial and administrative ones — if voted to power in the general elections, the party election manifesto released on Saturday by Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee undertakes.
But reforms apart, the party’s primary focus would rest on roti, kapda aur makan (food, clothes and shelter), informed the Trinamool chief insisting that her party wants a balanced economic development with equal stress on agriculture and industry.
“We are focussing mainly on roti, kapda aur makan. Our manifesto is for a dynamic India with people-friendly, industry-friendly and agriculture-friendly face.”Underscoring the need for overall reforms Banejee said a resurgent India had to be identical to a corruption-free India. For this “there is a supreme need for electoral, administrative, judicial reforms.”
While her electoral reforms essentially stand for State funding of elections agriculture friendliness means no-forced acquisition of land. The policy has been in practice in Bengal ever since she came to power and is often blamed by the Opposition as the main reason of flight of capital from the State.
The two-segmented manifesto — focusses on Bengal and the other deals with national scenario — Banerjee made a strong case for poll reforms wondering, “if other countries can have such system then why can’t weIJ” She added “if we come to power we will bring electoral reforms and set up a mechanism to make the election process transparent and funded by the State.”
Taking the opportunity the Chief Minister attacked the BJP and the Congress for their alleged lavish election expenditure. “From where the BJP and the Congress are getting so much of money to fund their electionsIJ” She asked.
The manifesto that tends to eye the aged voters as well by promisingfree medical service for them also lays stress on judicial reformswith particular focus on fast-track courts. Referring to the failureof her own state in delivering speedy justice she said “there arelakhs of cases pending and we have been able to set up only about 80fast-track courts due to lack of funds.”
Her Government is facing flak from the opposition for slow progress inrape cases compared to states like Maharashtra which has deliveredjustice in a recent case in 7-8 months’ time.
Talking on administrative and police reforms Banerjee said herGovernment believed that “fundamental values and traditions of Indiashould be honoured” while effecting such reforms. The manifesto alsohad distinct stand on India’s foreign and economic policies she said.
Speaking on economic development and involvement of the youth invarious schemes “we have to take the youth along with us and involvethem in development works.” With an apparent eye on the farmers Trinamool supremo also said ifvoted to power the Trinamool would also bring loan-waiver schemes andthose aimed at improvement of backward sections of the society. Themanifesto also focuses on the potable water problem such as arseniccontamination and child care.