Congress promises sops for all sections

MUMBAI: The Congress in its manifesto, which was released on Thursday, promised sops for every section of society, including uninterrupted power supply for farmers, tablets for poor students, free education for girls till graduation, a stipend for the unemployed, reduction of senior citizens’ age to 60, a five per cent budget provision for Vimukta Jati and Nomadic Tribes (VJNT) and affordable housing for all.

Claiming to have fulfilled 75 per cent of the promises made during last polls, chief minister Prithviraj Chavan said the manifesto released on Thursday aims at inclusive growth. “We have gone beyond the basic needs of roti, kapda, makaan in this manifesto. We are ensuring the enhancement of health services by increasing the limit of the Rajiv Gandhi Jeevandayi Scheme to Rs 2.5 lakh, a special fund would be created for drought aversion and issues of every section of society have been addressed,” Mr Chavan told reporters.

The Congress has said it would supply power to farmers for eight hours during the day and 10 hours at night. In order to generate employment, the party said it would encourage micro, small and medium industries in the state. Unemployed Class 12 students would be given Rs 2,000 per month as stipend for two years. The colleges will have wi-fi facilities. The registered domestic workers of over 55 years would get '25,000.

“We have addressed the issues of all sections, including students, farmers, labourers, farmers and women. This is the manifesto of poor people and we hope they will accept it,” said former Union minister Sushilkumar Shinde, who was heading the manifesto committee of the Congress. Congress MP Bhalchandra Mungekar claimed that one crore VJNTs in the state would be helped by a five per cent budgetary provision made on their welfare schemes.

There was a repeat of things that were promised in the party’s last manifesto such as the erection of a statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji in the Arabian Sea, Dr Ambedkar’s memorial on Indu Mill land, redevelopment of Dharavi and BDD chawls, cluster development for other cities, Metro rail expansion, toilets in every village, insurance of workers in unorganised sectors, ensuring the welfare of backward classes and minorities and strengthening women’s self-help groups.