Cong manifesto vows 1 cr jobs in five years

Unlike the Modi government's jobless growth, the Congress on Friday promised in Karnataka manifesto "growth with jobs" – one crore in the next five years, citing how it created 53.17 lakh jobs during its five-year rule in the state.

Congress President Rahul Gandhi, who released the manifesto in the port city of Mangaluru, tweeted that "it captures the 'Mann Ki Baat' of the people of Karnataka and makes very specific commitments that we intend to deliver on, including creating 1 Cr. new jobs over the next 5 yrs."

The Congress called it "People's Manifesto" of Karnataka drafted after several interactions with people from all sections of society in various districts, villages and cities as "our vision and pledge for the inclusive growth and development of the people of this great state."

On women empowerment, the manifesto promises "to raise the employment level of women to 50% in the government workforce," life imprisonment to rapists, have sexual harassment prevention policy in all establishments, fast track courts to try sexual harassment cases, doubling widow pension from Rs 500 to Rs 1000 per month and houses to widows from economically backward classes, health cards to unskilled working women, free education to girls at post-graduation level, and zero balance saving accounts in cooperative banks.

Promising affordable, safe and healthful housing for all, the manifesto vowed to build over 3 lakh houses per annum under various schemes, provide better housing to people living in the slums and make the rural Karnataka a hut-free with shelter to all. It promised to build 10 lakh houses per annum in the rural areas over the next five years, pointing out that 11.75 lakh houses have been constructed so far.

A world-class tourism infrastructure for sustained progress, unmatched quality of life in urban areas, strengthening the social fabric for smooth progress through empowerment of minorities, skill development of all SC/ST graduates and backward youths for increased employability, reducing inequities between rural and urban areas, establishment of old age home and day care centre in each district, enhancement of pension to senior citizens, and promotion of transgenders are some of the promises made by the Congress to retain power in the Assembly elections slated on May 12.

The party also promised to provide free education to all students from grades 1 to 12 across all the state-run schools in the state. Presently, the state gives free elementary education to all children from class 1 to 8 in state-run and government-aided schools. All college-going students in the state will receive a smartphone, the manifesto added.