SHILLONG: The NPP has launched its social media campaign to enlighten the electorate across North East on its agenda with the theme-‘One Voice, One Northeast’.
The party has prioritised rural economy, education, youth and employment, promotion of North East, education, environment and health as its key focus in the campaign – ‘Agenda for Northeast 2019’.
The three-point agenda of the campaign is to commit to the cause of indigenous people, minorities and the marginalised; to ensure that the indigenous people and the minorities assert their ‘political say’ and to push for a strong political voice from the region to safeguard the interest of the people of the North East.
Rural economy
In a statement, the party said it would push for a holistic development of the rural economy with particular focus on agriculture, horticulture and allied sector.
“There is a need to strengthen rural infrastructure in social the sector, including health and education, and the party would continue to focus on the core priority and would work to create an enabling atmosphere to promote education and health care facilities in the rural areas of the region,” the campaign states.
Youth and employment
It said it would encourage investment in private sector in tourism, hospitality, agriculture and IT and formulate an ambitious policy to empower youth with different business and livelihood opportunities linked to the rich resources of the region. The priority of the party will be to engage educated youth and professionals to harness the ample opportunities in the region. “There is a need to push and leverage our youth with a positive mindset, so that they can look beyond government sector and engage in activities, which will make them employable as well as make them entrepreneurs by way of which they would create jobs for many others as well,” the agenda said.
Promoting NE
Regarding promotion of North East, it said, “NPP envisages to promote and safeguard the interest of the indigenous people and wants to curb the economic disparity in the region with synergistic focus on development.”
Agriculture
On agriculture, the party wants to give importance to indigenous agricultural practices, which are climate-friendly, and also replicate ideas and scientific interventions to boost agriculture.
It said there is need to link producers and farmers to the market.
According to the party, there is also a need to tag and brand the farm produces, which would create stories of products regionally, nationally and globally.
“Our commitment is very clear that agriculture sector would be an important area to propel development and ensure economic stability and food security. The core area of intervention will be agriculture and environment, animal husbandry and fishery, food technology and balancing agricultural outputs and marketing linkage and economic stability”, the party said.
Education
The NPP said quality of education has posed a major hurdle to development. For want of better education many communities, particularly the indigenous people are left behind. It stressed on the need to strengthen the education sector.
It said it has taken up education as a core priority to ensure an equitable opportunity for educating the indigenous people along with other communities.
The party wants to ensure the principle of ensuring a holistic development of the society with emphasis on elementary, secondary to higher education vis-à-vis professional and vocational education system.
Environment
The NPP document makes a commitment to combat climate change, promote clean and sustainable energy and provide alternative livelihood opportunities, particularly to those who depend on Jhum and other forms of traditional agricultural practices, which pose threat to the ecosystem..
The document added that the aim will be to mitigate climate change and protect the rich natural resources, and ensure quality of air, water, and land.
Heath care
Regarding health care, the party said the prevailing scenario of facilities in India is a major challenge for the people, especially those living below the poverty line and the marginalised section. “For want of medical attention many people in rural areas and unreached hilly region of our country die due to different life threatening diseases”, the NPP said.
According to the party, it is concerned and aware of the issues that affect everyone.
“We believe that by putting our thrust on this very important subject, we will be able to address the concerns of our people, particularly those who are not able to afford high cost of medical treatment”, the NPP said.
