Issues of Concerns in Election Manifestos
Assembly Election in Madhya Pradesh - 2008

Important points for us

It seems Political parties are becoming more strategic and negligent towards making any formal commitments like in manifestos. They don’t give much time to any one to read, analyze or comment on their priorities or issues. In 2008 Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections Bhartiya Janta Party released their manifesto on 16th November (11 days prior to the voting date), Congress Party released it on 19th November (8 days prior to the voting date), Samajwadi Party released it on 20th November, Bhartiya Janshakti Party came out with its document on 24th November (3 days prior to the voting dates). The other side of this delay may be that this time manifestos are being seen seriously.

• 3 political parties (other then BJP) have talked about making Madhya Pradesh Malnutrition free.
• They have also talked about making agriculture a profitable business and will provide Loans (?)
• Very little talk on accountability in the system, like NREGA and Health services. Issues of Social Audit are missing in promises.
• No talk on Disabled people in election manifestos. BJP promises support to tribal disabled students for Ph. D.
• There are no issues in party manifestos to address the detribalization of indigenous communities.
• BJP has no point on the proper implementation of Forest Rights in its agenda, but Congress has a lot to do.
• No political party is talking about Health as a right and no free health services in general.
• All 4 major political parties (with manifesto) have made promise on free and compulsory education up to the age of 14 Years. They are addressing the access related aspects, but quality of the education is missing.
• Only Congress included Primitive Tribal Groups in one (small) point, others have left them totally.
• Congress and BJP have not promised for Common School System. Only Samajwadi Party promised to work on it.
• All the political parties have promised availability of 35 kgs food grain to all the BPL families either at the price of 1 Re. or 2 Re.
• Only congress talked about mentally challenged children and Fast track courts to get justice for children in cases of violence and exploitation.
• No political party in Madhya Pradesh Assembly Elections has made any commitment for political up-liftment of Women, like in Panchayats or Urban bodies.
• Only one party (Samajwadi Party) promised the removal of Manual Scavenging.
• Removal of Section-40 of Panchayati Raj Act has come into the manifesto of Congress; other parties are silent on it. In fact it was there in BJP’s 2003 manifesto.
• There is a draft women policy in pipeline for last 5 years and it could not be finalized. Now again BJP and Congress are talking about new Women Policy.
• No party has talked about welfare / protection of rights / development of communities involved in Caste based prostitution (!!).
• No party has talked to control on organized de-forestation or control over anti-environment mining practices in Madhya Pradesh.
• CPI has not made any point on women development and women rights.

Child Rights

Congress Party

1. Effective measures will be taken for making Madhya Pradesh, a malnutrition free state.
2. Right to Nutrition will be a legal right of Children in Madhya Pradesh.
3. We will prepare a policy for the eradication of Malnutrition and a scheduled program will be undertaken.
4. Universalisation of ICDS will be done on priority.
5. Community based preparation, procurement and supply of RUCHIKAR Nutrition food) will be in place in ICDS.
6. Information regarding malnourished children will be provided trough a transparent system. 
7. All the Anganwadi Centers will have their own building with all essential facilities.
8. There will be no space for contractor ship or private manufacturers in supply of Supplementary Nutrition and the entire system will be communitised. The nutrition will be locally prepared and culturally acceptable.
9. Per child expenditure will be increased.
10. Areas with sever acute malnutrition will be identified and problems will be addressed with a special plan of action.
11. Facilities for the treatment of Severely Malnourished children will be available in all the Health centers.
12. Special programs of livelihood, Household food security and Health for the families of malnourished children will be implemented for the permanent eradication of Malnutrition.
13. A special social campaign will be launched to include each and every child, Pregnant and Lactating women and adolescent girls in Anganwadi centers.
14. The first and Second grade malnourished children will also be treated as seriously as Third and Fourth grade children, so that it can be addressed at initial level. 
15. A systematic mechanism will be put in place to provide Scholarships to all the students belong to BPL Families.
16. Special promotional steps will be taken for the girl’s education in Minority communities.
17. Time to time in crease in amount in scholarships for Scheduled caste / backward classes students.
18. A cash deposit scheme will be implemented by depositing Rs. 10,000/- at the birth of Girl child.
19. All the children under the age of 14 Years will be entitled to get FREE health services.
20. Madhya Pradesh will be one of the best states in terms of Education. New High Schools ad Higher Secondary schools will be opened to provide education services at minimum distance.
21. Special services for mentally ill children, like - Training centers, Health centers and relief centers, will be made available.
22. All the Necessary resources and promotional efforts will be provided for making Primary and Middle school education compulsory. 
23. It will be made sure that all the students receive their school books prior to start of school session.
24. It will be made sure that Fast Track Courts hear the cases of Exploitation of Children, along with the cases of Violence against children for timely redressal.
25. Effective efforts in the direction of Common School System and Neighboring School system will be made.
26. Inclusive education programs in mainstream schools will be implemented for mentally weak (slow learners) children.
27. Special Food grain provisions will be made for the poor families with mentally ill children.

