People's Democracy

(Weekly Organ of the Communist Party of India (Marxist)

Vol. XXIX

No. 10

March 06, 2005

15-POINT CHARTER OF DEMANDS

 

The following 15-point charter of demands has been formulated by the state conference:

 1.      Railways

   a)   Construct broad-gauge railway line from Dharmanagar to Subroom

   b)   Establish rail link between Akhaura (Bangladesh) and Agartala

   c)  Convert Lumding-Dharmanagar railway line into broad-gauge so that Tripura may avail                   broad-gauge facility

2.  Roadways

  1. Upgrade the National Highway No. 44 into a 4-lane standard high way

  2. Implement immediately the alternative National Highway in the state

  3. Include Agartala and Subroom in the proposed Sourasthra-Silchar Golden Quadrilateral project

  4. Gradual upgradation of the road-links connecting district, sub-division and block headquarters as a standard national highway

  5. Establish road-links with the remote tribal hamlets as early as possible

3.      Air Link

  1. Upgrade Agartala airport into a modern airport with amenities.

  2. Make Kailashahar  and Kamalpur  airport operational again

  3. Allow Khowai airport to be utilised by the Tripura government for public purpose

4.      On Gas extraction

  1. Extend all out cooperation to the NEEPCO and ONGC to establish gas-based thermal projects in Tripura

  2. The concerned public sector undertakings may be asked to arrange transportation of the electricity generated in Tripura.

  3. The organisations engaged in exploration of gas and oil in Tripura may be asked to conduct a deeper exploration.

5.      Telecommunication services may be ensured in all parts of the state with sophisticated device.

6.      Bank services

  1. Nationalised Bank branches operating in the state must enhance their investment.

  2. A special initiative must be undertaken to invest in agriculture and allied sectors by the nationalised banks.

  3. Banks must advance loans to the state unemployed on more liberalised terms and conditions in self-employment scheme.

7. Education

  1. A generous help may be ensured to the Tripura University for the interest of rendering advanced and modern education to the students 

  2. Tripura Engineering College may be upgraded into an IIT

  3. Tripura government may be extended generous help to raise conducive infrastructure for setting up a Medical College in the state.

8.      Health:  Tripura government may be liberally assisted to extend better health services in the          inaccessible tribal areas.

9.      Ensure at least 100 days job for the working people both in urban and rural areas

10.  Necessary fund must be provided to ensure proper arrangement for giving cooked food to the primary students

11.  Tribals in remote forest areas voluntarily intending to resettle in convenient places inside the        Reserved Forests, may be given all assistance

12. A special employment package may be framed for the benefit of partly-educated unemployed

13. Barbed wire fencing

  1. Work of barbed wire fencing along the border must be completed early.

  2. Fencing must be raised at “0” point of the border.

  3. Wherever possible, the landowners whose land falls on the other side of the fence, may be given compensation

14. On extremist problems

  1. To effectively combat the insurgents, strength of the BSF, central para-military forces, and number of IR battalions may be raised.

  2. State police force may be equipped with all modern devices and arms and made self-reliant for all kinds of action.

  3. More effective package scheme for rehabilitation of the surrendered extremist may be framed and implemented

15. Upgrade the services of All India Radio and Doordarshan so that the programmes of both the institutions reachable from all corners of the state. News service from Agartala Doordarshan may be introduced.