Rolling out its plans for making Odisha a self-reliant, prosperous, strong, happy and corruption-free State by ushering in a new era if voted to power, the State unit of the BJP promised sops for all sections of the society in its manifesto.
The manifesto was jointly released by party Prabhari for Odisha Arun Singh and national secretary Dhramendra Pradhan at the party office here on Thursday.
The manifesto, which includes 35 programmes and promises, laid emphasis on women empowerment and safety, setting up of fast track courts at the district level to deal the crimes against women and making the State Women's Commission free from political interference.
Going a step ahead of the BJD manifesto, which has promised to provide loan at 1 per cent of interest to farmers, the BJP's document said agricultural loans would be interest-free for the first year, 1 per cent for the second year and 2 per cent for the third year and 3 per cent subsequently and there would be provision of loan waiver during natural calamities. It also promised to provide Rs 300 as bonus on the minimum support price (MSP) of paddy.
Apparently taking a cue from the Aam Admi Party, the BJP promises to conduct audit of the power distribution companies in the State and provide 24-hour electricity to the people.
The party promised to return the chit fund depositors' money. It said that it is committed to empower the Government agencies to explore minerals from mines by amending the mineral policy of the State. No mining activities would be undertaken without the consent of the local stakeholders, it said.
The BJP also promised to identify sharecroppers in the State as well as to provide free power to farmers for irrigation. It also promised to double the coverage of irrigation in the State from the negligible 39 per cent at present.
The party also promised to set up a cold storage centre in every block for preservation of agricultural produces and save the farmers from resorting to distress sale of their produces.
Moreover, the party promised to set up a 'Krushak Haat' in every panchayat for farmers to sell their produce. In its bid to strike an emotion chord with the people of the State, the BJP promised to set up an Odia University for development of the Odia language.
For the youth, the party, while promising them jobs, said unemployment allowance would be provided to the jobless. Further, it promised to raise the upper age limit for employment from the present 35 years to 40 years. Besides, the party promised to implement schemes to provide jobs locally to around 40 lakh youths involved in Self-Help Groups.
The party also promised to pressurise the Centre to accord Special Category State status to Odisha if voted to power. The BJP said it would introduce a 'Kanyaratna' programme for welfare and development of the girl child and address gender discrimination issues. The scheme envisages deposit of money in different phases in the account of the girl child till completion of her education and provision of a sum of Rs 1 lakh to her at the time her marriage.
While promising that the rural landless would be given homestead land and pucca houses, for urban areas the manifesto said a slum-dwellers' rehabilitation scheme would be implemented with provision of right to homestead land and pucca houses with necessary amenities.
The BJP also committed to provide interest-free loans for all students taking into account their economic conditions and to double the stipends for the SC and ST students.It also promised to double the old age pension and fill up all the vacant posts in the education and health sectors.
With hardly a week to go for the first phase polls in the State, the BJP is the second party among the State's three principal parties to come out with its manifesto. The Congress is yet to announce its manifesto.