CHANDIGARH: Parties are going full steam ahead of the upcoming Punjab Assembly election. In its latest move to woo voters, Arvind Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party released a populist manifesto, promising laptop for all government school students, waiver on residential property tax, setting up of an NRI board, 33 per cent reservation for women in government jobs, and the promise of a Dalit Deputy Chief Minister if it comes to power.
The party also vouches Aam Aadmi canteens at sub-division and district levels where one-time meal will be available for Rs 5, and reduce the power tariff to half for usage up to 400 unit. The manifesto was released by a team of AAP leaders led by Sanjay Singh. He said all promised made by them in the previous six manifestos released for different categories "are an agreement with the people of Punjab and AAP will fulfil each promise." He said welfare of the Dalits, BPL families, employees, farmers and women would be top on agenda of the AAP government as he declared the post of Deputy Chief Minister would be given to a Dalit MLA. The party also decided to launch a health insurance scheme under which every resident of state would be eligible for cashless treatment up to Rs 500,000 in private hospitals.
AAP said that alleged mafia in transport, liquor and sand mining would be demolished and the sectors would be opened for general public. "The passenger buses would be run by public transport and permits will be given to the unemployed youth. Similarly, the monopoly in liquor and sand mining would be broken and contracts would be given to youth," the party said. The promised measure would help AAP achieve its target of creating 25 lakh new jobs in the state.
Akalis promise debt waiver for farmers
Unable to reach the target of providing 1000,000 jobs, as announced in its 2012 poll manifesto, the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal has doubled the number and promised 2000,000 jobs for youths in the manifesto. The party also promised farm debt waiver for all small farmers with land holding up to 2.5 acres, interest-free loan for farmers up to Rs 200,000, tubewell for every farmer, Rs 100 per quintal additional bonus on wheat and paddy MSP and much more.
