A common minimum programme is in the offing, and over 12 political parties are coming together on Tuesday to deliberate over it. At the midst of the collaborative effort is a document with ideas that have consensus across the parties, prominently a debt relief commission for farmers to bring in institutional succour to agricultural debts.
The meeting, to be held Tuesday at the Constitution Club, is likely to be attended by over 12 parties including the Congress, RJD, CPI, CPIM, NCP, AAP, DMK, among other parties. It will be hosted by the Samruddha Bharat Foundation, which has been working on the document for over eight months now.
Sources involved in the process said that since the work started, over 400 activists, professionals, academics, and politicians have engaged in intensive deliberations in which “critical areas of collaboration” have been identified, both for the short term and long-term. The document will be submitted to all the political parties, most of whom have been intricately involved in the consultative process since its inception. “We hope the parties will include these key issues in the manifesto, champion them publicly and consider this Peoples’ Agenda as a blueprint for a common minimum programme in the future,” said an official of the SBF, who wished to remain anonymous.
The key issues that have been identified are issues in higher education, of farmer’s incomes, institutional integrity and electronic voting machines. To bring succour to farmers, a debt relief commission which goes beyond short-term loan waivers and addresses challenges from rising debts is on the cards, said sources. “Agricultural reforms need to reducing input costs, enhancing production, scientifically studying MSPs and linking them to agricultural farm incomes,” said the source.
The document also talks about the need to codify conventions of collective responsibility of the Union Cabinet. And, the need for the Election Commission of India to turn to VVPATs.
Additionally, the saffronisation of institutions, declining scholarships are some areas of concern under higher education. The document also seeks to address attack on freedom of speech and expression. “How does a party address that institutionally to ensure such attacks do not happen in the future,” said the official.