Bhartiya Janta Party

1. Nutrition program and Scheme will be made more effective and operational and practical.
2. Strong steps will be taken for the elimination of child labor.
3. Effective measures to stop female feticide.
4. Yog and sports institutions will get promotion for the physical development of boys and girls.
5. Education and technical education will be promoted in jails for juvenile and for convicted children.
6. Special institutions for the promotion of creative literature for the children.
7. Hostels for girls from backward classes.
8. Formation of Education Commission for the development in Education.
9. High school in every 5 KM.
10. Free and compulsory education the children upto the age of 14 Years.
11. No school will be building less; in fact old building will also be renewed.
12. Regularization of fee structure in private education institutions.
13. Promotion to Scholarships.
14. Financial support to teachers travels more then 10 KM to reach School.
15. Vacant posts in education institutions will be filled.
16. All the students will get school uniform.
17. Military education to children in schools to fight terrorism.
18. Primary school also in the population less then 250.

Bhartiya Jan Shakti Party

1. BJSP will introduce a Deshbhakt Card, which will include all the information about the family. 
2. Children of BPL families will get an amount of Rs. 10,000 after completion of their primary education and full immunization, Rs, 20,000 after passing 8th Class and Rs 50,000 when they complete their intermediate level education.
3. The panchayati raj representatives will be made responsible and accountable for Basic Education, Health and Nutrition programs.
4. Establishment and Operalisation of more Anganwadi Centers.
5. Efforts for establishing coordination between Health and Women and Child development.
6. Special efforts to eradicate malnutrition.
7. Especial measures to stop feticide.
8. Rehabilitation, Education and Health program for Rag Pickers.
9. Difference of quality between public and private education will be eliminated.
10. Madhya Pradesh will be a Malnutrition free state in next 5 Years.
11. Right to Nutrition will be a legal right of a child.
12. All the informations regarding Malnutrition will be in public domain and transparent.
13. Only locally prepared and available and culturally acceptable Nutritious food will be provided in ICDS centers.
14. New Angawadi centers will be opened and all the vacant posts will be filled immediately.
15. Worst malnutrition hit areas will be identified and a specific program will be implemented for these propriety areas.

Samajwadi Party

1. Commercialization of Education will be restricted and education will be less expensive and accessible. 
2. Policy for Common School system will be implemented.
3. Special program will be implemented to include dropout children.
4. Girls and poor children will get free school and higher education.
5. Special program for malnourished children will be implemented.

Communist Party of India

1. Availability of Nutritious food will be ensured and Malnutrition deaths will be prevented.
2. Restriction to marketisation of Education.
3. Availability of Health services to treat malnourished children.
4. Elimination of Child and bonded labor.

