Loksatta Manifesto: IRREVOCABLE GUARANTEES

Lok Satta to usher in a new society With 'irrevocable
Guarantees'

The Lok Satta Party unveiled its vision of a new society and a blueprint to accomplish it in five years flat, if it is elected to power in the 2009 Andhra Pradesh Assembly elections. Hardly two years old, the Lok Satta Party pledges itself to bring about a total transformation in the living conditions and livelihood opportunities in both rural and urban areas by providing innovative and offbeat solutions to innumerable ills plaguing contemporary society.

The Lok Satta Party today released a booklet titled, "Silent Revolution," incorporating a series of "irrevocable guarantees" it makes to the public. The party displays immense confidence and competence in delivering on them.

Lok Satta Party President Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan describes the guarantees as constitutionally correct and financially feasible.
The citizen-centric manifesto promotes economic growth of both the individual and society by harmonizing conflicting interests.
The guarantees will form part of the party's manifesto to be released later.
The Lok Satta Party visualizes district governments as the pivot of the far-reaching reform program in governance.

Although India attained freedom from the British more than 60 years ago, Indians have not become independent because there was only a change of players without real powers being transferred to the people.
By ushering in district governments, the party promises to transfer powers, responsibilities and resources to people's governments at the grassroots level.

District Governments

The party points out that many districts in Andhra Pradesh are bigger than nearly 100 countries in the world.
There is no reason why people in a district should come to Hyderabad to get their problems solved.

1. The Lok Satta Party plan envisages each district having a directly elected premier, and ministers in charge of various portfolios.
   
2. The district collector will act as the chief secretary.
   
3. The Government will devolve 50 percent of Plan funds on district governments, which in turn transfer them to local governments.
   
4. The local governments will be responsible for providing safe drinking water, sanitation and drainage, roads, housing and all other facilities.
   
5. In addition, a per capita grant of Rs.1000 will be made to both villages and towns. A town with a population of one lakh will get a grant of Rs. 10 crore in addition to funds under all normal schemes. The district government program associates people in the implementation of schemes by providing for elected committees at the ward level armed with both funds and powers.

Small Towns

The Lok Satta Party points out that like political power, economic power too is concentrated in big cities and towns, leading to the languishing of small towns and rural areas. The party will resolve this problem once and for all by developing 1000 small towns with a massive investment of Rs.25,000 crore.

1. All urban amenities, opportunities and quality life will be provided in the small towns.
2. Local roads, transport, water supply, drainage, parks, libraries, education, healthcare, and training industries will be encouraged making these small towns economic hubs and magnets for local migration.
   
3. The Lok Satta Party seeks to transform villages by guaranteeing safe drinking water in every village, 24-hour power supply to domestic consumers, quality power to the farm sector, a septic tank in every house at Government cost, a blacktop road to the village and assured bus services.
   
4. A village with a population of 10,000, for instance, will get a grant of Rs.1 crore in addition to funds under normal Government schemes.
   
5. Panchayats will be fully empowered to curb liquor, ensure safe water supply and prevent public defecation, and will be held accountable.
   
6. The Lok Satta Party pays special attention to imparting job skills to the youth and guaranteed employment by establishing ultra modern training centers.
   
7. The youth will be paid a monthly stipend of Rs.1500 as they undergo the year-long training. About 10, 00,000 trained youth will be assured jobs though placement Programmes in private sector and government.
   

Development Brigade

The Lok Satta Party will launch an army of young people who are committed and willing to work for the State's development for two years.

1. It will recruit and train not less than 100,000 people a year to ensure that there are at least 200,000 workers in the field at any time.
   
2. They will be paid a stipend of Rs.3000 per month for the two years they render service.
3. Their services will be utilized in the implementation of schemes in education, health, agriculture etc. and in the war against corruption and alcoholism.

Social Security

For the first time in the history of the country, the party commits itself to providing social security to one crore families and liberate them from livelihood fears.

1. It covers all families in the unorganized sector, who earn a monthly income of less than Rs.5000.
   
2. The beneficiaries will include small farmers and agricultural workers, small traders and artisans engaged in traditional occupations, hamalis and workers in the construction sector, drivers of autos, trucks and taxis, employees of private establishments like schools, shops and nursing homes and women.
   
3. Under the scheme, a family that saves Rs.400 a month will receive an equivalent matching grant from the Government so that in seven years it will have accumulated Rs.100,000 including interest.
   
4. The corpus will enable the family to take up any economic activity of its choice and lead an honorable life without any crutches.
   
5. This is eminently feasible in the context of the Lok Satta Party promising to provide free quality education and health care to all.
   
6. The Lok Satta Party promises free and quality education to all up to Class XII.
   
7. The Government will enable every poor student who is eligible and desirous of higher education including engineering and medicine at its cost.
   
8. Every student from poor and rural families, irrespective of caste or religion, will be given 10 percent bonus marks in competitive examinations for higher education or jobs.
   
9. The party will make available quality health care to every citizen in a hospital of his choice at its cost. 600 more 50 bedded public hospitals will be built throughout the state.
   
10. In addition, the Government will associate 3000 small private hospitals with its health care scheme and pay them for their services on behalf of patients.
    
11. The party reiterates its stand on restricting liquor consumption by reducing the number of licensed shops to less than 1000, banning belt shops, prohibiting liquor consumption in public, and empowering panchayats to enforce liquor policy.
    

Massive Agricultural Assistance

The Lok Satta Party pledges to revolutionize agriculture and rural economy.

1. A computerized agri-clinic will be established for every 3,000 acres to inform farmers of market demand, provide daily extension services, facilitate supply of quality inputs at reasonable prices, and help direct marketing to retail chains.
   
2. All farmers will get direct access to loans, and usurious practices will be prohibited.
   
3. Villages will be guaranteed 24-hour power supply through decentralized distribution.
   
4. Stable voltage and quality power will be guaranteed, and farmers will get compensation for motors burnt on account of voltage fluctuations.
   
5. All market committees will be managed by elected committees of farmers, and pledge loans will be guaranteed on stored produce.
   
6. Processing industries will be established in every market, and perishable commodities will get guaranteed minimum price.
   

Regional Disparities

Lok Satta pledges to create regional development boards and give them constitutional status under Art 371-D, with ample powers and funds.

1. There will be district-wise allocations in the state budget.
   
2. The party government will constitute and independent statutory commission for allocation and distribution of river waters within the state among various regions and districts.
   

War on Corruption

1. It will wage a war on corruption by constituting a special court in every district to try charges against elected people's representatives and officials.
   
2. providing for confiscation of their ill-gotten wealth and appointing special public prosecutors to pursue the cases.
   
3. The party promises to constitute a local court in every mandal to dispose of small cases within 90 days.
   
4. Crime investigation will be made completely independent of partisan control.
   
5. Every district will have a well-equipped forensic laboratory and prosecution will be independent of government.
   
6. Law will be applicable to all uniformly.