All India People’s Manifesto, Wada Naa Todo Abhiyan, India MDGs and Indian elections 2009
'India has made remarkable progress in achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and also faced challenges in achieving its key development targets', was the key point discussed at the UN High Level Meeting, held in New York on 25th September 2008. In the year 2000, 189 countries signed the Millennium Declaration and pledged to use the MDGs' framework for development ie, goals and indicators as the guiding principle for the development agenda and policy documents of their own countries. The UN Millennium Campaign was started to support citizens demanding accountability from their governments towards fulfillment of their MDGs related promises. The 15th General Election will play a vital role in developing advocacy for the MDGs. This is the time, when voters can select their candidates by accessing public policy directions, the adequacy of public service delivery and the allocation of resources.
The UN Millennium Campaign works with its partners to strengthen the participatory process and the people's influence on elected officials and political leaders to improve the implementation of the MDGs. One of the strategies adopted by the Campaign in India is to make citizens aware of their governments' commitments and motivating them to actively participate in democratic institutions and political processes. This is done through initiating an open social dialogue that enables participation in planning development programmes and by allowing different segments of society to identify and prioritise their issues and areas of development. In collaboration with partners across civil society, media, faith based organisations, local authorities, youth and private sector, the campaign focuses on advocacy actions to build political will in the government and help formulate a policy framework that accelerates and fosters the achievement of MDGs. In India, the focus is on achieving MDGs 1-7 through various innovative citizens and civil society initiatives that builds up sustained pressure on the government to deliver on their promises.
In order to create governance accountability in India, the United Nations Millennium Campaign is supporting Wada Na Todo Abhiyan (Keep Your Promises Campaign), which is a national coalition of over 900 development and grassroots organisations working across 15 states to monitor the Government's promises on the ground by reviewing its performance in fulfilling its UN Millennium Development Goals, National Development Goals and the National Common Minimum Programme.
The All India People's Manifesto, coordinated by WNTA (http://www.wadanatodo.net), is a first-of-its kind effort to create a 10-point national agenda through a localised process of consultation and dialogue.
The campaign aims to engage people in raising their voice for the future agenda of the country. Over 400,000 people have been engaged in the consultations held in 365 parliamentary constituencies across 29 States/UTs in developing the All India People's Manifesto. This includes the direct participation of citizens from various organisations, local groups and civil society organisations.
The media has also played an extensive role in covering and reporting the proceedings across parliamentary constituencies thereby taking this process to a much wider audience. To target urban and youth voters, Wada Na Todo Abhiyan (WNTA) launched an online version of the All India People's Manifesto on YouTube in March 2009. The channel was listed as a Featured Video on YouTube's homepage which recorded over 100,000 views across the site. The campaign developments were also reported in various media agencies like Dainik Jagaran, Hindustan Times, IBNLive.com, Kalingatimes.com, Navbharat Times, The Hindu, Times of India, Women's Features Service, Zee TV, Lead India, All India Radio, etc., and global networks including Civicus, GCAP, International Budget Project, OneWorld South Asia, UN Millennium Campaign and Whitebandaction.org.
A charter of key demands have been developed on the basis of demands that emerged across parliamentary constituencies with the objective of influencing the Election Manifestoes of political parties and negotiating the integration of key demands in the post-election governance agenda.
Along with the key demands, a Women's manifesto has also been developed in consultation with 231,984 people (both men and women) across 100 parliamentary constituencies. The Women's Manifesto includes the following key points:
Equal political representation and participation
Equal property rights for women
Right to work and entrepreneurship support
Priority for girls' education
End violence against women
Special programmes for women
Greater access to public facilities and public places
Stronger national and state women's commissions
The All India People's Manifesto, as a movement, will continue to function after the elections also. UN Millennium Campaign and its other partners will engage people in mobilisation and advocacy to lead this effort. This includes preparing Report Card for MPs in 100 parliamentary constituencies based on MDG-related indicators, a Citizens Report on the Status of MDGs, youth contest in colleges across India etc.
Key Demands of the All India People's Manifesto
Basic Infrastructure: Water, sanitation, electricity, roads and transport facilities
Basic infrastructure in every village and urban settlement, which includes safe drinking water, household level toilets and water supply, effective drainage and sanitation systems, electrification, connecting roads, public transport services and rail networks.
Special focus on upgrading infrastructure in communities inhabited by dalits, adivasis and minorities.
Quality health and education as a right protected by law
Quality health and education must be guaranteed through public schools and health centres. The right to health and education should be protected by law, primary level services made freely accessible and public facilities expanded and upgraded on a priority basis.
Increased investment of 6% GDP for public expenditure on education and 3% GDP for public expenditure on health. Privatisation of health and education services not to be allowed.
Equip every village with quality facilities and personnel for maternal and child survival, nutrition and overall health. Create a separate Act to protect the rights of people living with HIV/AIDS and stronger implementation of the People with Disabilities Act.
Special measures to ensure food security and nutrition
Every family to be assured of food supplies and nutrition, and protected against inflation and price hikes in essential commodities.
Existing programmes such as the Public Distribution System, Mid-day Meal and Integrated Child Development Scheme to be significantly expanded and monitored to ensure equal and universal coverage.
Expansion of right to work and social security entitlements
365 days of employment to be assured to every adult and an Urban Employment Guarantee Act on par with NREGA to be introduced.