Food Rights and Poverty

Congress Party

1. 35 KGs foodgrain from PDS shop to all the BPL families
2. All the BPL families will get Wheat at the price of Rs 2 per KG.
3. All the poorest of the poor (Antyodaya families) will get Wheat at the price of Rs. 1 per KG.
4. Ration Shops will be open for all working days of the month. There will be a regular vigilance and monitoring system will be in place.
5. All the BPL families will receive extra subsidy of Rs. 2 per Liter on Kerosene.
6. Indira Gandhi Garibi Hatao Aayog (Indira Gandhi Poverty Elimination Commission) will be established to the welfare of Poor.
7. Re-Investigation and Re-Checking on BPL list. Resurvey of BPL for the inclusion of excluded families.
8. PDS will be made effective in Tribal areas.
9. Special programs for the protection and promotin for the production of traditional nutri - cereals and food items like Kodo-Kutki.
10. In, in accessible areas, the functioning of Ration Shops will be given to SHGs, Forest committees on priority.

Bhartiya Janta Party

1. BPL families to get 25 KGs wheat at the price of Rs. 2 per KG.
2. All the BPL cardholders to get subsidized food gain.
3. All the BPL card holders will get Salt at the price of Rs. 0.25 per KG.
4. The BPL identification process will made simple.
5. Efforts to make PDS, more transparent and capable.
6. Midday meal scheme will be implemented in more systematic manner.

Bhartiya Jan Shakti Party

1. Re-Survey on BPL will be undertaken.
2. All the BPL Families will be entitled to get Wheat at the price of Rs. 1 per KG and Rice at the price of Rs. 2 per KG.
3. All the BPL families will receive Iodized salt free of cost.
4. PDS shops will be run by NGOs and vigilance mechanism will made more effective.

Samajwadi Party

1. The cost of one meal will not be more then Rs. 10.
2. At the panchayat level poor families will get grain free of cost.
3. Poorest families will get free food grain, Free Iodized salt and other essential food item at subsidized rate.
4. People’s participation in PDS will be increased.

Communist Party of India

1. Restructured and effective implementation of Public Distribution System.
2. Strong implementation of Essential Commodities Act against the black marketers.
3. Availability of nutritious food for children will be ensured in villages and slums to prevent Malnutrition deaths.

Livelihood, Employment, Agriculture and Forest Rights

Congress Party

1. All the Tribals and forest dwellers, who have been evicted for the forest land during the BJP tenure, will get the benefit of forest rights act.
2. All the legal Patta holders, whose lease has been cancelled, will be given their rights back.
3. Register of Community and Traditional resources will be prepared and it will be owned and managed by the Gramsabha.
4. All the gram sabhas will be provided with all the documents (Map, Khasra register, Nistar register etc) required under Forest Right Act.
5. Proper and comfortable resettlement of families living in Wile life sanctuaries, national park buffer zone and core zone. This work will be done by a district level committee headed by the Minister in charge for the district.
6. Cases filed by the BP government, while collecting NTFP, Agriculture or Encroachment, will be taken back from the Courts.
7. Efforts to eliminate discrepancy in information and data will be made by constituting a high level committee.
8. Election of Joint Forest Management Committees will be held according to law.
9. Comprehensive schemes for the extension of horticulture will be implemented.
10. Electricity up to 5 horsepower will be free for farmers.
11. Controversial electricity bills will be written off.
12. Interest free agriculture production loan for farmers.
13. Crop insurance scheme will be made more comprehensive.
14. Amount for natural calamity relief will be increased. 
15. Irrigation facilities will be increased in drought affected area / Tehsils.
16. Available waste, infertile and beehad lind will be distributed among the Landless.
17. Farmers using organics fertilizers and pesticides will be given extra support and benefit.
18. Small farmers will receive certified seeds at subsidized cost.
19. Facilities for farmers will be developed in Agriculture mandis.
20. Certified and quality seed free of cost for the beneficiaries of Forest Right Act.
21. Financial support to Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe BPL landless families to purchase agriculture land.

