Congress releases manifesto, promises jobs, better sanitation

NEW DELHI: More jobs for safai karmacharis, better sanitation in slum clusters and withdrawal of commercial house tax introduced on households in villages are some of the major promises in Congress’ election manifesto, released on Monday.

While the party announced an 11-point manifesto, highlighting the larger issues plaguing the three municipal corporations, the party also released a ‘local manifesto’ for each of the 13 municipal wards going to polls on May 15.

Releasing the manifesto, along with senior party leaders and the candidates, Delhi Congress chief Ajay Maken pinned the blame for the “financial mess” in the civic bodies on the ruling BJP in corporations and the Aam Aadmi Party government. Maken said the manifesto had been prepared as per the findings of a survey conducted by party workers in the 13 seats.

“The fiscal condition of the corporations has gone from bad to worse. It’s basically due to corruption as the corporation is losing out on all major sources of revenue. To add to the problem, the AAP government failed to implement the fourth finance commission recommendations,” said Maken.

On the shortage of sanitation workers and poor sanitation in slum clusters and unauthorised colonies, Maken said after winning the bypolls, party councillors would raise the issues.

“According to the New Delhi Municipal Council, there should be one sweeper for an area of 30,000 square feet. But in the municipal corporation areas, only one sweeper is employed for an area of 60,000 square feet. It may be recalled that in 1983 when this yardstick was set, the population of Delhi was only 65 lakh, but now the population has increased three-fold. We will fight for the employment of sanitation workers on the basis of the NDMC’s yardstick,” Maken said.

The major issues mentioned in separate manifestoes, include drainage, road condition, installation of CCTV cameras and improvement of garbage dumps. In Ballimaran, the party has also promised “to improve the law and order”. “Law and order needs to be restored in Ballimaran. For the past two years, hoodlums from outside the area have been creating problems in the ward,” the manifesto reads.

Though none of the 13 municipal wards have been represented by the Congress in the past two terms, Maken said the bypolls would throw up “surprising results”. “We are in direct contest with AAP. The BJP has been relegated to the third place,” he added.