NCP manifesto promises loans, laptops and more
Manifesto offers interest-free loans to women self-help groups from SC and ST
MUMBAI: Home loans at cheaper rates, free laptops to students, full meals for Rs 20 at all ST bus stands, pension for farmers at the age of 65 years, health policy for every citizen, abolition of Local Body Tax (LBT) and making Maharashtra child-labour free in the next five years are some of the promises made by the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) in its election manifesto released on Thursday.
State president Sunil Tatkare, along with senior leaders Dilip Walse Patil and R.R. Patil, released the manifesto. However, the NCP was unaware of the expenditure needed to fulfil all these promises, especially when the state is under a severe financial crunch.
Mr Tatkare said that the party manifesto is a combination of the promises from the last manifesto that were fulfilled and the work to be done in the next five years. He said, “Our party has completed 99 per cent of the work promised in the last election manifesto.”
He added that if the NCP came to power, students would be given free laptops immediately after passing class 12. However, students from the creamy layer would not be eligible for the scheme.
Additionally, each and every college would also have free Wi-Fi service. “Keeping the housing problem in mind in metros, especially Mumbai, we will provide home loans at cheaper rates to the people.
This is apart from the affordable housing scheme run by government agencies for economically-weaker sections,” the party state president said.
He added that farmers above 65 years would be eligible for a pension scheme to be started, but only small farmers could avail of it. The manifesto also promises several grants for other agricultural activities.
Not leaving women behind, the manifesto offers interest-free loans to women self-help groups from SC (Scheduled Caste) and ST (Scheduled Tribe) communities and an independent cluster for women entrepreneurs.
For industries, the manifesto promised 24x7 power supply, a new power policy to meet the increasing demand for electricity and simplification of the transplantation process.
Mr Tatkare added, “We will immediately abolish LBT from cities where it is being implemented, after taking a review of the taxation system. An independent cluster will also be created for women
entrepreneurs.”