New Delhi: Ahead of the Haryana assembly elections set to take place on October 5, Congress unveiled its election manifesto on Saturday, outlining several key promises aimed at various sections of society. The manifesto was launched in the presence of senior Congress leaders, including Bhupinder Singh Hooda, former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC) President Udai Bhan.
In its manifesto, Congress has made a wide range of promises, including free electricity, free medical treatment, financial assistance for women, and support for farmers. One of the major highlights is the promise to provide 300 units of free electricity to every household in Haryana. Additionally, the party has promised to offer free medical treatment up to Rs 25 lakh per family.
Rs 2,000 per month for women in Haryana
Taking inspiration from schemes like Madhya Pradesh’s ‘Ladli Behen Yojana’ and Maharashtra’s ‘Ladki Behen Yojana,’ the Congress has promised to give Rs 2,000 per month to women aged 18 to 60. The manifesto also proposes a subsidy of Rs 500 for gas cylinders to ease the burden on families.
A significant promise is the legal guarantee of the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for crops, a longstanding demand of farmers. Congress also committed to providing immediate compensation for crop damage and establishing a farmer commission. In addition, the party has promised to offer diesel subsidies to help farmers manage rising costs.
For the economically weaker sections, Congress has pledged to provide a plot of 200 yards of land and a house with two rooms to help address the housing crisis.
One of the more controversial promises is the party’s commitment to conducting a caste-based survey in the state, an issue Congress has been advocating for at the national level. Along with this, the party intends to raise the income limit for the ‘creamy layer’ to Rs 10 lakh, allowing more people to benefit from reservation policies.
Other promises in Congress manifesto
Congress manifesto also focuses on employment, promising 2 lakh permanent jobs to young people in the state. The party has made it clear that fighting drug abuse will be a priority, aiming to make Haryana drug-free.
In a significant move that contrasts with the policies of the central government, Congress has promised to restore the Old Pension Scheme (OPS), which has been a major demand of government employees. For social welfare, the party has pledged to provide Rs 6,000 per month as pension for senior citizens, disabled individuals, and widows under various schemes.
During the launch, Congress leader Geeta Bhukkal emphasised the party’s commitment to providing a safe and prosperous Haryana. She announced plans to establish a university in Kurukshetra named after Guru Govind Singh Ji and also promised to promote the Punjabi language by building a university in Mewat.
At the event, Bhupinder Singh Hooda highlighted the amount of research and hard work that went into drafting the manifesto. He mentioned that many of the ideas were drawn from successful policies implemented in other states, especially Rajasthan during Ashok Gehlot’s tenure as Chief Minister.
Haryana will elect its new 90-member state legislative assembly on October 5, with the votes to be counted on October 8. In the last election in 2019, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won 40 seats, emerging as the single-largest party, while Congress secured 30 seats.
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