UDF releases ‘people’s manifesto’, promises ₹2,000 for homemakers

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Opposition Congress-led United Democratic Front on Saturday released a ‘People’s Manifesto’ for the April 6 assembly polls, promising ₹2000 monthly pension to homemakers, Five kg free rice to all white card holders and five lakh homes to the poor.

A special law to protect the traditions of the Sabarimala lord Ayyappa temple and a Peace and Harmony department on the model of Rajasthan,has also been promised by the UDF.

Reaching out to the vast majority of women voters, the front has assured a two years age relaxation for mothers appearing for examinations for government jobs.

Housewives aged between 40-60, who donot come under the Nyay scheme, the minimum income guarantee programme launched by the Congress in 2019,would be entitled for the ₹2000 monthly pension.

Free food kits to those who had been affected by Covid-19 and no bill hospitals are among the other schemes of the front, Benny Behanan MP, chairman of the manifesto committee said.

The ruling LDF had also announced pension for homemakers and had hiked the social security pension to ₹2,500 from the present ₹1,600.

Meanwhile, the BJP on Saturday slammed the ruling CPI(M)-led LDF and the opposition UDF headed by the Congress for “deceiving” people by engaging in “mock battles”.

“It is the ‘LUDF’ which theBJP is fighting.Not the LDF or UDF.It is one party and both are the two sides of the same coin.Ultimately the same set of people come back to power,” said BJP leader Meenakshi Lekhi, while addressing the media in Kerala.