Releasing its election manifesto, the Congress on Saturday adopted Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) line promising ‘Gaushalas,’ ‘Ram Path’ and Naramada Parikrama Path and a spiritual centre, if it comes to power.
In an attempt to be better than the BJP, the Congress manifesto termed as ‘Vachan Patra’, focuses on BJP’s agenda, besides announcing loan waiver to the farmers.
It has been mentioned in the menifesto that the Congress would construct a special ‘Parikrama path’ around river Narmada and construct ‘Ram path’.
A special Spiritual Department will also be set up if the Congress is voted to power in the state.
The Congress has promised special provisions for the development of Narmada, which includes the construction of a special path around the river for the devotees and a rest house at a distance of every 50-km.
While promising a corruption-free Government, the Congress has promised a Public Accountability Bill for transparency in governance, while there is a lot for farmers in the manifesto including loan waiver up to Rs 2 lakh, reducing electricity bill for agriculture use by 50 per cent, special bonus on production of cereals like wheat, paddy, jowar, maize, soyabean, mustard, and pulses like arhar, moong, channa, masoor; vegetables like onion, garlic, tomato, and crops like sugarcane and cotton. The manifesto also promises Rs 5 per litre bonus on milk besides giving rebate on diesel and petrol to farmers for agricultural use.
The ‘Right to Shelter’ law will entitle homeless people to Rs 2.5 lakh and 450 sq ft plot for the construction of houses, while the youth and women have been given the lure of ‘Made in Madhya Pradesh,’ which will focus on increasing employment generation for one lakh youth in the information and technology sector.
‘A Vivekanand Yuva Shakti Mission’ will be started under which Rs 4,000 per month will be given to youth for participation. To encourage employment and investment Rs 10,000 will be given as salary and grant. Vyapam will be shut down and job recruitment will be made transparent..." states the manifesto.
To promote sports and encourage sportspersons, the Congress has promised jobs to all international players. The players will be provided Rs 50,000 as honorarium in case they are not given jobs. Those players who win gold medals in Olympics will be given Rs 51,000 per month.
Under the ‘One man, one pension’ scheme, pension amount will be increased to Rs 1,000 from Rs 300, while under the ‘Naya Savera’ scheme, a rebate of Rs 100 on cooking gas will be provided to poor and labour class people.
For women, the Congress manifesto promises several special schemes which includes free education to girls from school till they complete PhD, smart phones, smartcards and health cards and Rs 51,000 to every young woman who gets married. Women in rural areas will be provided with sewing machines and will be trained to be self-reliant.