Caste Survey, Minorities, Farmers, Women in Focus in Congress Manifesto
New Delhi: The Congress party's manifesto was released on November 21 by president Mallikarjun Kharge, party in-charge for Rajasthan Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, chief minister Ashok Gehlot, state party president Govind Singh Dotasra, manifesto committee chairman C.P. Joshi, and former deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot.
Starting with the preamble, it states, ‘All residents of Rajasthan will have access to a social security net, including accidental and medical insurance, guaranteed pensions for people who cannot work, and a guaranteed employment scheme for those who can.’
Key points
The ruling Congress's seven guarantees finds priority in the manifesto. They are:
- Griha Lakshmi: Rs 10,000 per annum for women heads of households.
- Gaudhan: Government purchase of cow dung at Rs 2 per kg.
- Free laptop or tablet for every student.
- Chiranjeevi Calamity Relief Insurance of Rs 15 lakh.
- English medium education for every boy and girl.
- Gas cylinder at Rs 500.
A law to ensure the implementation of the old pension scheme and to strengthen it.
आज राजस्थान कांग्रेस कार्यालय में कांग्रेस अध्यक्ष श्री @kharge ने जनघोषणा पत्र लॉन्च किया।
राजस्थान के सतत विकास के लिए कांग्रेस पूरी तरह तैयार हैं।#कांग्रेस_जन_घोषणा_पत्र2#कांग्रेस_फिर_से pic.twitter.com/RrhcECw5UZ— Rajasthan PCC (@INCRajasthan) November 21, 2023
Promises
In the farmer welfare programme, the party promised interest-free loans from cooperative banks, up to Rs 2 lakh to all farmers in the state. The ruling party also promised to make an act for farmers about Minimum Support Price (MSP) to support them.
The party has promised to create 10 lakh employment opportunities in the next five years, with four lakh in the government sectors.
The manifesto also addresses various facets of women's empowerment, safety, and economic participation. The former has been raised by Bharatiya Janata Party often.
Congress has said it will install CCTV cameras in all public places, and that security guards will be appointed in every village and urban ward of Rajasthan. The government has also planned to reduce the average investigation time in sexual harassment cases for speedy justice in the state. Free coupons will also be provided for free travel for women in state-owned buses, it said.
Smartphones with free internet will also be given to women heads of families covered under Mukgyamantri Nishulak Chiranjeevi Swasthya Bima Yojana too.
The government also plans to target women farmers to encourage homestead gardens and horticulture, recognising their crucial role in agriculture. Women, it has promised, will also get 33% reservation in cooperative institutions, championing gender equality in cooperative governance. Women representatives will be empowered with essential skills, including financial literacy, and recognise and incentivise best-performing women-led Gram Panchayats.
The Rajasthan Grameen Aajeevika Vikas Parishad or women-centric financial institution will give subsidised loans to women through Cluster Level Federations (CLFs) and benefit 30 lakh households through agriculture and livestock programmes, Congress has promised.
The party will also introduce a leadership course to promote the emergence of next-generation leaders among SHG women members.
The Congress also spoke of a plan to set a target to increase the representation of women in the police force to 33% of the total police strength in the state.
Caste survey and minorities
The government will also conduct a census or survey based on caste to accurately determine population and allocate benefits for informed decisions on affirmative action.
After this exercise in the state, the government will undertake to provide reservations as per their population.
The Congress manifesto also talks about the rights of these communities. If the party comes to power, it says it will establish an equal opportunities commission to ensure equal opportunities and fair representation for them. Adding to this, the party will modify the percentage of reservation for SC/ST and OBC in accordance with the actual population to be enumerated in the survey.
Research centres, training facilities, and museums in Jaipur and Udaipur will be set up to nurture tribal youth.
Farmers
The party has promised Rs 50 lakh under the Mukhyamantri Nishulk Chiranjeevi Swasthya Bima Yojana. Recently the Congress Government in Rajasthan increased the medical cover under the Chiranjeevi Health Scheme from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 25 lakh annually per family.
The government will also bring an education guarantee law in the state.
The government has planned to uplift the underprivileged in rural areas by guaranteeing 150 days of employment annually, currently 125 days. Similar to the Kisan Credit Card Scheme, the government will implement a “Vyapari Credit Card Scheme”.
The government will withdraw pending cases against farmers related to their participation in protests and ensure their rights are safeguarded, it said. Farmers will get three-phase electricity support for eight hours a day from November to March each year.
Youth will get more participation in leadership positions in government bodies. There will be a legislative fellowship, which will be similar to a parliamentary fellowship, giving youth leaders the opportunity to work with MLAs and ministers in the state.
This article went live on November twenty-second, two thousand twenty three, at eighteen minutes past five in the evening.The Wire is now on WhatsApp. Follow our channel for sharp analysis and opinions on the latest developments.
