The grand old party has promised the creation of 15-20 lakh jobs annually for the next 5 years, and empower farmers, women and children.
Bengaluru: Vowing to listen to the ‘mann ki baat’ of the people of Karnataka, Congress president Rahul Gandhi Friday released the election manifesto of his party which is big on promises – from creation of 15-20 lakh jobs annually for the next five years to promoting Kannada language and culture.
Rahul said the Congress government of chief minister Siddaramaiah had fulfilled 95 per cent of the promises it had made to the people of Karnataka in 2013.
With promises like setting up of Kannada Bhavanas and promotion of the language and culture of the state, the manifesto is also seen as an attempt to ride on Kannada pride stoked by Siddaramaiah in the last one year.
In a first, the Congress has released a region-wise manifesto, emulating the Aam Aadmi Party model, as reported by ThePrint earlier this month. The Congress had carried out a similar experiment ahead of the Gujarat elections last year.
The Karnataka manifesto has been split into four regions — Kalaburagi, Bengaluru, Belgavi, Mysuru.
Key takeaways from the manifesto:
– Constitution of a statutory Farmers’ Income Commission to ensure basic livelihood for farmers, agri-labourers and agricultural households.
– Every child in Karnataka will be guaranteed 12 years of free and good quality school education from class 1. Free and compulsory education up to the age of 14.
– All college-going students between 18 and 23 will be given smartphones
– Smart classes will be conducted for children of non-resident Kannadigas to improve their Kannada language skills.
– Will provide women 50 per cent subsidy or Rs 30,000 to purchase vehicles
– Subsidised sanitary napkin vending machines will be installed in all colleges, polytechnics, ITIs and schools and public toilets.
– Health cards to women working as unskilled labourers in garment and other industries.
– Sportspersons from Karnataka who win a medal at the Olympics will be given a cash reward of Rs 1 crore.
– ‘Startup subsidy’ of up to approximately Rs 1 crore will be provided, so that the companies can begin production
– Cauvery Fifth Phase will be expedited to augment drinking water supply to the Bengaluru city, Bengaluru rural, Ramanagaram, among others.
– Restore the powers of the Lokayukta to take up suo motu cases and ensure zero tolerance to corruption.
– Provide loans to encourage entrepreneurship among SC/STs; regularisation of safai karmacharis’ salaries.
– Strict implementation of manual scavenging prohibition rules.
– Job reservation for transgenders, both in public and private sectors.
– A madrasa board will be established to manage the affairs of madrasas. A Christian development board will be established as well.