Make special efforts to integrate women and marginalised groups in the economic sectors, including through the provision of reservation in the private sector. Create a special programme to support working women - including childcare facilities, transport, health insurance and maternity benefits. Child labour to be abolished.
Strengthen the Inter-state Migration Act to ensure safety, minimum wages, housing and social security for all migrant workers in the country.
Lifeline programmes for agriculture and rural economy
New agricultural policy to be introduced to ensure greater investment and industry status. Support prices provided to agricultural products at reasonable rates and local support centres for farmers, producers, entrepreneurs and artisans created to facilitate credit, research and technical expertise.
Farmer status for women and mandatory purchase of goods produced by women and marginalised groups by government agencies. Special support programme for artisans and small scale industries with objective of strengthening rural economy.
Protection of land rights and promotion of livelihood for marginalised groups
SEZ Act to be scrapped and Land Acquisition Act used only for the development of public utilities. Transparency in all projects involving land acquisition and natural resources with participation of and accountability to local communities.
Land to be earmarked and allotted to women, dalits, adivasis, denotified/nomadic tribes, single women, disabled and other socially excluded groups. All asset building, livelihood promotion and community development programmes to necessarily involve joint participation and ownership of women and marginalised groups.
Greater political representation of women, youth and marginalised groups
Women, youth and marginalised groups to be made equal partners in the political process. The Women's Reservation Bill to be enacted on a priority basis and National Youth Policy to be strengthened.
Social Justice Committees to be introduced in Urban Local Bodies and those already existing at the Panchayat level to be further strengthened with resources and programmes to reach marginalised communities.
National and State Commissions for Women, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes to be strengthened with clear policies and resources. The Sachar Committee recommendations to be implemented.
Transparency in government dealings and greater public participation
Financial and operational details of all government programmes to be made readily and regularly available in the public domain.
Mechanisms for public participation and monitoring such as through the Right to Information, Social Audit and Vigilance Committees to be strengthened.
Every government department and elected representative to be made to present an annual report of work done and expenditures incurred through a public meeting.
Electoral reforms and accountability of political parties/representatives
Prevention of candidates having criminal records or religious, casteist or communal sentiments from contesting for elections. Stringent action against representatives involved in corruption.
An Election Watch team comprising civil society representatives and officials to be formed in every constituency and given due authority to monitor the election process. Monitoring of election expenses and creation of a common platform for candidates to communicate with people to be undertaken.
Right to recall system to be introduced and modification of the current 'first-past-the-post' system. Mechanisms for protection of women and representatives belonging to marginalised groups from harassment and discrimination across all levels of governance.
Implementation of police and judicial reforms
Police and Judicial reforms to be undertaken with focus on responsiveness to marginalised groups and speedy redress of appeals. The D K Basu Guidelines to be implemented to ensure prevention of unlawful arrest and torture. Judgments on atrocity cases to be declared within one year.
Greater representation of women and members of socially excluded groups in the police force and judiciary. Special protection for women from marginalised groups against caste and communal violence.
Priority for national integration and zero tolerance for violence and terrorism
National Integration and Communal Harmony to be prioritised and a Special Cell against discrimination on social or religious grounds to be created.
The government must practice zero tolerance for religious extremism and terrorism in the country and play a key role in ensuring safety and prosperity in the subcontinent. A Joint Action and Investigative Agency for Regional Cooperation and Mutual Assistance in South Asia must be initiated.
Global responsibility
India must play a demonstrative role in protecting and promoting non-violence, democracy and respect for pluralism in the global community and in setting these principles in action through the UN.
Even while being counted as a global power, India should continue to ensure that the development, trade and security interests of less powerful countries are represented in international negotiations.
The government must publicise information within the country about the quantum and impact of its overseas aid and international development initiatives.
India must play a proactive role in the formulation of global environmental policies and balance the interests of the developed and developing countries in this dialogue.
'India has made remarkable progress in achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and also faced challenges in achieving its key development targets', was the key point discussed at the UN High Level Meeting, held in New York on 25th September 2008. In the year 2000, 189 countries signed the Millennium Declaration and pledged to use the MDGs' framework for development ie, goals and indicators as the guiding principle for the development agenda and policy documents of their own countries. The UN Millennium Campaign was started to support citizens demanding accountability from their governments towards fulfillment of their MDGs related promises. The 15th General Election will play a vital role in developing advocacy for the MDGs. This is the time, when voters can select their candidates by accessing public policy directions, the adequacy of public service delivery and the allocation of resources.
The UN Millennium Campaign works with its partners to strengthen the participatory process and the people's influence on elected officials and political leaders to improve the implementation of the MDGs. One of the strategies adopted by the Campaign in India is to make citizens aware of their governments' commitments and motivating them to actively participate in democratic institutions and political processes. This is done through initiating an open social dialogue that enables participation in planning development programmes and by allowing different segments of society to identify and prioritise their issues and areas of development. In collaboration with partners across civil society, media, faith based organisations, local authorities, youth and private sector, the campaign focuses on advocacy actions to build political will in the government and help formulate a policy framework that accelerates and fosters the achievement of MDGs. In India, the focus is on achieving MDGs 1-7 through various innovative citizens and civil society initiatives that builds up sustained pressure on the government to deliver on their promises. 
Protection of land rights and promotion of livelihood for marginalised groups
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