Kerala: People's manifesto calls to abolish death penalty

KOZHIKODE: The people’s manifesto, a draft released by an activist group in Kozhikode,  scrutinises the current development strategies followed by the state administration  and  proposes a sustainable model to  uplift  the marginalised people in the state. The  manifesto has been  released as part of ‘Occupy Kerala’ campaign, a movement against corporate-model development and anti-environmental activities in the name of development.

The draft has covered areas like health, energy, trade and labour. It stresses agriculture-based development and says that growth should be based on sustainable and participatory democracy. It also proposes to abolish the death penalty in India. “Death penalty has been eliminated in about 150 countries  but there was no increase in the crime rate  there. Kerala has to stand for  abolishing  death penalty as a progressive state,”  the document says.  

Another take is  to form a transgender justice board to address the problems of transgender minorities.   “Kerala is the first state that unveiled a transgender policy but the attitude of most people remains  unchanged and this campaign will promote the rights of transgenders,’’ the  manifesto says.   

Dr. Asad, one of the pioneers of the campaign,  says that they intend to showcase all the atrocities happening under the label of development.   “We aim to address all the basic issues that an administration has to follow. Dalits are the victims of development and they are the most neglected section in society. We have to hold them with us rather than ignore them as a forsaken community,’’ he says. A two-day  camp and discussions took place as part of the campaign and the manifesto was drafted  thereafter.