Bhartiya Janta Party

1. Agriculture loan at 3% interest rate.
2. Agriculture loan up to Rs 50,000 will be waived off.
3. Kisan Credit Card scheme to all the farmers.
4. Formation of Kisan Kalyan Kosh for the protection of farmers from Natural calamities and disaster.
5. Farmer’s land holding will be treated as an unit under Rashtriya Krishi Fasal Bima Yojana.
6. Processes for loan and subsidy for agriculture produce procurement will be made simpler.
7. Subsidy to farmers to purchase 10 horsepower generator.
8. Agriculture equipments, Seeds, Pesticides and instruments will be made available on subsidized rates.
9. Promotion for Carbon trading.
10. Formation of Horticulture board in every district.
11. Promotion to agriculture based food processing industries.
12. Compensation, in case of land acquisition, will be higher then the market rate
13. Change in Sugar cane policy and promotion to sugar industry.
14. 5 % Decrease in stamp duty for purchase of land by farmers.
15. Electricity will be provided to the beneficiaries of Kapildhara scheme.
16. Madhya Pradesh will be the first fully organics farming state.
17. Insurance scheme for un-organized sector workers.
18. An amount of Rs. 7000 subsidy will be given the Scheduled caste farmers for their land treatment.
19. The entire management of Forest villages in Tribal areas will be done by the Panchayats.

Bhartiya Jan Shakti Party

1. Interest free loan for small farmers.
2. Agriculture centers, Haat bazaar (village market place) will be developed.
3. Institutions like ITC Chaupal, Relaince, and other corporate institutions will be kept out of retail sector.
4. Removal of Section 135.
5. Farmers will get good quality and certified seeds.
6. Livestock insurance scheme will be initiated.
7. Special efforts to make wasteland productive.
8. Country (Deshi) and Traditional agriculture will be promoted.
9. Grain and Seed bank at each Panchayat level.
10. Special efforts to make sure that farmers are able to sell their agriculture produce. Roads to sell centers.
11. Farmers will be given preference while giving new power connections.
12. NREGA will be implemented with its spirit and local governance bodies will be made accountable and responsible in providing employment.
13. Local resources and traditional knowledge will used in providing employment.
14. Employment board will again be in place.
15. Information technology sector has enormous potential of employment, BJSP will utilize these opportunities.
16. Mukhyamantri Yuva Rojgar Yojana will be initiated.
17. Traditional sources of livelihood, like fisheries will be given preference.
18. A policy on water will be in place for proper use of water and its conservation.

Samajwadi Party

1. Irrigation facilities will be developed.
2. Policy of Chakbandi will be implemented for the welfare of farmers.
3. Agriculture will be developed as an industry sector and efforts to make it a profitable business.
4. Loan and existing electricity bill of all the small and marginal farmers will be written off.
5. Insurance schemes for agriculture laborers.
6. Farmers to get bonus in each production season.
7. Fertilizers, Seeds and agriculture instruments will be made available on subsidized rates.
8. Free electricity for agriculture to small and marginalized farmers.
9. Unemployment allowance worth Rs 2500 per month to every unemployed youth.

Communist Party of India

1. The Forest Rights Act will be implemented with effectiveness and proper spirit.
2. The entry of Multinational companies and corporate sector in the retail will be restricted.
3. Ban on appointments in government services will be lifted.
4. Enforcement of Land Reform Act.
5. Provision of low cost electricity, fertilizers, pesticides and diesel for farmers.
6. Increase in Minimum support price.
7. Compensation on actual loss during the natural calamites.
8. Interest free loans for agriculture to farmers.  
9. Employment Guarantee Scheme for Urban Areas as well.

