Guarantee of national minimum wage at 400 per day, one lakh rupees per year to every poor family, reservation of 50 per cent seats for women in central government jobs, legal guarantee for Minimum Support Prices and national caste census are the major highlights of Congress manifesto for the Lok Sabha elections.
Party President Mallikarjun Kharge and senior party leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi released the poll manifesto in New Delhi today. The Congress also promised the development of infrastructure and elimination of poverty by improving the fortunes of 23 crore people over the next decade. The party has also promised the abolition of application fees for government jobs, cashless health insurance up to 25 lakh rupees for universal healthcare and filling up around 30 lakh vacancies in sanctioned posts at various levels in the central government. The poll document also talks about carrying out investigations into the Electoral Bonds scheme.
Speaking on the occasion, Kharge said, his party’s manifesto is based on Paanch Nyay (five pillars of justice). They are justice for youth, women, farmers, and labourers as well as justice in opportunities as per population percentage. Replying to a media query, Rahul Gandhi claimed that this Lok Sabha election is going to be a much closer contest than propagated by the media and that the opposition will win. He also alleged that institutions are being undermined and Central agencies are being misused by the ruling BJP.
1. Caste Census: The manifesto highlights the commitment to conduct a comprehensive Socio-Economic and Caste Census across the nation. This initiative is rooted in the party’s slogan ‘jitni abaadi utna haq’, emphasizing equitable representation and support based on socio-economic conditions.
2. Reservation: Congress proposes a Constitutional amendment to raise the cap on reservations for Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Other Backward Classes (OBCs) to 50%. This move underscores the party’s commitment to enhancing opportunities for historically marginalized communities.
3. Economic Weaker Sections (EWS) Reservation: To ensure inclusivity, the manifesto promises 10% reservation in jobs and educational institutions for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) across all castes and communities.
4. Social Welfare Enhancements: The National Social Assistance Programme, benefiting senior citizens, widows, and persons with disabilities, will see a significant increase from the existing Rs 200-500 per month to Rs 1,000 per month. This reflects a push for improved social security measures.
5. Healthcare Reform: Congress plans to adopt the successful Rajasthan Model of cashless insurance (up to ₹25 lakh) for universal healthcare nationwide, aimed at providing comprehensive medical coverage to all citizens.
6. Employment Generation: To address unemployment among youth, the manifesto proposes providing one-year apprenticeships to diploma holders or college graduates below the age of 25, with a stipend of ₹1 lakh per year.
7. Education Reforms: The Right to Education (RTE) Act will be amended to make education compulsory and free from Class I to Class XII in public schools, ensuring wider access to quality education.
8. Women Empowerment Initiatives: The Mahalakshmi scheme is introduced, offering an unconditional cash transfer of ₹1 lakh per year to every poor Indian family, with the amount transferred directly to the bank account of the oldest woman in the household. Furthermore, a commitment to reserve 50% of Central government jobs for women starting in 2025 and enforcing ‘Same Work, Same Wages’ to eliminate wage discrimination.
9. