Imphal, Jan 23: The National People’s Party (NPP) on Sunday released its manifesto for the Manipur Assembly elections titled “People’s Action Document”. The party has promised to pursue repeal of AFSPA from the state as its main agenda besides reaching out to all stakeholders to ensure indigenous rights of all communities are protected.

The NPP released the manifesto at a function held at the MAYOL auditorium at Iroisemba in Imphal West district, becoming the first party to release the election manifesto for the upcoming state assembly elections.

Released the Manifesto for the Manipur Elections 2022 along with Dy. CM Manipur, Sh. Joykumar Singh, State Working President, Sh. Jayantakumar Singh and Arunachal State President, Sh. Mutchu Mithi pic.twitter.com/miiIpjeq3b

— Conrad Sangma (@SangmaConrad) January 23, 2022

Manipur will go to two-phase poll on February 27 and March 3.

NPP’s outlines its agendas 

– The party will also consult various civil society organizations to ensure an inclusive and comprehensive process toward addressing human rights violations and concerns.

– It will focus on a dialogue process with insurgency groups and non-state actors for sustained peace.

– The NPP manifesto released at a function held at the auditorium of MAYOL at Iroisemba in Imphal West district also promised to formulate a comprehensive and sustainable economic policy for a well-rounded and appropriate economic development of the state in consultation with leading economists and policy makers as well as with the people at large.

– The party will work towards securing the agro based industries, fishery sector, tourism sector and human resource development for economic resurgence of the state.

– The party promised that it will work towards rationalization of the state taxation system by reviewing the existing system, and promoting investment both foreign and direct to enhance the financial strength of the state.

– The party will aim for equitable and need based distribution of available revenue resources of the State and Centre to address the concerns of developmental injustices of the past.

– NPP has promised to create a committee of experts, government agencies, civil society, parents and student representatives to formulate education policy. NPP also stated that it believes in quality education and not quantity outputs, as such, it will promote effective learning environments through participatory approach and equitable access to all levels of education and its allied facilities.

– It will also revamp the existing school curriculums with special focus on the inclusion of indigenous histories, linguistic diversity, gender sensitivity and consent, sexual and reproductive health, environmental education and climate change guided by scientific temperament and research.

– The party will critically assess existing laws and legislations pertaining to forest to align them with scientific forest management and conservation methods.

– It will ensure free prior informed consent of the people when planning developmental projects. The NPP also promised to create a forest protection task force to control illegal deforestation and misuse of forest land.

– To combat the issues of climate change, NPP promised to work towards better public transport systems and pedestrian friendly townships to reduce carbon footprint.

– NPP promised to allocate of more budgets for public healthcare in the state and work towards providing free health services to the poor. The party will also work towards establishing more medical and nursing colleges in the state with special focus on rural areas and hill districts.

– The party further promised to give special attention to women entrepreneurs and women led cooperative societies. NPP will provide zero interest rate loans to women led Self Help Groups (SHGs) and ventures. It will focus on the needs of differently abled women and give them appropriate support for sustenance.

– It also promised to establish a Gender Justice Commissions for the LGBTQIA (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex and Asexual) community to address their concerns comprehensively.

– NPP will also work towards action-based reforms such as establishing gender-neutral washrooms in public spaces, health infrastructure that addresses specific needs of the LGBTQIA community, and mitigating discrimination.

– The party also promised to formulate a comprehensive youth policy which is contextually relevant in addressing the needs of the youths in the state.

– The party will ensure that recruitment to government jobs is strictly based on fairness, merit and transparency, and ensure a streamlined process for the prompt announcement of results.

– NPP will create space for the growth of young entrepreneurs by encouraging and assisting entrepreneurial ventures in the state through promotion of small and micro scale enterprises like organic farming, bee keeping, fishery, poultry, floriculture, baking, eco-tourism, hospitality, and other innovative livelihood projects.

– The party will accord high priority in the development of quality sports facilities in rural areas to harness available talent and potential. It will facilitate quality training and coaching of youth in different fields of sports.

– NPP will provide new infrastructure and improve existing ones with focus on indigenous sports.

– The party also promised to formulate an arts & culture policy towards preserving the indigenous cultural practices of communities in Manipur.

– NPP promised to strive to preserve the State’s indigenous practices by establishing research & development institutes to facilitate documentation & digitization of information related to indigenous arts & culture.

– The party further promised to formulate fresh policies for the agriculture and horticulture sectors respectively towards improvement of rural economy in the state.

– It will also review the existing Manipur Conservation of Paddy Land and Wetland Act of 2014 to further strengthen agricultural land protection.

– NPP also promised to promote eco-tourism by incorporating more community led initiatives and ventures. The party will support the establishment of home stays at strategic sites through start-up loans, among others.