Shimla: The State Committee of Communist Party of India- Marxist on Saturday offered a third alternative to the people of Himachal through its manifesto that was released by the senior party leaders here. The left party 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. “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 left 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.
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