nWith an aim to counter AAP freebies, Delhi Congress listed lucrative promises such as providing unemployment allowances up to Rs 7,500, making Delhi India's first electric vehicles city, free coaching to 'Economic Weaker Sections' (EWS) students, 300 units free electricity and enacting Jan Lokpal Bill within six months in its manifesto released on Sunday.
The manifesto presented by Delhi Congress president Subhash Chopra, deputy leader in the Rajya Sabha Anand Sharma and manifesto committee chairman Ajay Maken. The party promised to provide unemployment allowance for Rs 5,000 and post graduation Rs 7,500 under 'Yuva Swabhiman Yojana' besides skill training to get them job.
It will also challenge the constitutional validity of Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in the Supreme Court under article 131 of Indian Constitution. The party will pass a resolution after coming to power and demand the centre to withdraw it. "The act is against the basic sprit of our constitution. The Congress will not implement the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and the National Population Register (NPR) in Delhi if voted to power in Delhi," it said.
The party announced many schemes to attract urban poor. It will provide one litre edible oil at Rs 20 and three kg of pulses at Rs 25 per kg to each family comes under below poverty level.
In order to conserve water, the Congress will also launch a flagship water tariff scheme wherein a cash-back of Rs 30 paisa per litre will be provided. "The residents will be provided cash-back if they use water less than 20, 000 litre. They will be given 30 paisa per for saving each litre. The money will be credited directly in to their bank account," it said.
The manifesto has given special attention to youth, unemployment, education, health, transport and environment. In order to attract slum voters, it also promised to regularize all unauthorised colonies and to spend Rs 35,000 Cr in five years for carrying out various development works.
The Congress will launch 'Sheila Pension Yojana' under which senior citizens, persons with disabilities and transgender will be given Rs 5,000 per month. To ensure education of girls, the party will provide free education to them in schools, colleges and universities from nursery to doctorate degree.
The manifesto also promised to set aside 25 per cent to combat pollution and improving public transport. It will also ensure the enforcement of the detailed action plan to fight pollution and protect environment happens strictly and in a time bound manner.
It will bring 30 per cent of Delhi's area under green cover and ensure that Delhi becomes zero waste and garbage free. Also, it said that school students aged 12 to 16 would be encouraged to volunteer to be Delhi's 'Environment Ambassadors', they will help in keeping the city clean and green and outstanding 'Environment Ambassadors' shall be felicitated by the Chief Minister and Congress Government from time to time.
Congress will implement a proper dust management plan and work to reduce carcinogenic dust particles in Delhi's air-shed. To rejuvenate, accumulate and protect Delhi's water bodies, Congress will launch a comprehensive 'Jal Sanrakshan Mission'.
Congress president Chopra said that Congress will also give 33 per cent reservation in government jobs for women, besides offering free education to girls under the "Ladli Scheme" up to PhD level, again to emulate the Punjab model.
Chairman of the Manifesto Committee Ajay Maken said that Congress' social welfare schemes have been included after working out their financial viability-like unemployment allowance and the pension scheme for senior citizens. "The unemployment allowances have been modeled on the patterns of Congress-ruled States Punjab and Chattisgarh, while some other points in the manifesto have also been drawn from other Congress-ruled States, like Madhya Pradesh," he added.
Besides, the Congress will construct ten super speciality hospitals in Delhi in next five years and add 5,000 beds in existing hospitals.
The manifesto also said that fares of the Delhi Metro will be subsidised for women, students and senior citizens. A subsidy of Rs 300 per month will be provided to students through direct benefit transfer.
He said that Education and Sheila Pension Yojna are the other areas in which the party is determined to make a qualitative difference.
Chopra said that all unauthorised colonies will be regularized, and "we will spend Rs 35,000 Cr in five years for their upliftment.