Udaipur Nav Sankalp - towards a better tomorrow

Today, our nation faces a similar turmoil as during British rule with widespread poverty, hunger, malnutrition, unemployment, and uncertainty. We are struck by soaring inflation, Rupee is at an all-time low and the country’s institutions, on which the economy thrived are being privatised. The wealth gap has widened and education is diminishing. The social welfare schemes are dead and the only thing that’s blooming is hate and divisiveness. We are not united anymore. The diversity we took pride in has become a weapon of destruction today.

Given the present circumstances prevailing in the country, it had become crucial for Congress to step in and deliberate a change. The Congress party held a 3-day Nav Sankalp Chintan Shivir in Udaipur during which six groups focusing on six different issues held discussions and resolved to the ‘Udaipur Nav Sankalp Declaration’. Given below are some of the important fragments from the resolution:

Organisation

• Three new departments are to be formed at the National Level within the organisation

1. Public Insight Department
2. National Training Institute
3. Election Management Department

• All vacancies at every level are to be filled in the next 90 to 180 days
• 50% of Congress office-bearers to be below the age of 50
• ‘Political Affairs Committee’ to be formed at the state level
• ‘1 person - 1 post’ principle to be implemented
• District, Block, and Mandal committee meetings to be organised regularly
• On the completion of 75 years of Independence, 75 km long Padyatras are to be commenced from each district

Political

• Congress shall emphasize on instilling the principles of "Bharatiyata" and "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam"
• All Congressmen & women shall fight under any circumstances to protect Gandhian values ​​and the Nehruvian idea of India
• Congress will establish extensive contact and dialogue with all social, cultural, and non-governmental organizations, trade unions, think tanks and civil society groups
• Congress vehemently denounces the politics of vote-gathering by targeting minorities, the poor and the downtrodden based on religion, language, caste, colour and regionalism
• In national interest, Congress shall strongly oppose all immoral acts

Economy

• Congress shall make efforts to formulate and implement the "Nav Sankalp Economic Policy"
• Employment generation will be the focus of "Nav Sankalp Economic Policy"
• The Nav Sankalp Economic Policy address the issues of extreme poverty, hunger, worrying malnutrition (especially among women and children) and the growing inequalities of income and wealth
• Comprehensive review of the financial relations between the Centre and the states is the need of the hour as also the protection & preservation of the rights of the states
• Taking into account the changes in the global economy and climate change, advanced technology etc, the Nav Sankalp Economic Policy will build an economy based on the principle of fairness, justice, and equality aiming to bring opportunity & prosperity to all sections of the society
• Congress strongly opposes indiscriminate privatization
• Congress shall prepare India's economy and workforce according to the needs of the future

Agriculture

• Resolved to get rid of farm-debt by forming the "National Farmer Debt Relief Commission"
• The Central government should ensure legal guarantee for MSP
• MSP to be determined based on C2+50%.
• Entire cultivation area to be insured
• ‘Agriculture Budget’ proposed to be presented in Parliament
• Creation of the "National Farmers Welfare Fund" for financial assistance to farmers
• Tractors and other farming equipment to be GST free.
• Transfer of ₹6,000 per family per month to every farmer and farm labourer family under ‘NYAY'
• The number of Krishi Upaj Mandis to be increased from the current 7,600 to 42,000.
• 100 days of work for every person under MGNREGA must be strictly implemented
• Annual average income should be increased to ₹ 18,000 by bringing MGNREGA wages at par with minimum wages

Social Justice and Empowerment

• Re-introduction of the SC-ST sub-plan with legal recognition in the budget of the Central and State Governments.
• 33% of seats in Parliament, Legislative Assemblies and Legislative Councils to be reserved for women
• Resolved to take effective steps for the empowerment of workers' organizations
• Resolved to run a 'Leadership Mission' for the creation of new leadership from among the deprived sections in the SC-ST reserved parliamentary & assembly constituencies
• Sense of harmony to be fostered by running a special 'Sadbhavna Mission’
• Resolved to create a "Special Health Mission" for the Scheduled Tribes and also help secure lease of forest land to the Scheduled Tribes.

Youth

• 'Rozgar Do Padyatra' from Kashmir to Kanyakumari proposed
• Provision of free education in colleges and universities for poor students on the lines of the Right to Education Act
• The central government should make a permanent solution to bridge the gap between the children of the poor and the rich
• Special 'Recruitment Drive' to fill vacant posts in all Government Departments, Government of India Undertakings and all the three Defence services in the next six months
• 50% posts at the organizational level to youth below 50 years of age

The Congress party fought for India when it was being ruled by the oppressive British Empire. The nation’s oldest political party united the country when it was in turmoil. After Independence, it strived to ensure food, health and prosperity for every section of the society. Now, once again, Congress is ready to fight this battle to bring unity and welfare for all of us and the coming generations.