The students have now urged the political parties to include the following in their manifesto.
The manifesto demands the political parties to improve quality and infrastructure in schools, bring in accountability among teachers and also fill all the vacancies in state and aided institution. It seeks the parties to stop privatization of education and make education a public good fully funded by the state.
The slogan of one people, one language, one religion and one culture is against the constitutional norms of pluralism and diversity. Every effort should be made not to mix religion with politics. Political parties should assure that no groups shall be allowed to dictate terms on the food habits of other communities.
Abolition of 'Made Snana' and other social evils in the name of religion, performance of pujas in the public premises and donation of public money to religious centres must be stopped, said the manifesto of students adding that the issues of health have been neglected in the state. Many primary health care centers have been closed down. The manifesto urges the political parties to stop privatizing the health sector and make the health system more poor friendly. Steps to curb infant and maternal mortality rates, special packages for strengthening health services for the marginalized communities who suffer from malnutrition, lack of proteins and various diseases has been included in the manifesto.
The students manifesto demands the political parties to bring in quota system to encourage more and more youth to enter politics. Further the manifesto demands the parties to allow only those candidates to contest polls, who have no criminal records.
“Elected representatives should be made to spend 150 days in their constituency. All politicians should be asked to explain the annual growth of their assets to committee established for the purpose and corruption charges against them should be dealt with impartiality and with speed. Like in all other professions, Politicians should retire at the age of 60,”reads the manifesto.
Talking about the protection of rights of children, women, dalits and tribals, the manifesto demands strict laws against child abuse, violence against women, atrocities against the Dalits and tribals. “Fifty per cent reservation for women, severe Dowry laws, assisting institution for the physically disabled and challenged and providing reservation to them in both public and private sectors were some of the other points in the manifesto.
On Agriculture, the backbone of our country, the manifesto talks of revival of the same and in this regard first and foremost the conversion of agricultural land for commercial purposes should be stopped. Keeping FDI at bay is one of the other suggests made in the manifesto to revive agriculture.
The manifesto has spoken on guaranteeing freedom of expression to the media in terms of investigative journalism and reporting.
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