Bhubaneswar: To attract voters towards its fold ahead of Lok Sabha and Assembly elections, Congress party on Friday released 10-point guarantees and its manifesto promising sops for farmers, women, youths and chit fund depositors.
The party has released its poll manifesto and 10-point guarantee card here in presence of AICC Odisha in-charge Ajoy Kumar, state president Sarat Pattanayak, OPCC manifesto committee chairman Panchanan Kanungo and AICC observer Meenakshi Natarajan.
The Congress, if comes to power, promised to enhance the paddy MSP to Rs 3000 per quintal by providing bonus. The party will waive off farm loans and provide pension of Rs 2000 per month to farmers and agricultural labourers above 60 years.
“We will provide employment to 5 lakh youths and an unemployment allowance of Rs 3,000 per month for three years. The party will also ensure that only local youths will be employed in the industries of the State,” Dr.Kumar said.
All graduates will be given loans upto Rs 25 lakh without mortgage for setting up micro and small industries, the party promised in its manifesto. The Congress also guaranteed to provide free health services to both government employees and other people up to Rs 25 lakh.
To woo women voters, the party has promised waiver of bank loans of all women SHGs and Grihalaxmi yojana, under which Rs 2000 per month will be given to every head of household (woman). More than 6 lakh women will be benefited from loan waive off, he said.
The manifesto also promised to provide 50 percent reservation to women students in educational institutions.
The Congress promised to provide a cooking gas cylinder at Rs 500 every month to each family. It also includes a monthly allowance of Rs 2,000 to elderly, widows and persons with Disabilities (PWDs).
The party has also promised 27 per cent reservation for backward classes in educational institutions and the service sector.
Within 100 days of coming to power, the social and economic survey would be conducted and 35 kg rice, one kg of salt, one kg of oil, one kg pulses and 250 gm turmeric would be provided to the needy, it added
The party has also promised refund of chit fund amount to the affected depositors within 6 months of coming to office.
To remove regional imbalance, the party promised to set up development councils in southern & northern regions in line with the western Odisha development council.