AJP unveils panchayat election manifesto: emphasizes grassroots democracy, local economy, and cultural preservation

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaApril 23, 2025

The Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP) on Wednesday released its manifesto for the upcoming 2025 Panchayat elections, pledging a comprehensive vision for grassroots empowerment, transparency, local economic development, and cultural preservation.

Party president Lurinjyoti Gogoi and general secretary Jagadish Bhuyan jointly unveiled the manifesto at a press meet, outlining a 9-point agenda focusing on the core principles of decentralization, participatory governance, and inclusive growth.

The manifesto advocated for strengthening Gram Swaraj and Panchayati Raj. The party promises to empower Gram Sabhas as the ultimate decision-making authority in rural development, ensuring Panchayats receive direct access to budgets, planning authority, and control over local services like education, healthcare, water, and sanitation.

The manifesto pledges mandatory monthly Gram Sabha meetings, real-time online access to Panchayat budgets and schemes, display boards at Panchayat offices, and formation of 11-member community monitoring committees.

With a “One Panchayat, One Product” (OPOP) model, AJP aims to promote traditional and local products including handloom, handicrafts, dairy, poultry, and ethnic foods. The party promises to facilitate bank loans and skill training for local entrepreneurs.

The manifesto includes plans for Panchayat-level farmer advisory councils, promotion of organic farming, and Panchayat-led paddy procurement systems to ensure fair prices and market access for farmers.

AJP promises 50% representation of women and youth in all Panchayat committees, formation of National Service Volunteer Groups in every village, and training programs on digital literacy and entrepreneurship.

AJP proposes to bring government schools, health centers, and Anganwadi services under Panchayat supervision and introduce “Nutrition Gardens” in schools to ensure food security for children.

The manifesto emphasizes people-centric planning of roads, drainage, and drinking water systems, along with large-scale tree plantation drives and environmental awareness campaigns under the “Green Village Mission.”

Special initiatives are proposed to preserve Assamese and indigenous languages such as Mising, Bodo, Karbi, Dimasa, Rabha, and Tiwa. Plans include establishing “Folk Culture Learning Centers” and support for mobile theatre groups and literary societies.

AJP pledges to strengthen legal and financial autonomy of Panchayats, including establishment of “Nyaya Panchayats” for resolving local disputes without police or court intervention, and reforms in District Planning Committees to ensure local development priorities.

The AJP leadership urged voters to support the party’s vision of building a self-reliant, transparent, and culturally vibrant rural Assam, asserting that true development begins from the grassroots.