Derek O'Brien writes: 79 suggestions for the Union government on 79th I-Day
Unemployment
1. Reduce unemployment. Eight out of 10 unemployed are youth.
2. Create jobs for the youth. Youth unemployment is over 15 per cent.
3. Introduce urban employment guarantee schemes.
4. Increase wages of rural workers— real average annual growth is just 0.2 per cent.
5. Increase the female Labour Force Participation Rate. Among youth, this is around half that of men.
6. Boost skill training. Only 4 per cent of the youth workforce have formal vocational training.
Health
7. Remove 18 per cent GST on health and life insurance.
8. Increase spending on public healthcare, currently less than 2 per cent of GDP.
9. Strengthen AIIMS. Over 18,000 positions are vacant in AIIMS hospitals.
10. Provide free medical and psychological treatment for acid attack survivors.
Education
11. Restart discontinued minority scholarship schemes like the Maulana Azad National Fellowship.
12. Stop partisan changes to
NCERT textbooks
13. Provide quality education to ST kids. A third of Eklavya schools are non-functional.
Children
14. Bring down student suicides.
15. Eradicate child labour.
16. Fight drug addiction among children. 1.5 crore children aged 10-17 are addicted.
17. Focus on child health. Two out of five children up to five years of age are stunted.
18. Bring down number of zero-food children. Three out of 10 infants aged between six and 11 months are classified as such.
Gender
19. Pass stronger laws for time-bound resolution of cases of crime against women.
20. Amend the Women's Reservation Bill, delink it from the census and delimitation.
21. Harmonise punishment for sexual violence against transgender persons with penalties under the BNS for women.
22. Legalise same-sex marriage.
23. Criminalise marital rape.
Federalism
24. Make cess and surcharge a part of the divisible pool, to be shared with states.
25. Resolve ongoing unrest in Manipur.
26. Stop using the ED as a political weapon. Its conviction rate is 0.25 per cent.
27. Stop Hindi imposition.
28. Give full statehood to J&K.
29. Stop squeezing non-BJP states for funds. Bengal alone is owed over Rs 15,000 crore under MGNREGA and PMAY-G.
Policy
30. Admit demonetisation was a failure.
31. Roll back Agnipath and bring back permanent recruitment in the Armed Forces.
32. Introduce a framework to reduce financial frauds, which increased by 97 per cent between 2020 and 2024.
33. Introduce a national elder care policy with support services and pension.
34. Ensure a five-year cooling-off period before retired judges can take up any other constitutional post.
35. Increase the judiciary's strength. Over five crore cases are pending across courts.
36. Delink MGNREGS payment from Aadhaar, which makes over 28 per cent of MGNREGS workers ineligible.
37. Strengthen RTI and include institutions like PM CARES under its purview.
38. Improve data privacy. The DPDP rules have not been framed. More than 81 crore citizens' data was leaked in 2023.
39. Improve press freedom, in which India is ranked 161 out of 180.
40. Strengthen the Armed Forces. There are 1.09 lakh vacancies in paramilitary forces.
41. Strengthen banking access. One in five Jan Dhan accounts is inactive.
42. Increase PM Kisan funds to Rs 12,000
43. Stop manual scavenging. Between 2014 and 2023, 736 people died cleaning sewers and septic tanks.
44. Reduce plastic pollution. 3.5 million tonnes of plastic waste is generated each year.
45. Build dedicated legislation for AI. Do not wait to take the cue from other countries.
46. Withdraw the SIR exercise in Bihar.
47. Implement a national bail reform policy to reduce the undertrial population.
48. Conduct the census, due since 2021, in 2026 instead of 2027.
49. Standardise gig/contract worker rights, including social security.
50. Increase the wages of MGNREGS and ASHA workers.
Economy
51. Reduce poverty. Four out of five people earn less than Rs 171 a day.
52. Improve GDP growth, which was at a four-year low in 2024-25.
53. Increase value added by manufacturing. Manufacturing GVA was at 4.5 per cent in FY 2025, lower than FY 2013.
54. Reduce agriculture household debt. The average outstanding loan per agricultural household is over Rs 74,000.
55. Strengthen MSMEs. Between 2020 and February 2025, over 75,000 MSMEs were shut down.
56. Boost industrial growth, which in June was at its lowest in 10 months.
57. Create high-value jobs. Forty-six per cent of the workforce is in agriculture.
58. Reduce household indebtedness. Household savings touched a 50-year low
in 2022-23.
59. Reduce per capita external debt, which rose by 132 per cent in 2014-2025.
Infrastructure
60. Develop air connectivity. Of 619 routes operationalised under UDAN, only half are currently operational.
61. Improve internet access. Over 21,200 villages don't have internet connections.
62. Expand expressways. Twenty-five per cent of Bharatmala project isn't yet awarded.
63. Boost railway safety. There are over one lakh vacancies in the railways.
64. Expand KAVACH. In four years, it was installed in just 2 per cent of rail routes.
65. Ensure road safety. About half of unnatural and untimely deaths are due to road accidents.
66. Improve infrastructure. Work for only eight per cent of Amrit Bharat stations has been completed.
Parliament
67. Give more time to the Opposition. Seventy per cent is used by the government.
68. Appoint a deputy speaker of the Lok Sabha. The post has been vacant since 2019.
69. Have a fixed parliamentary calendar with a minimum 100 days of sittings.
70. Stop bulldozing bills. The 500-plus-page Income Tax Bill was passed in under five minutes in the Lok Sabha this week.
71. Stop mass suspension of MPs — 146 were suspended in one session in 2023.
Bad Laws
72. Repeal CAA.
73. Ban anti-conversion laws.
74. Scrap sedition and the UAPA law, which has a conviction rate under 3 per cent.
75. Repeal the Waqf (Amendment) Act.
76. Criminalise marital rape.
For the Prime Minister
77. Answer a question in Parliament.
78. Hold a press conference.
79. Visit Manipur
The writer is MP and leader, All India Trinamool Congress Parliamentary Party. Research credit: Ayashman Dey, Chahat Mangtani, Dheemunt Jain, Varnika Mishra
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
a few seconds ago
- The Hindu
Plans afoot to harness solar energy for women's empowerment, solar-powered irrigation for tribal farmers: Bhatti
About 27,447 acres belonging to 11,785 tribal farmers in Khammam district will be developed under the Indira Solar Girijana Vikasam Scheme in the coming three years, Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka said. Addressing the Independence Day main function, after unfurling the national flag in Khammam on Friday, he outlined a string of initiatives to optimally harness solar power in pursuit of clean energy future. He said that 22 villages in Bonakal mandal have been selected under the Model Solar Village scheme. Plans are afoot to run solar power plants under the aegis of women self-help groups at Rajulapalem village in Yerrupalem mandal and Chinakorukondi in Kallur mandal for generating 2 MW solar energy under the Indira Mahila Shakti scheme. Works on the construction of a cable bridge across the Munneru river were under way at an estimated ₹180 crore, and medical college building works are in progress at ₹130 crore, he added. Besides, ₹2.50 crore has been sanctioned for the development of Buddhist monuments at Nelakondapalli. Proposals have been submitted by the departments concerned for sanction of ₹29 crore for the ropeway project at Khammam Fort and development of related tourist facilities. Mr. Vikramarka highlighted some of the key initiatives of the Congress government in irrigation, agriculture, road and infrastructure development spheres, besides a string of welfare schemes. Khammam MP R. Raghuram Reddy and Collector Anudeep Durishetty were also present.
The Hindu
a few seconds ago
- The Hindu
Stree Shakti will foster women's financial independence, says Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Friday said the free travel facility being provided to women in the State would foster their financial independence. Speaking after launching 'Stree Shakti', the free bus travel scheme for women at the Vijayawada city bus depot on the premises of Pandit Nehru Bus Station, Mr. Naidu called the scheme 'a brother's gift to his sisters across the State on the Independence Day.' He said under this initiative, women would be allowed to travel free of cost in five categories of buses — Palle Velugu, Ultra Palle Velugu, City Ordinary, Express and Metro Express services. Out of the total 11,449 buses in the AP State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) fleet, the free travel facility was being provided in 8,458 (74%) of the vehicles, he said. Mr. Naidu informed that besides improving infrastructure and making elaborate arrangements, the officials, staff and workers of the APSRTC across 129 depots and 423 bus stations across four zones were well prepared to handle the rise in demand. Focus was shifted to cleanliness in bus stations. He said the State would get 1,050 new electric buses which would augment the APSRTC fleet. Besides expanding the parcel services and door-delivery/pick-up services, GPS was installed in buses for real-time tracking. The Chief Minister said it was decided to procure only electric buses for the State henceforth. He said in view of the possible impact of the free bus service for women on the livelihood of auto-rickshaw drivers, the State would extend them support to avoid livelihood loss. Women's welfare He said the TDP, ever since its inception, had given top priority to women's welfare. The party founder and the late Chief Minister N.T. Rama Rao had granted women property rights, 9% reservation in local body elections and had established a women's university in Tirupati. 'Following in his footsteps, I offered 33% quota to women in politics, jobs and colleges, introduced DWCRA, appointed women conductors and soon there will be women drivers too,'' Mr. Naidu said. He also listed out the welfare schemes being implemented by the coalition government in the State. Safety Deputy Chief Minister K. Pawan Kalyan said more than helping girl students and women save a monthly sum of ₹1,500-2,000, the scheme is essentially about women safety and thus it was named 'Stree Shakti'. He said CCTV cameras would be installed in the buses and women conductors would be equipped with pocket cameras. This is to instil confidence among girls and women commuters that they can travel safely anywhere across the State. He said despite severe financial difficulties, the Chief Minister, with his foresight and experience, overcame the challenges and fulfilled this important promises, which formed part of the 'Super Six' programme of the coalition government in the State. He said women travellers would be issued zero-fare tickets, providing them financial security and freedom of movement. Minister for Information Technology, Electronics and Communications, Real Time Governance and Human Resources Development N. Lokesh said through Stree Shakti, the government wanted to empower women for greater economic independence. Referring to the YSR Congress Party chief's criticism, Mr. Lokesh said people who don't respect women in their own homes, had no right to criticise others. He said if given opportunities, women can create wonders. He cited his mother Bhuvaneswari's example, who was successfully running a ₹5,000 crore company and leading the NTR Trust. The Chief Minister, along with Mr. Pawan Kalyan, Mr. Lokesh and BJP State president P.V.N. Madhav, arrived at the meeting venue in an RTC bus, from Undavalli and interacted with the women commuters on their travel needs. Vijayawada MP Kesineni Sivanath (Chinni), MLAs Bonda Umamaheswara Rao and Gadde Rammohan Rao, AP State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) Chairman Konakalla Narayana, Principal Secretary, Department of Transport and Roads and Buildings Kantilal Dande, Vice-Chairman and Managing Director of APSRTC Ch. Dwaraka Tirumala Rao and others were present.
The Hindu
a few seconds ago
- The Hindu
TTD Chairman highlights reforms to ease darshan for pilgrims
Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) trust board Chairman B.R. Naidu on Friday (August 15) said the management has embarked on several reforms to offer quality darshan to devotees visiting the hill shrine of Tirumala. During his Independence Day address after hoisting the National Flag at TTD administrative building here, he spoke about the steps taken towards the implementation of Artificial Intelligence (AI), as espoused by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, to provide faster darshan by reducing the waiting time. Referring to pilgrim comfort, he pointed at the launch of a programme to distribute food and milk at the Vaikuntham queue complex once every three hours, the introduction of 'vada' at Tarigonda Vengamamba Annadanam Bhavan from March this year, new SRIVANI ticket issue counters to facilitate same-day darshan, modernisation of Kalyanakatta (tonsuring centre) and establishment of a quality testing lab at Tirumala to test food, drinking water, raw materials and ghee. Mr. Naidu also announced an ambitious plan to ensure construction of Sri Venkateswara temples in all States. 'Eight temples have already been completed, while approvals have been obtained in fifteen States and four Union Territories,' he said. Similarly, he also hinted at the planned development of the TTD's existing sub-temples. Reiterating the TTD's resolve to ensure a comfortable darshan and stay to every pilgrim during their visit to Tirupati, Executive Officer J. Syamala Rao appreciated the officials and staff for their commendable services towards the goal. The TTD management presented a five-gram silver coin bearing the imprint of Sri Venkateswara and a certificate of appreciation to 41 meritorious officers, 278 employees from various departments and seven from SVBC on the occasion. TTD Additional Executive Officer Ch. Venkaiah Chowdary, Joint Executive Officer V. Veerabrahmam, Chief Vigilance and Security Officer Murali Krishna took part.
