People’s power is the participation of the working people in genuine local government

According to the 73 rd and 74 th constitutional amendments, elections have to take place in the local bodies every 5 years. The State Election Commission has declared elections to the Tamil Nadu local bodies on October 13 th and 15 th. Even though the local bodies have been given certain powers by this constitutional amendment, in reality, it is the ruling circles who control these bodies. Local bodies such as village panchayats, town panchayats, municipalities and corporations do not have enough powers or funds or mechanisms to enable the real empowerment of people. Only 8 percent of taxes collected at the state level is earmarked for the local government. In reality, even this meager among does not reach the local bodies in time. The local governing bodies are completely under the control of the district collector, legislative members and parliament members. The local government bodies do not have any control over the land, water, and mineral resources of the country. Moreover, the functioning of the local bodies have been severely affected by the domination of the political parties of the big monopolies.

The process of privatization, liberalization and globalization being implemented by the central and state governments has further deprived the local bodies of their powers. Therefore, in order for the people to come to the centrestage of the political process, the domination of money and muscle power in the local body elections should be completely eliminated, and the electoral process should be funded by the state.

All planning and implementation of plans within the jurisdiction of the local bodies should be done with the full consent of the local bodies and the participation of members of the gram sabha and town wards.

All the natural resources should be under the control of the local bodies. Land administration and land reforms should be done only with the consent of the local bodies.

The local bodies should be provided adequate powers to protect the livelihood of the people living in the countryside, and to prevent the alienation of peasants from their land.

Elections to the local bodies at the village, town panchayat, municipalities and corporations should not be party-based. Party symbols should not be used in these elections. The monopoly of political parties and their symbols should be put an end to in the local body elections. Only then can the people select and elect representatives who will truly defend their interests.

Candidates to the local body elections should be selected and elected by the constituency members themselves. The people should have the right to recall their representatives also.

The MLA and MP funds should be brought under the control of the local bodies.

In order to make planning and implementation people-centred, enough powers should be provided with the local bodies from the lowest to the highest levels fully in charge.

Land should be provided to the landless peasants. Along with this, the peasants should be assured of procurement of their produce at remunerative prices. The state should enable the provision of quality agricultural inputs at affordable prices to the peasants.

All those without shelter should be provided houses.

All those belonging to the working age should be provided a livelihood.

Women and men should be given equal wage for equal work. The rights of women should be ensured.

Constitutional guarantees should be provided for education, health, medical care, drinking water, road access and transport facilities for all.

The rights of old aged people, disabled, widows, tribal people and dalits for a decent life and livelihood should be guaranteed.

All water sources should be under the control of local governments and enough funds should be provided for their maintenance.

A universal public distribution system should be set up, where all essential commodities are available to all at affordable prices. All PDS outlets should function under the control of local bodies.

The state should give up its urban renewal plan and the state should guarantee restoration of the right to life and livelihood of all people living in urban areas who have been evicted in this process.

Panchayats and district level bodies should have powers to administer and implement programs. All local government bodies should be able to initiate legislation at their level for discussion and approval in the state legislatures.

Let us fight for for social justice, for continuous development in the material conditions of life, and for people’s power (lok raj) to blossom in the local government bodies! Let us build lok raj! Let us participate in the local body electoral process to advance the cause of lok raj with the participation of working people in local government!

Jointly signed by:

Lok Raj Sangathan, Unorganised Workers Federation, National Alliance of Peoples Movements, and 51 fraternal organizations