Odisha Janshakti Manch promotes socio-political and economic reforms, advocating for social justice, biodiversity preservation, and democratic participation for sustainable development.
- Mukti nilaya,Khandagiri vihar,Bhubaneswar 30
Bikalpis proudly stand for the sustainable development of humanity on planet the Earth with commitment for freedom, justice, diversity and non-violence. It has emerged in a situation when most political parties have become business entities with one family or a person at the top who behaves like a super being. Political leaders have become subservient to the high command and dance to the tunes of the commanders personal staff. The parties have no values and any political person can fit into any other party. Political parties do not hesitate to divide the society on racial, religious, colour, language and caste grounds. Draconian and colonial laws are used to suppress challenging voices. India is pushed to grave environmental, social and economic dangers. Existing political parties were incapable of dealing with this challenge.
We are a congregation of people who are in to social movements: environmentalists and anti-corruption activists, human rights, social justice, women’s rights, forest rights, food rights, housing and land rights, quality public education etc. We advocate to think globally and acting locally.
1. Liberty – There should be no unreasonable restrictions on citizens in term of what they think, their manner of expressions and the way they wish to follow up their thoughts in action.
2. Education – The poor performance of the public education system established in the last decades served as a source of graft for the inequalities of race, gender, and geography. We are committed free education from cradle to grave. From pre-school programs to doctorates, education is free and available to all. For us Education facilitates judgment and critical ability, empathy and solidarity. It makes us more aware of the societal and political alternatives to the status quo and enhances each person’s potential for creativity and innovation.
3. Health-We are committed to improve the national health standard by assuring access to health services to all, with thrust on prevention, increased community participation, advancement of technology , inter-sectoral action and international cooperation.
4. Freedom-
5. Equality- We are for a equitable society. Equitability demands fairly distributing society’s goods. It calls for positive discrimination towards marginalized communities. The citizens must be educated to show solidarity with Equitablity.
6. Justice – We are committed for a justice system which is astute, impartial, corruption free , accessible to all and delivers justice is a reasonable time frame without pressure from Government . It protects fundamental rights and has confidence of the citizens.
7.Democracy
8. Federalism and local self-government
9. Codetermination in society and the economy
10. Environment
In a positive sense, liberty consists of the fullest development of all the faculties and powers of every human being, by education, by scientific training, and by material prosperity. It also includes equal liberty of others. Safe guarding personal liberty includes nothing more than physical freedom of body i.e. freedom from arrest and detention from false imprisonment or wrongful confinement . Liberty and Individual autonomy
We Bikalpi believe all human beings – regardless of sex, age, sexual orientation or identity, ethnic origin or disability- have the right to make their own choices, to express themselves freely and to shape their own lives. This freedom is not exclusively about material possessions; it includes the social, cultural, intellectual and spiritual dimensions of human life.
These inalienable rights should be guaranteed by law and taught in schools as basic foundations of our societies. They should be fulfilled by empowerment of the people, by the opportunity for all women and men to make a living for themselves and their families and, where necessary, by social and material support, sufficient to lead a dignified life and to fully participate in society.
Freedom is a state of being where individuals have opportunity to pursue their creative interests unhindered by coercive social relationships and social system in place. Freedom thus requires both the material economic conditions that make freedom possible which includes social relationships and institutions conducive to freedom. We believe in that form of freedom which enables an individual to pursue creative interests in the absence of forced labour.
We want a society where people have the opportunity to fashion their own lives, without being told what to do. We know that freedom of the individual is bound up with certain legal and social conditions. We are committed to ensuring everyone has the opportunity to exercise the freedom to shape their own lives, not just a privileged minority. Self-determination includes ecological and social responsibilities. We will not leave freedom to those who choose to define it as a synonym for unrestricted markets – the freedom to push others aside. Freedom is the chance for emancipation and self determination transcending social and ethical barriers or gender differences. But this requires people having the freedom to express their own commitment in freely chosen groups or associations.
This is especially true for minorities. Responsibility for the future can only be ensured by self-determined individuals. We want to strengthen the individual and the society where s/he lives out freedom and realizes responsibilities. We are committed to a democratic constitutional state with a clear framework safeguarding freedom and consideration of others. Self-determination reaches its limits where it restricts the freedom and self-determination of others. That is why we do not want to live in a way which undermines or destroys possibilities for self-determination for people in other countries or future generations
Citizens of a socialist society should recognize that they are engaged in a cooperative enterprise to transform nature in order to improve the lives of all. Equality of opportunity requires compensating those who suffered bad luck in the birth lottery with substantial education and training.
Bukalpi policies are based on the principle of justice. This demands a fair distribution of society’s goods and this, in turn, requires special attention to the needs of the weakest. Attention to the weakest is especially of importance at the global level. Because we have to address the problems of a changing world, our notion of justice goes far beyond traditional redistribution policies. Bikalpis stand for social justice, for gender equity, for justice between generations, and for justice at the global level. Despite the practical conflicts arising between them, these dimensions of justice must not be played off against each other.
• Social justice ensures that everyone has access to vital societal resources: education, work and democratic participation. Fair access must be defended in the face of existing social imbalances, and needs to be institutionally safeguarded. Education is a decisive factor in the ability to shape one’s own life. Using our labour skills enables us to bear the fruits of our abilities and thus defines a key part of our identity. Democratic participation is a basic requirement for becoming involved in society and helping to shape it.
• Gender equity. Justice is also gender equity. Women and men should enjoy the same power to define how society will develop. Moreover, they should be able to live their lives free from violence. We want to develop the institutional framework which guarantees women equality at home, at work, in public office and in other positions of influence. We want to facilitate the harmonisation of family and professional life for both genders.
• Justice between the generations. The motto “We have only borrowed the world from our children” is more appropriate today than ever before. Today, our children’s future is at risk. Justice between generations means an obligation for the older generation to hand down our environmental, social and cultural heritage to the younger ones in a sustainable way. It also includes an obligation for the younger generations to care for the elder population. It should be ensured that all generations can participate fully in society.
• Global justice. Justice is also our yardstick on the international level. As the global economy connects people and increases our interdependence, this moral obligation also becomes a practical imperative. Worldwide sustainable development and universal human rights are at the core of our concept of global justice. These must be underpinned by an independent institutional monitoring framework for corporate social responsibility and fair trade.
Justice requires solidarity, non-discrimination and citizens’ involvement. Solidarity helps create self-confident individuals – it strengthens citizens instead of patronising them. All public authorities should work in partnership with citizens to create and defend institutions that enhance solidarity. For this reason we also want to invest in networks and communities, which, with state encouragement, practice mutual support.
Crime and justice- Policy on crime must be a balanced interplay of prevention, intervention and repression. A one-sided reliance on repression does not make the country any safer. The decriminalization of minor offences can help relieve the judicial system.
We are looking for a renewal of democratic norms, values and culture. Citizens’ intervention in the democratic process is not just permissible, but something we actively encourage and promote. Our guiding principles are the ideas of equitable participation in decision-making processes, individual self-determination, and sustainability. We are for a society:
1. Where elections are fair and free and basic civil liberties are honored.
2. Where civil liberties and fundamental political freedoms are not only respected but also reinforced by a political culture conducive to the thriving of democratic principles.
3. Where there is optimal level of people’s participation in governance.
4. Where there is governmental checks and balances, an independent judiciary whose decisions are enforced, governments that function adequately, and there is diverse and independent media.
5. Where the political parties have internal democracy and authoritarian and feudal styles of functioning are criticized.
6. Where citizens are vocal and participate in decision making at their spheres.
Our objectives are the strengthening of constitutional liberalism as the epitome of civil rights and rights to liberty, the extension of citizens’ participation, the development of multicultural democracy, the reform of democratic institutions, the reinvigoration of federalist structures and new means of democratic co-determination in business and society.
Democracy and justice-The opportunity to participate in democratic processes is central to justice. The struggle for democracy is also a struggle for justice. The goal of justice is not only a stake in ownership, but also a stake in decision-making – irrespective of social situation, origins, gender, sexual identity, skin colour, religion or other characteristics. Self-confident citizens with a will to intervene are only possible where there is social respect. This is why we want to reinforce the role of citizens as democratic agents and extend their participatory rights. We can only ensure democratic participation by keeping access to media, information and the sites of public communication open to everybody.
Democracy and liberty /self-determination- Self-determination and democracy are inextricably linked. The individual’s right to self-determination is the normative basis of democracy, and demands that all unjustified political and social power structures and hierarchies be dismantled. Democracy requires self-determined individuals who can give confident expression to their aspirations and political convictions. Only through the public articulation of individual needs and interests is it possible to arrive at decisions that will do justice to all members of our society. For a democracy, citizens’ rights to liberty are a serious matter.
We want to reinforce those rights to liberty and defend them against attack. A modern party of civil rights must not only defend and protect citizens’ rights against state intrusion, but also safeguard them against powerful non-state, economic actors.
Democracy and sustainability. It is important not to make decisions today that will fundamentally restrict tomorrow’s opportunities for democratic decision making. Every society has the right to make a fresh start in drawing up its own of models of Democracy in evolving conditions of globalisation, individualisation and the technological revolution if it is to maintain itself as society’s central decision-making principle. The challenge of globalisation. The globalisation process is putting pressure on democracy. With the collapse of borders between markets and economic flows, national legislatives and governments are seeing their room for political manoeuvre shrinking. We will need new organisational forms and instruments to defend democratic norms and values.
Media and democracy. We are committed to promote journalistic diversity and defend an independent, free and democratic media . It is indispensable to maintain a publicly controlled segment within the broadcasting system, financially supported and capable of development, that can act as a counterweight to the highly concentrated commercial media concerns. The decentralized structure of Internet communication makes new forms of participation possible. Citizens might, for example, receive the opportunity to express their opinions about draft laws online. The point here is not to replace representative democracy with another type. Instead, it is to increase citizens’ participation in the processes of public opinion forming and political decisions.
Reforming democratic institutions- Democracy depends on competition between political positions and visions. Democracy must be combative, for its lifeblood comes from the struggle between different visions and demands. There is a fundamental need for access for everybody concerned, for transparent procedures and for publicly accessible results. Strengthening the right to participation of citizens, along with non-governmental organisations, interest groups and associations, is essential if a society is to face the future with confidence. New forms of participation must be initiated and established that are capable of promoting dialogue within society. As a complement to parliamentary democracy, we aim to reinforce elements of direct participation by citizens on all levels of the state, from the local authority to the national government. The design of these instruments of direct democracy must be citizen-friendly enough for a vigorous democratic practice to arise. They must be continually re-examined and perfected.
Our belief in democracy is founded upon the mutual recognition of all individuals as equals. To encourage a maximum level of commitment, the political and decision-making processes have to be democratic, inclusive, transparent and fully accessible in a way comprehensible to ordinary citizens. The radical changes needed for sustainable development require that all take a common responsibility and a fair share of the burden. Elected representatives have the duty to consult and fully inform their constituents throughout the whole decision making process.
We must always think globally, even whilst acting locally. To ensure the highest level of citizens’ involvement and benefit, the authority to decide should be vested in the lowest effective level. Conversely, whenever a problem requires action on a higher level, the consequences for the lower levels should be taken into account and differences respected. Minority interests must be given adequate attention and protection.
The federal system contributes to the creation of equal life conditions for everyone, the preservation of regional specificities and the power of regional interests vis-à-vis the central government. Federalism draws its legitimacy from a clear demarcation of responsibilities between the Federation, the individual state and the local authority. This means allocating financial resources to the level which, in any one case, has the political power and bears the responsibility. Additionally, the decentralisation of state duties, more responsibility for the regions with their specific cultural and economic features, and increased support for local-level political commitment will all help achieve more efficient production of public goods and services. Competition between the regions is a positive factor as long as a level playing field and a sustainable competitive framework are in place.
What we need today is a renaissance of local politics. Local authorities must be given more freedom to act. We aim to reawaken awareness of the right to local self-administration that is anchored in the Indian constitution. To this end, the system of fiscal balancing between the local authorities must be reformed. A key factor here is reaching a steady level of local income, as well as strengthening financial autonomy by improving local authorities’ right to decide the level of the taxes they levy. However, we also hope to provide more scope for the local authorities – and thus local people themselves – to make decisions about their community. This means a legal framework that permits flexibility and encourages experiment.
Democracy and participation should not remain restricted to the domain of the state. We want them to be an integral part of other domains as well, domains where important decisions about our future are made. The call for accountability also covers those economic institutions that exert a powerful influence on society. The continued development of codetermination in business contexts, along with more involvement in productive capital by the population, can help ensure more effective participation in shaping economic events. This can be achieved both on the level of individual businesses, through worker participation, and across businesses through investment funds. Here, growing demands will be made on a partnership-based entrepreneurial culture which allows employees to share in decisions about the direction their company should take. As we see it, co-ownership and codetermination are complementary issues. Rights to co-determination, and the safeguarding of collective interests on the factory floor and in company structures, are necessary to do fulfil the wish for an increasingly humane and democratic everyday life at the workplace. Co-determination in factories and businesses must be adapted to fit society’s changing needs and demands. The need for codetermination is not limited to the world of work. The chance to participate actively is equally crucial in the domains of school and university, the residential environment and the planning and implementation of large-scale urban and rural projects. In these fields, too, we need procedures that make it possible to balance a range of conflicting interests.
Odisha Janshakti Manch promotes socio-political and economic reforms, advocating for social justice, biodiversity preservation, and democratic participation for sustainable development.