Cong promises 33% quota to women in govt, private jobs
Party also promises loan waiver for farmers after coming to power
CHANDIGARH: The Congress unveiled a slew of promises with primary focus on wooing over 1 crore women population followed by farmers, unemployed youth and the weaker sections in its ‘sankalp patra’, the manifesto for the October 21 Haryana assembly polls released here on Friday.
From waiving off farmers’ loans within 24 hours of forming the government to giving women 33% reservation in government and private jobs, Rs 5,100 per month pension, Rs 3,500 pregnancy allowance till the birth of the child and Rs 5,000 per month till the child turns 5 year old, Rs 2,000 per month ‘chulha kharch’ for BPL women and Rs 1 lakh shagun on wedding of weaker section girl, the party has showered freebies on all key sectors. However, the party has steered clear of mentioning the financial impact of these promises on the state treasury.
Also, the manifesto doesn’t touch upon the contentious point of how the party proposes to implement its mega promise of farm loan waiver. It is silent on the category of farmers who will be benefited and the loan amount to be waived. “We will ensure that farmers’ loans will be waived off within 24 hours…and landless farmers will also come under the ambit of these benefits of loan waiver,” the party has stated in the 20-page document that Ghulam Nabi Azad, in-charge of Haryana affairs, described as “revolutionary”.
Azad said the Congress government will make a policy to implement the farm loan promises, and implementing farm loan promise will be the top priority of the Congress. State Congress chief Kumari Selja, former chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and Kiran Choudhry, chairperson of the Congress manifesto committee, released the manifesto along with Azad.
“We will provide for one job for every family based on capabilities and 75% jobs will be given to the youth of Haryana in private sector industries,” the manifesto says, promising Rs 10,000 per month allowance to unemployed post-graduates and Rs 7,000 to degree holders.
Haryana has 85 lakh women
voters and the party has promised separate buses for women having women as driver and conductor; 50% reservation in panchayati raj institutions (PRIS) and in the municipal corporations for women. Also, the party has proposed to remove mandatory educational qualification for contesting elections of PRIS, which the ruling BJP had introduced.
It also proposes strong legislation to curb mob lynching.
Abolishing contract system in all government departments and boards, increasing retirement age from 58 to 60 and regularising guest teachers and computer operators, free 300 units electricity per month and reducing electricity rates to half are other promises made by the party.
PARTY PROPOSES TO REMOVE MANDATORY EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATION FOR CONTESTING PANCHAYAT ELECTIONS, WHICH WAS INTRODUCED BY BJP