Party manifesto lists empowerment of district councils; 3% jobs for persons with disabilities
SHILLONG, Feb 5: Empowering the autonomous district councils, changing the criteria of Governor giving assent to bills passed by the councils with reference to Article 200 of the Constitution and 3 per cent job reservation for persons with disabilities in the councils are some of the highlights of the United Democratic Party (UDP) manifesto for the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) and Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC) elections.
The manifesto was released on Wednesday at the office of the party in the presence of Cabinet Minister Paul Lyngdoh, UDP general secretary Jemino Mawthoh, leader of Opposition in KHADC Titosstarwell Chyne, party officials and MDC candidates.
The UDP is contesting in 40 seats, 24 in KHADC and 16 in JHADC.
“Our main focus in the manifesto is how to empower the district councils. We want more powers for them, especially in the matter of ownership of land with reference to paragraph 3 of the Sixth Schedule,” said Chyne after the release of the manifesto.
“We want to change or review Para 12 (A) of the Constitution. We want to change the criteria or the condition relating to the Governor of the state as regards giving assent to any bill passed by the council with reference to Article 200 of the Constitution of India,” he added.
Chyne said the UDP firmly opposes the Uniform Civil Code or any other bill that is against the interest of indigenous people. He said the party also opposes uranium mining and the inclusion of nominated MDC from the unrepresented tribes.
The party laid emphasis on coming up with an anti-defection law in the councils to prevent MDCs from jumping ship.
Talking about the party’s stand on minerals, he said, “With reference to minerals, we already have the land bill. The mining of minerals should be in consonance with the land bill, especially the right of ownership of the indigenous tribes.”
Assuring clean governance, the UDP reaffirmed its commitment to protect, promote and safeguard the tradition, culture and way of life of the indigenous people.
“We want to uplift the traditional medicine practitioners, protect our scared groves, and implement in full the spirit the Solid Waste Management Act,” Chyne said.
He added, “We want to encourage 54 Himas or Elakas to have their own Act because most of them don’t have it. Only 24 have their own Act. To strengthen their powers, functions and objectives, it is better for each and every Elaka and Hima to have its own Act.”
He said the UDP would like to reserve 3 per cent jobs for persons with disabilities in the councils. “I think this is the first time that a party has taken up this issue. We are happy to have done this,” he added.
On the boundary dispute with Assam, Chyne said, “Our stand is very firm. The boundary of Elaka should be the boundary of dispute. That is why in the last EC, the boundary committee under my leadership submitted a full report regarding all the areas in dispute.”
“We submitted a full report to the government and I think the state government should take into consideration our report. We have given all the materials regarding the ownership of land with reference to the documents or papers submitted by the Himas,” he further stated.