Health Sectors

Congress Party

1. It has been targeted that all the BPL women and children under the age of 14 years will get free basic health services.
2. Medical collage seats will be increased.
3. Promotion to Unanai, Ayurvedic and Homeopathy.
4. Increase in Health services in inaccessible areas.
5. Treatment of more then 300 diseases through Rajiv Gandhi Aarogya Shree Bima Yojana in Government Health Institutions.
6. Blood bank and Pathology facilities at every Tehsil headquarter.
7. Policy to regulate service charges in private hospitals and nursing homes.
8. New medicine and instrument purchase policy with transparency.
9. Subsidy to private sector for the establishment of Hospital and Nursing Home.
10. Restructurisation of Public Health sector and institutions.
11. Free treatment and medicines to Girls in Government hospitals/Institutions.
12. Nutrition will be provided to all the adolescent girls.
13. Policy to improve the services of Jan Swasthya Rakshak and provision of remuneration will be made.
14. Efforts to make the role of ASHA more effective and also provide some financial assistance to them.
15. Scheme will be launched for Dai.

Bhartiya Janta Party

1. Establishment of 6 multi specialty hospitals on the lines of AIIMS.
2. Strong efforts to make immediate, accessible, Less Expensive and Modern health facilities available.
3. Promotion to Ayurvdic, Unani, Homeopathic and Natural health practices.
4. Trained Dais in each and every village.
5. Mortuary van in every district.
6. Mobile Health clinics in Haat bazaar (Local village market) in tribal areas.
7. Strong monitoring and Vigilance of purchase of medicine, equipments and other items. 

Bhartiya Jan Shakti Party

1. Launching of new scheme Abhinav Swasthya Mangalam Yojana.
2. Health Insurance of all the Ideal families.
3. Control over medical expenses/charges/fee in Private Sector.
4. Efforts to control Quakes in rural areas.
5. More concentration on Malnutrition, Diarrhea, Jaundice, Maleria, Infectious diseases, then AIDS and Cancer.
6. Effective implementation of existing schemes like JSY.
7. Emphasis of preventive medical facilities. 
8. Total ban on sells of Cigrates, Tobacco, Bidi, Paan and Liquor.
9. Promotion to Yog and Ayurvedic care.

Samajwadi Party

1. Safe delivery assistance scheme to increase institutional deliveries.
2. Free medicines and health facilities to poor families.
3. Transportation facilities for Destitute, Old aged and women patients.
4. Infrastructure development of existing health institutions and establishment of new hospitals.
5. Emergency medical allowance to those doctors, who work extra in their job.

Communist Party of India

1. Public Health services will be made more effective.
2. Poor and middle class families along with the pensioners will be provided with free public/government health services.
3. The profit making approach of private health institutions will be restricted.

Governance and Accountability

Congress Party

1. Vidhan Parishad will be formed in Madhya Pradesh, so that represented groups could get representation opportunities.
2. Every citizen will be given an accountable, transparent and responsible administration.
3. State administration will be accountable for each and every decision and incident in Madhya Pradesh.
4. Congress will make sure that their elected representatives are accountable towards the people and they will putt their annual performance in public domain every year.
5. Transparency in the system will be improved and Congress Chief Minster and Ministers will table information regarding their properties.
6. Congress government will revert the amendments made by BJP government for increasing time limit in giving information under Right to Information Act.
7. Section 40 of Madhya Pradesh Panchayti Raj and Gram Swaraj Act gives supremacy to Sub-Divisional Magistrates - SDM (they can remove elected Panchayat leaders/Sarpanch from their post), this section will be reviewed and new policy will be framed.

Bhartiya Janta Party

1. Total management of forest villages in Tribal areas will be done by the Panchayats.
2. Panchayat Raj system will be strengthened and Capable.

