Dear Sir,
Janata Vikas Manch (JVM) has evolved a people’s political agenda through discussion and debate of over three months. More than 12 experts from various fields have contributed more than 18 write-ups in the 12 identified fields. An extensive debate has been carried out on these write-up/s at the E-platform and outside the web-space. Adressing a press conference on Sunday in Bhubaneswar, Mr Sai Prasan, Mr Gobinda Dalai and Mr Pritikant Panda, the office bearers of JVM told reporters that based on the debate and discussions, JVM has formulated a draft people’s political agenda on all the twelve identified areas. We have decided first to release the draft agenda in the two most important areas – Industry and Youth. They said that JVM will hold a one-day convention on April 1, 2009 in Bhbaneswar to finalise the draft people’s political agenda. The main theme of this convention will be Youth. We will invite all the youth leaders and senior political leaders of the state to spell out their stand on the draft people’s political agenda. And, motivate the political parties to incorporate the people’s centric policies in their election manifesto and introduce the same after they come to power in Lok Sabha and State Assembly poll. In reply to a question, Mr Sai Prasan said that JVM will make a list of twenty good candidates which will be forwarded to the political parties for consideration. They can field them in the Lok Sabha and Assembly polls. JVM will support them if they want to contest as independently. Following are the main features of the draft agenda on Youth and Industry: Industry The global recession has hit both India as well as Odisha. In this context, the industrial policy of Odisha should be reviewed and renewed to tune itself to meet the challenges of globalization in the year 2009. - 2 - The state government claims to sign 60 MoUs. Both the parties in power – BJD and BJP – should spell out how many of these MoUs have been materialized. And, it must make all the MoUs public. JVM asks the political parties to follow following things: 1. Odisha can resolve the problems it is facing in projects like Posco, Tata's Kalinga Nagar project and Vedanta on the following lines: A. It should take the people of the area into confidence and democratically sort out the issues in a transparent manner. It can hold referendum too, if necessary, to seek public opinion in the project effected areas. B. Only paying the compensation to the people against their land and offering them jobs may not be enough. Apart from this, the political leadership should explore other options too. The valuation of the land can be done. And, a portion of the value of the cost of the land can be converted into equity which can also make the land owners shareholders / stakeholders in the project. A Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) can be created for this purpose. C. The government should also ensure a percent (may be 50%) of the jobs across the board to be reserved for the locals of Orissa. 2. The state industrial policy can emphasize on how to attract capital from the people of Odisha origin living outside the state to invest back at home in Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) sector for the purpose of employment generation. 3. The state has a lot of scope to develop IT, agro and forest industry. The development of the cold storage and the soft skills like honey-harvesting can be encouraged as a SME sector. 4. Odisha has a long marine /coast line. Fisheries and other similar coast related means can be developed as a SME sector. 5. Orissa has a natural beauty which is attractive. The tourism sector has the potential to develop it as an industry both for the tourists as well as Bollywood and film industry which can provide employment and generate revenue for the state. The sea-food can be developed in such way that it can attract more and more tourists. 6. Similarly, if Andhra Pradesh government can develop Tirupathi Temple and Maharashtra can focus on Shiradi, then Orissa government can also develop Jagannath Temple on similar lines. 7. The globalization has hit the deprived section of society the most in terms of jobs. The state government should ensure that the SC & ST population consisting of 40% of the population get proper facilities for starting their venture. The government should direct even the private professional institutes to reserve seats for this category and financial arrangement should be made to take care of their fees. 8. Taking a cue from states like Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Punjab, Orissa government, - 3 - along with the private sector, should educate youth telling that the self-employment is the order of the day. They can also be job-providers by adopting SME model. Youth The power of youth is the power of the State. This is true for Odisha where the youth, with their immense capability and limitless energy, can bring about developmental change in the state. The State can no longer afford to represent a paradoxical picture of poverty among plenty. The global financial crisis and its impact in service and manufacturing sectors in India have made the future bleak for the job aspiring youth. In order to tide over the crisis, an awareness of the self as well as the surrounding is of utmost need in the youth. JVM asks the political parties to adopt the following points for the development of the Youth in Odisha. 1. Political Awareness: It is the political leadership of our country which takes decisions of our day-to-day life right from what we should eat, drink, wear to what we should watch on TV or where we can smoke to and what type of education we should have. It is, therefore, imperative for the youth to take active participation in the political debate and discussions. Political awareness is the power to choose between right and wrong. The political parties should encourage more youth to come forward and join politics to shape the future of their state. 2. 40% seat for youth in LS and Assembly poll: JVM asks the political parties to impart political education to the youth. And, give a minimum of 40% of seats both the Lok Sabha and State Assembly poll. The age of the youth can be considered upto 45 years. 3. Youth Fund: The political parties after coming to the power should constitute a Youth Fund which should be 25% of the total budget plan outlay of the State. The money from this fund should be spent on sports and employment generation programmes. They should be professionally and vocationally trained so that they can start their own venture. The youth should be given a loan from this fund at one per cent more than the cost of the fund. A special purpose vehicle (SPV) can be formed to manage this fund. 4. Entrepreneurial Attitude: A study of the Indian youth suggests that in metro cities youth are opting for 'self-employment' ways leaving behind the 'employment seekers' mindset. Instead, they are generating employment through self-employment. This is a healthy trend for a country like India where more than thirty crore educated youth is unemployed! In Odisha, entrepreneurial mindset can be developed to work in the field of agriculture, floriculture, fisheries, tourism, small scale industries and several other untapped sectors. The political parties should towards this direction. 5. Communication Skill: Communication is a vast subject and it has several connotations. But the topic which is very relevant for the youth of Odisha, in general, is to have a sound understanding and command over English, which is now the language of the global world. Certain manners and etiquettes associated with English should also be learnt. The economic crisis has made the selection process tougher. 6. Information & Communication Technology: In the wake of the global economic crisis, the major IT companies like Microsoft have taken a beating. Scores of computer-ignorant youth should learn the basics of computer and its application in day-to-day life. And, the political parties should take initiative to hold such kind of programmes. JVM will mobilize public opinion to motivate the political parties to adopt the people’s political agenda. Thanks & Regards, Yours’ Debi Prasad Tripathi (JVM Memeber) Date: March 23, 2009 Place: Bhubaneswar
