Urban local body polls: People's manifesto demands right to work for slumdwellers

By A Representative 
As political parties are trying to woo voters ahead of urban local body elections in Bhubaneswar, the people’s collective Bhubaneswar Vikas Sangathan has released a people’s manifesto to make election contestants accountable to keep their poll promises.
The manifesto has been prepared in a consultative process after discussing with slum residents, local leaders, urban rights experts and social activists and comprises main issues they are facing such as Safe drinking water, sanitation and hygiene, electricity and other civic issues.
The manifesto demands the right to work for slum dwellers as there is an uncertainty of employment among unskilled labourers living in various slums. It also demands a grievance redressal centre to bring connections between elected representatives and community members, a labour facilitation centre for helping them get benefit from government schemes and a study centre for children which according to the communities, need to be done in priority.
Members of the Bhubaneswar Vikas Sangathan are also running a drive to take a pledge from the contestants to ensure implementation of these issues if they win elections.
Jyotsnarani Nayak, a corporator contestant from Ward No 17 of Patharabandha Sahi said “this is a welcoming step by these groups. Elected representatives are always blamed for deviating from backtracking from their announcements. So, this will make us conscious about what we need to deliver if we win. I have signed the pledge and announced that I will continue highlighting these issues even if I can’t win.