Bhartiya Jan Shakti Party

1. BJSP will constitute a study group to investigate the corruption and scandals from previous governments.
2. Situation of Law and Order will be improved and process will move fast to get justice for the people.
3. Efforts to create judicial systems at Panchayat level.
4. Local Governance bodies are equipped with recommendatory powers, they don’t have financial and decision making powers. Now these institutions will be provided Financial and Decision making rights.
5. Citizen Charter will be reactivated.
6. Citizen Facilities will be provided in such a system, decision with responsibility and accountability will be taken in one center on the basis of one application, one recommendation and in a particular time frame.
7. In present system, complaints are handled with the same department of officials of the same department, in such a system biased approach does not allow them (investigating and rule enforcing persons or bodies within the department) to take honest action on complaints of mal-practices. Now an independent setup for the proper and unbiased redressal of complaints or cases of mal-practices will be established at tehsil, District, Division and State level with people’s participation.
8. State Administrative Tribunal will be established.
9. Establishment of 5 Regional Development Councils for systematic and equal development opportunities.

Samajwadi Party

1. More decentralization of powers and Panchayts will be strengthened with financial powers.
2. The amount of honorarium of urban bodies and Panchyat representatives will be increased by 4 times.

Communist Party of India

1. Government will make systems effective.

Water and Sanitation

Congress Party

1. Construction of overhead tanks in each and every village and helmet. A network of pipelines will be created for drinking water. Every person will get safe drinking water.
2. Efforts to increase ground water level by doing construction of stop dams.
3. Re-Construction of old tanks and lakes under the Rajiv Gandhi Tank renewal Scheme.
4. New legislation to address the drinking water crisis.
5. New schemes for towns and cities, which are facing drinking water crisis.
6. Water supply from Narmada for Bhopal.
7. Efforts to eliminate water logging in urban areas.
8. A time bound scheme for the elimination of drinking water crisis in Urban areas.

Bhartiya Janta Party

1. Formation of Water – Sanitation Board.
2. Availability of drinking water will be made sure as per the norms.
3. A policy for Public Water Resources will be made.
4. Formation of a Water Authority for the protection of Rivers, Tanks, Open wells, Bawadi etc.
5. Use and Recharging of Ground Water will be tackled simultaneously.  
6. Sources of water contamination will be identified and its connection with public water resources will be de-linked.

Bhartiya Jan Shakti Party

1. Special attention on water availability.
2. Long term measures to tackle the no-rains situation.
3. Intensive plan for water conservation.
4. Legislation for Mission Water Conservation.
5. Encroachment on lakes, rivers and tanks will be treated with strong action.

Samajwadi Party

1. Water resources will be recharged to make water availability sure.

Communist Party of India

1. Proper resettlement of urban slums with all essential services like safe drinking water and public toilets.

Rights and the Marginalized

Congress Party

1. Formation of New Women Policy
2. Loan for economic activities at low interest rates.
3. Women headed families, where there is no male wage earner, will be given employment compulsorily.
4. Housing scheme for Valmiki community workers in Metro cities.
5. Education Promotion and Assistance, for children from Safai Kaamgaar communities.

Bhartiya Janta Party

1. Tribal women will be provided with Indian breeds of Cow and other livestock.
2. Housing scheme for SC/ST/OBC and LIG families in urban areas.
3. Loan for small scale industries to women at low interest rates.
4. Women police thanas at tehsil level.
5. Appointment of Women doctors in Tribal areas.
6. Removal of BPL criteria under Widow Pension scheme.
7. Increase in amount under Kanyadaan Yojana.
8. Training for self defense and physical development.

Bhartiya Jan Shakti Party

1. Formation of a study group for Education, Training, Employment and Rehabilitation of Dalits. 
2. Establishment of a Dalit Peeth.
3. Establishment of Naari Shakti Kendra (Women Power Centers).
4. Appointment of experienced Women in women related posts and departments.
5. Livelihood security for Single women families.

Samajwadi Party

1. Effective and fast processes in Domestic Violence Cases.
2. Elimination of Manual Scavenging practices.

Communist Party of India

1. Efforts for the economic development of Dalits and Tribals.
2. Strong actions will be taken against those to exploit dalits and tribals.