Congress releases its manifesto, promises over 1 crore jobs and 'Kisan Budget'
In a much anticipated reveal, the Congress on Tuesday released its manifesto for the upcoming general elections, promising “wealth and welfare" for all sections. The 54-page long manifesto titled “Congress Will Deliver" was released in a press conference attended by the party’s top brass including chief Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi and veteran leader Manmohan Singh.
Apart from NYAY, the party’s minimum income guarantee promise, the manifesto promises increased employment and a separate budget for farmers, dubbed the ‘Kisan Budget’.Manifesto promises: The manifesto covers six main domains – kaam (employment and growth), daam (economy), shaan (national security), sushasan (good governance), swabhiman (for marginalised communities) and samman (basic healthcare). These are a few promises listed in the manifesto.
1. Nyuntam Aay Yojana (NYAY)
Congress chief in the press conference said that its minimum guarantee scheme is his party’s war on poverty. As per the scheme, households earning below Rs 12,000 per month would get annual assistance of Rs 72,000 (Rs 6000 per month).
2. Jobs
The Congress in its manifesto says that it will “fill all 4 lakh Central Government and institutional vacancies before March 2020, create an estimated 10 lakh positions in every gram panchayat and urban local body, create 1 crore jobs by launching ‘Water Bodies Restoration Mission’ and ‘Wasteland Regeneration Mission’ programmes."
3. Jammu & Kashmir
Among its more contentious promises, the Congress says it will “adopt a two-pronged approach" in the case of J&K to ensure both border security and a fulfilment of the demands of the locals. The party promises to “move more troops to the border to stop infiltration completely, reduce the presence of the Army and CAPFs in the Kashmir Valley, and entrust more responsibility to the J&K police for maintaining law and order." The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act and the Disturbed Areas Act will also be reviewed as per the manifesto.
4. Farmers
Apart from farm loan waivers, the party says it will implement a separate budget for farmers which will be called the ‘Kisan Budget’. According to the manifesto, non-payment of debts will also be made a civil offence instead of a criminal one and a permanent National Commission on Agricultural Development and Planning will be established.
5. Rural Development
The party says it will establish a “non-lapsable Rural Infrastructure Fund that will provide loans and grants to specific infrastructure projects undertaken by Panchayats and Municipalities". The manifesto also includes a proposal for a MGNREGA 3.0 with increased guaranteed days of employment (from 100 to 150) and use of labour for ‘Water Bodies Regeneration’ and Wasteland Regeneration’.
6. Education
The party promises to double the GDP allocation for Education sector to 6% in five years. According to the manifesto, the party will also make education from Class 1 to Class 12 compulsory, He said she said: The rival BJP camp criticised the Congress manifesto calling it an attempt to “break the nation". Falling back on the jingoistic term often-used by right-affiliated groups – “Tukde tukde", Union Minister Arun Jaitley said, “It appears that some of the important points have been drafted by the Congress president’s ‘Tukde Tukde’ gang when it deals with J&K."
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