People's Democracy

 SALIENT FEATURES OF THE RESOLUTION

THE Madurai special political conference of the CPI(M) Tamilnadu state committee adopted a resolution that apprised the people of the state about the five years of misrule by the AIADMK government in the state. On the eve of the general elections to the state assembly, the CPI(M), after thorough discussions at various levels, put before the people of Tamilnadu what it would endeavour to achieve by driving out the discredited government and installing a new one. This resolution demands of the new government that might assume office after the May 2006 elections to take the following measures.

Ø     Discontinue the growth path guided by the neo liberal economic policies being pursued by successive governments at the centre

Ø     Implement serious land reforms and distribute surplus land to the landless poor in the rural areas; Enhance from the present level and implement the Minimum Wages Act, in letter and spirit, for the agricultural workers

Ø     Provide land pattas for the homeless rural poor and also provide multistoried housing flats for the urban poor

Ø     Immediately intervene to provide relief in all forms to rehabilitate the tsunami-affected families and flood-ravaged people

Ø     Take necessary initiative to develop employment oriented new industries; protect traditional and small industries and render necessary support to them

Ø     Introduce superannuation schemes, medical facilities and necessary social welfare schemes to the unorganised and service sector workers immediately

Ø     Restore all trade union rights to the working class and denial of permission to hold demonstrations, rallies and public meetings be done away forthwith

Ø     Fill up all vacancies in the state government and public sector undertakings; Fill up the vacancies of teachers in all primary and other schools and regularise the services of those contractually employed in the teaching profession

Ø     Put a stop to the fleecing of parents by the self-financing private educational institutions in higher education and impose social control on them

Ø     Provide potable water for all rural/urban households. Prohibit MNCs like Pepsi and Coke from exploiting ground water in river basins. Save the riverbed system from the sand mafia, which is quarrying sand with the connivance of the state machinery

Ø     Ensure Tamil occupies the position of official language in all government activities including judiciary

Ø     Strengthen Public Distribution System and make available all essential commodities the common man uses at the PDS stores

Ø     Employ doctors and other medical professionals to all PHCs and government hospitals. Improve medical facilities in public hospitals and augment all necessary medicines and advanced equipments in all district head quarters hospitals

Ø     Immediately conduct elections for all cooperative institutions and government interference in the cooperative system should be done away with; Provide more funds and powers to all the local bodies

Ø     Take firm action against those who practice untouchability. Initiate necessary measures to protect the rights of dalits and adivasis; Atrocities on women in various forms must be put a firm end to; Necessary legislative and administrative support must be provided for women’s groups who take up such issues in the public domain

Ø     Withdraw all black laws like ESMA; Police excesses be stopped and democratise the force to become people friendly

Ø     The government must respect the rule of law and conduct a clean and corruption free administration that respects people’s right to enjoy all fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution