AWAMI LEAGUE MANIFESTO
No greater challenge has faced a people than that
which faces the people of
This promise has yet to be fulfilled. Democracy
itself was not allowed to take root and power which rightfully belonged to the
people was usurped, by one coterie after another. These coteries engaged
themselves in the naked pursuit of their own narrow interests, leading to the
consolidation of political power and the concentration of wealth in their
hands, while the forgotten millions of
The physical handicaps which our society faced were
formidable. Our resources in relation to our rapidly growing population were
not abundant. The two wings of the country were separated by over a thousand
miles. The task of creating a just society was, therefore, intrinsically
difficult. For 22 long years this task has hardly been recognised. Instead we
have witnessed the selfish pursuit of power and wealth by the privileged few.
Today, therefore, the task has assumed critical
proportions. The toiling masses. hoth in the countryside and in the cities,
have awakened and cannot tolerate the depri\ ation of their rights. A nation
of 120 million people cannot reconcile itself to the rule by a privileged
coterie. They are determined to wrest away from that coterie the power
that belongs to them. The people of
The concentration of wealth in the hands of the
privileged few and the total neglect of the needs of the rest of the population
have created pressures for immediate and radical change in the structure of the
economic system. The glaring disparities between the two wings of
Our people are our greatest resources. Radical
institutional and structural changes have to be made in our society in order to
make it possible for the people actively and collectively to involve themselves
in the common venture of rebuilding of our society on the foundation of
justice. What is required, therefore, is a social revolution to be wrought
through the democratic process. To bring it about we need a new constitutional,
political, economic and social structure.
This is the great challenge which faces us. It is a
challenge we must accept, for it involves our very survival.
We must break loose from the institutional framework
which is a legacy from colonial times. The institutions needed for promoting
rapid economic and social change are to be designed to meet the urgent needs of
our society and its people.
The very creation of the Awami League by the late
Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy was an early demonstration of the people's
determination to vindicate their rights through democratic struggle. This
struggle has continued unabated till this day. Great sacrifices have been made.
In the face of onslaught after, onslaught from the ruling group, countless
lives and families have been destroyed. Indeed the late Huseyn Shaheed
Suhrawardy himself is a martyr to the cause of the people. Thousands have laid
down their lives so that the flame of freedom may not be extinguished in our
country. Countless persons have suffered deprivation of liberty through long
terms of detention, and have sacrificed their family, property and careers in
order to sustain this struggle.
It is in the background of this tradition of
relentless and determined people's struggle, that the Awami League resolves to
accept the challenge which faces us today. The courage and determination
required to accept this challenge is born of our faith in our nation, of the
faith in our people and above all faith in the Almighty.
It is, therefore, to bring about a revolution
through the democratic process and thereby to replace the present structure of
injustice by a new constitutional, political economic and social order in which
justice between region and region, and between man and man, shall prevail, that
the manifesto of the party has been drawn up. The manifesto presents in
outline a comprehensive strategy for securing justice for each of the regions
of
BASIC FEATURES OF THE
COSTITUTION
Real Living Democracy
A real living democracy shall be established in
which people shall live in freedom and with dignity, and in which justice and
equality shall prevail.
Islam
Islam is the deeply cherished faith of the
overwhelming majority of the people. Awami League affirms that a clear
guarantee shall be embodied in the Constitution to the effect that no law repugnant
to the injunctions of Islam as laid down in the Holy Quran
and Sunnah shall be enacted or enforced in
Minorities
Minorities shall enjoy complete equality before the
law and equal protection of the law. They shall enjoy the full rights of
citizenship. Their right to profess, practise and propagate their respective
religions and their right to establish and manage their religious institutions
and to impart religious education to the members of their faith shall be
constitutionally guaranteed. No person shall be compelled to pay a tax to
propagate any religion other than his own. No person shall be required to
receive instruction or to take part in any religious worship or ceremony, if
such instruction, worship and ceremony relates to a religion other than his
own.
State's Responsibility to Ensure Basic Necessities of Life
The Constitution shall acknowledge a fundamental
responsibility on the part of the State to ensure that every citizen is
provided with the basic necessities of life including food, clothing, shelter,
education, medical care and the opportunity of employment at reasonable wages.
Equality before the Law
Every citizen shall constitutionally be guaranteed
equality before law and equal protection of the law. To ensure that this
gurantee is effective, it shall be the State's responsibility to take measures
to enforce that every citizen is provided with the requisite legal aid and
assistance necessary to secure his rights. The Jirga system shall be abolished
and all discriminatory tribal laws shall be repealed.
The Awami League reaffirms its faith in the fundamental
dignity of the human person and the principle of equality of all citizens,
irrespective of caste, colour, religion, linguistic or ethnic origin and looks
upon all citizens as full citizens in all respects of a democratic society.
Fundamental Rights and Freedoms
The fundamental rights and freedoms shall be
constitutionally guaranteed including freedom of speech and expression, freedom
of the press, freedom of convening public meetings, freedom of association,
freedom of movement, freedom of religion, protection against retrospective
punishment and above all against arbitrary arrest or detention. Untouchability,
slavery and forced labour shall be prohibited. Human rights as enumerated in
the Universal Declaration of Human Rights shall be guaranteed to every citizen.
Further it shall be constitutionally provided that
fundamental rights cannot be curtailed except during a period of actual
hostilities during a war. No such curtailment would be permitted on the pretext
of "national emergency".
The independence of the judiciary shall be
constitutionally guaranteed. Complete separation of judiciary from the
executive shall also be constitutionally guaranteed. Constitutional provisions
shall be made to ensure that only those persons are appointed as members of the
judiciary, who possess the integrity, and the intellectual and moral excellence
required to uphold and maintain the independence of the judiciary.
Federal Provisions
Point No. 1
The character of the Government shall be Federal and
Parliamentary, in which the election to the Federal Legislature and to the
Legislatures of the Federating Units shall be direct and on the basis of
universal adult franchise. The representation in the Federal Legislature shall
be on the basis of population.
Point No. 2
The Federal Government shall be responsible only for
defence and foreign affairs and, subject to the conditions provided in (3)
below, currency.
Point No. 3
There shall be two separate currencies mutually or
freely convertible in each wing for each region, or in the alternative a single
currency, subject to the establishment of a Federal Reserve System in which
there will be regional Federal Reserve Banks which shall devise measures to
prevent the transfer of resources and flight of capital from one region to
another.
Point No. 4
Fiscal policy shall be the responsibility of the Federating
Units. The Federal Government shall be provided with requisite revenue
resources for meeting the requirements of defence and foreign affairs, which
revenue resources would be automatically appropriable by the Federal Government
in the manner provided and on the basis of the ratio to be determined by the
procedure laid down in the Constitution. Such Constitutional provisions would
ensure that the Federal Government's revenue requirements are met consistently
with the objective of ensuring control over the fiscal policy by the
Governments of the Federating Units.
Point No. 5
Constitutional provisions shall be made to enable
separate accounts to be maintained of the foreign exchange earnings of each of
the Federating Units, under the control of the respective Governments of the
Federating Units. The foreign exchange requirements of the Federal Government
shall be met by the Governments of the Federating Units on the basis of a
ratio to be determined in accordance with the procedure laid down in the
Constitution. The regional Governments shall have power under the Constitution
to negotiate foreign trade and aid within the framework of the foreign policy
of the country, which shall be the responsibility of the Federal Government.
Point No. 6
The Government of the Federating Units shall be
empowered to maintain a militia or a para-military force in order to contribute
effectively towards national security.
Dissolution of One Unit
Consequent upon the dissolution of One Unit, matters
of common concern, if any, shall be left to be dealt with in such manner as
shall be determined by reference to the just aspirations of the people of the
different Federating Units of West Pakistan.
Representation in Federal Government
Constitutional provisions shall be made to ensure
that just representation of persons from all parts of
Democratic Administration
The existing administrative machinery was designed
to discharge the functions of a colonial government. It needs to be radically
re-structured in order to serve the needs of a dynamic, democratic society. The
essential features of the new adminstrative arrangements which shall be
reflected in the Constitution are:
Abolition of present all-Pakistan and Central
Superior Services;
Creation of Federal Services, for the purpose of
administering federal subjects of foreign affairs and defence to which
recruitment shall be made from all parts of Pakistan on the basis of
population;
Creation of specialised professional cadres
recruited and controlled by the governments of the federating units; such
cadres shall be subject to a new framework of service rules, which shall
provide for greater mobility based upon performance and evaluation of merit;
Entrustment of the district administration to elected councils assisted by
specialised staff;
Adopting measures for strengthening local government
institutions including reducing the size of the basic administrative unit by
converting sub-divisions into districts;
Adoption of effective measures for supervision and
control of administrative action in order to eliminate corruption, nepotism and
arbitrariness in the discharge of administration.
II. Fundamentals of the Economic Programme
The basic aim of this economic programme is the
creation of a just and egalitarian society free from exploitation. The vision
is that of a socialist economic order in which economic injustice will be
removed, rapid economic growth will be promoted and provision shall be made
for the just distribution of the fruits of such growth among all sections of
the people and the different regions of the country.
In a society, where the majority of its people are
steeped in the depths of poverty and are denied the basic necessity of life,
rapid economic growth is an imperative necessity. Given the burgeoning growth
of population and the scarcity of the basic resources in our society, the
attainment of rapid economic growth involves a relentless struggle and the
making of enormous sacrifices. Our task is to bring about a social and economic
revolution in our country within a democratic framework.
To promise rapid economic growth and the
establishment of a just society without such struggle and such sacrifices would
be to make a false promise. In commiting ourselves to the goal of rapid
economic growth we are in fact calling upon our people to engage in a
relentless struggle and to be prepared to make every sacrifice.
We believe, however, that such a call to the people
can be made only if we can assure them that both the burden of sacrifices and
the fruits of economic growth are equitably shared by all sections of the
people and by different regions of the country. In the past, it was the poorer
people and the poorer regions who were made to bear the burden of the
sacrifices while the benefits of economic growth were reaped by a privileged
few. We totally reject this unjust approach to economic growth.
At the root of social inequalities lie a defective
institutional framework which makes private enterprise the sole vehicle of
economic growth. The pursuit of private profit leads inevitably to concentration
of wealth in a few hands and to the control of the key sectors of the economy
by powerful private coteries. This makes it impossible for the goal of social
justice and equality to be realised. It will therefore be necessary to alter
the institutional framework of the economy by measures of nationalisation and
the extension sion of the public sector, by the development of co-operative
enterprises and by the
evolution of new institutional arrangements, such as
worker's participation in the equity and management of industrial enterprises.
Specific policy measures designed to lay the
foundations of such a new economic order are:
Public Sector and Nationalisation
Concentration of wealth and control of the key
sectors of the economy by a privileged coterie cannot be prevented by
progressive taxation and regulatory measures alone. In order effectively to
meet these problems, it is necessary to nationalise the key sectors of the
economy and to ensure that future development in key areas is in the public sector.
Such a programme of nationalisation is a pre-condition of achieving economic
growth in conformity with the goal of social justice.
The nationalisation programme must, however, be
pursued on the basis of a coherent strategy. Decisions with regard to the
extent, the pace and the form of nationalisation must be taken keeping in view
of administrative capacities, personnel requirements, and above all the
over-riding demands of efficiency. Being fully aware that unless proper
institutional arrangements are devised, nationalised undertakings can suffer
from inefficiency due to deficiency in pricing policy and bureaucratic
procedures and control, it is clearly recognised that new institutional
arrangements shall have to be designed -for the operation of nationalised
undertakings, staffed by the best available professional personnel so that the
highest standards of management and efficiency can be attained.
Keeping in view the above considerations, the list
of priorities for nationalisation is given below:
1. Banking;
2. Insurance;
3. Heavy Industries, including Iron and Steel,
Mining, Machine tools, Heavy Engineering, Petrochemicals, Fertiliser, Cement,
Fuel and Power.
4. Foreign Trade, in particular export and import of
major commodities including, in addition to jute and cotton mentioned below,
iron and steel products, coal, foodgrains, cement and fertiliser;
5. Jute Trade;
6. Cotton Trade;
7. Arterial, inter-wing and international transport,
including shipping;
8. Other key industries as would be determined by
the planning agency.
Progressive Taxation
The present tax structure reflects the same bias
towards the privileged few which has been characteristic of the entire economy
and is one of the most regressive in the world. The tax burden on the upper
income groups is one of the lowest by international standards. The demands of
social justice require a radical alteration in the tax structure in order to
ensure that a higher proportion of tax resources is realised from direct taxes,
than from indirect ones, the burden of which is passed on the common man. This
will involve the introduction of truly progressive system of income-tax and the
realisation of substantial taxes on capital gains, profits, wealth, gifts and
inheritance. Further, the existing system of deductions, exemptions and tax
holidays have further accentuated social inequalities and have contributed to
the concentration of wealth. These shall have to be comprehensively reviewed
and all such deductions, exemptions and tax holidays shall be eliminated
except to the extent that they are consistent with the social goals outlined
above.
Inter-regional and Intra-regional Disparity
Inter-regional disparity between East and West
Pakistan has widened at an alarming pace ever the last twenty-two years,
induced by the steady transfer of resources from East to
Provision of Basic Necessities
In pursuance of the fundamental responsibility of
the State to ensure that the basic necessities of life are available to the
people, immediate arrangements shall be made by means of building up massive
stocks, establishing distribution and storage arrangements and extending
subsidies, to ensure a constant supply of basic commodities at reasonable
prices. The principal commodities, among others, which shall be brought under
this system in the first instance are: rice, wheat, salt, kerosene, edible oil
and coarse cotton cloth.
Monopolies and Cartels
Monopolies and cartels are fundamentally inimical to
the social goals of a just and egalitarian society and hence the structural
changes in the economy which are envisaged would ensure the total elimination
of monopolies and cartels from the economic system.
Restriction of luxury consumption
In pursuance of the basic policy of the equitable
sharing of the sacrifices necessary for rapid economic growth, drastic
restrictions must be introduced on the consumption of luxuries. It is unjust to
call upon the toiling masses to make sacrifices while the privileged few are
allowed to indulge in the conspicuous consumption of luxuries. Specific
measures to restrict luxury consumption shall include:
(a) Total ban on the import of luxury items;
(b) Drastic restrictions on the domestic production
of luxury goods;
(c) Drastic restrictions on the construction of ostentatious
buildings until the basic need for shelter for the masses remains unprovided
for.
Wage structure
The wage and salaries structure shall be revised in
order to attain a just and equitable distribution of income among the different
sections of the people. This will involve raising wages and salaries at the
lower scale and reducing them substantially at the upper scale so as
progressively to reduce the gap between the lowest and highest salaries.
The price stabilisation measures proposed above are
designed to maintain and improve the real rather than merely the money wages of
wage-earners, who are seriously affected by the impact of spiralling inflation.
Industry
The past policies relating to industrial development
have shown scant regard for the fulfilment of social needs. The basic goals of
industrialisation in our society must be (a) creating an industrial base
capable of meeting our basic requirements
of capital and consumer goods; (b) reducing the
precarious dependence for basic requirements upon external sources; and (c)
creating employment.
Past policies not only failed to meet these goals,
but resulted in vast wastage of scarce resources, including foreign exchange
and foreign aid. The new strategy of industrialisation designed to promote the
basic social goals is outlined below.
HEAVY AND LARGE-SCALE INDUSTRIES
Nationalised Sector
The strategy of nationalisation in respect of heavy
and large-scale industries shall be as outlined above.
Non-nationalised Sector
Such large-scale industries as are not nationalised
shall be subject to the discipline imposed by the regulatory and planning
agencies.
Workers' Participation in Equity Capital and Management
Government shall progressively acquire shares in the
equity capital of such industries as are not immediately brought under public
ownership. The equity contributed by the Government shall be owned collectively
by the workers of that enterprise, who shall be entitled to the profits
accruing to such shares. Workers shall not only participate in the equity
capital but also in the management of the enterprise.
Medium Scale Industries
The Government shall encourage and provide the
requisite incentives for the promotion of medium-scale industries in the
private sector. These industries shall, however, be subject to the discipline
imposed by the regulatory and planning agencies.
Small-scale and Cottage Industries
Small-scale and cottage industries have a vital role
to play in our economy. The Government shall provide encouragement and
assistance for the development of small-scale and cottage industries. Support
to the cottage industries shall include ensuring regular supply of raw
materials, such as yarn at reasonable price to handloom weavers, and the
provision of extensive credit and marketing facilities.
The highest priority shall be accorded to a
programme for the establishment of small-scale industries. These shall be so
developed as to be complementary to the large-scale industries. Small-scale
industries shall be developed through co-operatives to the maximum extent
possible.
Agricultural processing industries, such as rice and
flour mills, oil mills, sugar mills and the like shall be established and
managed to the maximum extent possible by agricultural co-operatives.
Measures shall be taken to ensure the dispersal of
small-scale enterprises throughout the country, extending into the depths of
the rural areas. This is necessary in order to enable the rural masses to
participate in the benefits of industrialisation and also to relieve
overcrowding and congestion in the cities.
Agriculture and the Rural Masses
Since the rural masses constitute the bulk of our
population no plan to revolutionise our economy can be meaningful unless it
accords the highest priority to agriculture and the condition of the rural
masses. While poverty pervades our entire society, there exists today [a
significant disparity between the urban and rural standards of living. While
this has historical roots, disparity has widened in the recent past due to the
discriminatory policies of the Government, which resulted in a large transfer
of resources from poor peasants to rich capitalists. The Awami League pledges
to put an immediate end to such exploitation of our rural masses. In order to
do this, a far-reaching revolution in the agricultural sector is necessary. A
pre-condition for such a revolution is a radical change in the system of land
utilisation and creation of new institutions in the form of multi-purpose
co-operatives.
Great sacrifices are required of our rural masses
but at the same time it must be recognised that because of conditions created
by past exploitation, regeneration of our agriculture will require massive
Government support in the form of provision of vital inputs ranging from
fertiliser and improved seeds to tube-wells, power-pumps and pesticides. The
Awami League pledges to provide the full measures of support required to bring
about a revolutionary change in our agriculture.
Abolition of Jagirdari, Zamindari, Sardari and fixing of ceiling
The changes in the system of land utilisation which
are envisaged are: (a) total abolition of the Jagirdari, Zamindari and Sardari
system prevalent in
Multipurpose Agricultural Co-operatives
A furthcr precondition for the agricultural
revolution is the modernisation of agriculture. This can only be effected if the
obstacles presented by fragmentation and sub-division can be overcome. While
every effort shall be made to bring about consolidation of holdings, joint
utilisation of land by grouping plots held by individual tillers under
co-operatives provides an immediate solution.
A massive programme for the establishment of a
network of' multi-purpose co-operatives shall be accorded the highest priority.
There shall immediately be established an organisational nucleus at each
Land Revenue
The burden of land revenue bears heavily upon our
present population. As a measure of immediate relief, all holdings of up to 25
bighas (8-1/3 acres) throughout
Jute
Jute, being one of the principal cash crops and
foreign exchange earners, needs special attention. Jute growers have suffered
due to the existence of parasitic middle-man, unscrupulous export traders and
mill-purchasing agents, as also by the manipulation of the exchange rate to
benefit the jute manufacturing capitalists at the cost of the jute growers. The
jute trade including its domestic purchase and sales, as well as its export,
shall be nationalised. The object of such nationalisation is the elimination
of such parasitic middle-man and the exploitation of jute growers. The rate of
exchange for raw jute shall not be permitted to remain discriminatory against
the jute growers. Through such measures, it shall be possible to ensure a
minimum price for raw jute considerably higher than the present price. High
priority must be accorded by the Government to jute research both to increase
quality and yield per acre of jute, as also to develop new uses for it. There
has been criminal neglect of jute research and the present system of improvised
and partial regulation of the jute trade and industry has been ruinous.
Measures have to be taken on an emergency basis to implement the comprehensive
scheme aimed at improving the quality and yield per acre of jute, maximising
the price received by jute-growers consistently with the aim of maximising the
contribution of jute to our economy.
Cotton
Cotton is another principal cash crop which must be
singled out for special attention. By nationalisation of the cotton trade and
increased emphasis on research and improvement in the cultivation of cotton,
the contribution of this major cash crop to our economy should be maximised.
Tea
The state of our tea industry is manned by a high
degree of inefficiency. Our average yield is 12 maunds per acre as against
yields in the region of 35 maunds per acre under similar conditions in other
countries. Hardly any attention has been paid to improve the quality of seeds.
With effective regulation and adoption of measures for soil testing and better
use of fertilisers and pesticides, the average yield can be rapidly increased.
Failure to achieve production targets should be visited with penal action
including cancellation of leases. The Tea Board should be staffed by personnel,
possessing specialised knowledge about tea, so that its powers can be
effectively exercised. The high degree of instability in tea prices needs to be
corrected. If the existing marketing units do not subject themselves to
discipline, a Tea Marketing Board should be established.
Sugarcane and Tobacco
The growth potential in respect of both these crops
is substantial. Independent Boards shall be established to implement
comprehensive schemes for effecting improvements in quality and yield, as also
to ensure a stable and fair price to growers. Government support shall be
extended in the form of improved seeds, fertiliser and credit.
Fruit Cultivation, Plantations and Orchards
Large-scale fruit cultivation can make a substantial
contribution to our economy. Schemes for development of fruit cultivation and
plantations through co-operatives shall be launched so that scientific
cultivation, improvement in quality and yield, and the benefits of a
large-scale enterprise may be achieved. ,
Forests and
The indiscriminate deforestation which is taking
place is depleting this valuable natural resource.
Flood Control
This is a vital aspect of any strategy to rebuild
the agriculture of Fast Pakistan since incalculable damage is done each year by
the recurrence of floods
A comprehensive programme of flood control and water
management is therefore accorded the highest priority in the Awami League's
programme for restructuring the economy. The Awami League has all along
recognised the vital importance of flood control as is evident from the fact
that the first serious effort in this direction was made during the short
period when the Awami League formed the government during which period the Krug
Mission was invited to
Water-logging and Salinity
All necessary measures for meeting the problem of
water-logging and salinity shall be implemented at an accelerated pace in order
to save the agriculture of
Power
The importance of power in our strategy of economic
growth cannot be over-emphasised. There is no limit to the uses to which power
can be put to accelerate the pace of economic and social development. The Awami
League commits iself to a programme of extensive rural electrification, since
this would not only yield enormous economic benefits but would also make it
possible to achieve such vital goals as establishment of small-scale
industries, eradication of illiteracy, imparting of education in modern
agricultural technique and would bring to our villages one of the basic
amenities of the twentieth century. A comprehensive system of transmission
lines must be developed in order to implement the rural electrification
programme.
Every source of power must be harnessed in order to
maximize power generation capacity. The aim should be at least to attain a
power generating capacity of 2,500 MGW in
Natural Resources
There has been criminal neglect in the matter of
scientific exploration and development of natural resources of
River Training and Development
The vast network of rivers that exists particularly
in
Fisheries
In a society where 70%. of its population suffers
from protein deficiency, the crucial importance of fisheries cannot be
over-emphasised. A comprehensive plan for fisheries development, including marine
fisheries, must be launched. This sector would not only yield additional export
earnings but will provide vital protein requirements to our hungry millions.
Important features of such a comprehensive plan include the establishment of a
Fisheries Development Bank, the development of fish harbours, deep-sea fishing
fleets, motorised inland fishing fleets, refrigerated storage and distribution
facilities, implementation of scientific cultivation and development of
fisheries. Fishermen's co-operatives managed by actual fishermen shall be given
every encouragement and support to undertake schemes for fisheries'
development.
Livestock, Poultry and Dairy Farming
The areas of livestock planning, poultry and dairy
farming have also been greatly neglected. Extensive programmes aimed at the
scientific development of livestock, poultry and dairy farming shall be
launched in all parts of
Right of Workers
The rights of workers in accordance with all the
Conventions of the International Labour Organisation shall be guaranteed. The
right to form trade unions, the right to collective bargaining and the right to
strike shall be guaranteed. All laws designed to curtail such basic rights of
workers shall be repealed. The entire governmental machinery relating to labour
shall be comprehensively overhauled so that Government can play a constructive
and active role in promoting the legitimate interests of labour, while ensuring
that basic social goals such as promotion of industrial productivity are
simultaneously pursued.
Government shall encourage the establishment of
trade unions and the establishment of training institutions where workers can
improve their skills as well as their prospects for advancement.
Workers shall be ensured a basic living wage and
security of service. Equal pay for the same jobs shall be ensured, irrespective
of sex. The following basic amenities must be assured to the workers and their
families:
(a) Habitable rent-free housing;
(b) Free medical care;
(c) Leave with full pay during the period of
sickness;
(d) Leave with full pay for one month for every
completed year of service;
(e) Disablement and retirement benefits;
(f) Free education for workers' children at least up
to the secondary school stage;
(g) Maternity leave with full benefit to female
workers.
In addition to securing the above rights for
workers, the goal of creating a just and egalitarian society also requires that
workers should be progressively associated with the management of industries.
In pursuance of the same social goal workers should be entitled to receive a
share in the profits of the enterprise in which they work so as to give them a
stake in increasing productivity.
Workers in Government and semi-Government agencies should
be assured of a living wage, security of service and welfare benefits,
including sickness and retirement benefits.
Employment
Unemployment is the worst form of social injustice. The
entire economic programme ultimately should be aimed at maximising employment
opportunities
so that the ultimate goal of providing employment to
every citizen may be realised. Comprehensive manpower planning is essential for
utilising the vast human resources of our society. Some of the basic
instruments utilised for maximising employment should be:
(a) Rural development projects for construction of
roads, irrigation and drainage systems, school buildings and the like.
(b) Introduction of labour intensive techniques in
industry and agriculture.
(c) Extensive support for cottage industries in
rural areas.
Education
The basic aim of education should be to make it
possible for every citizen of
Eradication of illiteracy
All steps shall betaken for the total eradication of
illiteracy. This will involve a new strategy and the adoption of unconventional
methods. The drafting of college and university students in a national service
programme for imparting literary education would be one such method.
Primary and Secondary Education
Free and compulsory primary education shall be
provided to all. It is expected to reach this target within a period of 5
years. Secondary education shall be made accessible to all sections of the
population.
Technical and Vocational Education
The entire educational system shall be geared to the
needs of the society and after a proper assessment of such needs, institutions
imparting technical and vocational education shall be introduced. Polytechnic
Institutes shall be widely dispersed throughout the countryside.
Universities
The highest standards shall be maintained at our
universities and access to such education shall be made available to all sections
of the population on the basis of merit, and poverty shall not be allowed to
stand in the way of pursuit of higher education by meritorious boys and girls.
New universities and colleges including medical colleges and technical
universities must be rapidly established all over
Complete academic freedom shall be guaranteed.
Chancellors of the Universities shall be from among distinguished and respected
educationists. Full autonomy shall be ensured to universities and all laws
seeking to restrict academic freedom and the autonomy of universities shall be
repealed.
Ports
The development of ports, both seaports and inland
river ports, shall be accorded the highest priority. Ports in
Housing
Shelter being one of the basic necessities of life,
the provision of housing for the lower income groups and the rural masses is a
matter of great importance. In addition to the scheme for provision of housing
for workers by their employers, the State shall promote the following measures
towards housing development:
(a) Construction of dwelling units for low income
groups in the cities.
(b) Utilising rural development projects for
construction of rural housing and introduction of new models of rural housing
designed to provide greater protection against the natural elements.
Women
Women constitute nearly half of our population. They
have been greatly handicapped in making, their full contribution to society
largely due to lack of education. Educational facilities for women shall be
increased as rapidly as possible so as to enable them to enjoy equal
opportunity in all walks of life. Full rights of citizenship shall be
guaranteed to them. They shall also be granted equal pay for equal work. All
government service shall be made open to them on the basis of merit.
Youth
Our youth, abounding in energy and imbued with a
deep sense of idealism, are a great national asset. Unless such idealism and
energy are channelised into nation-building programmes, it could result in
frustration. It is, therefore, of vital
importance to associate youth with nation-building
pcogrammes, Sikh as eradication of illiteracy and the organising of social
uplift and co-operative schemes, by developing a service corps manned by
college and university students, who shall be called upon to render such
service in villages, factories and urban slums.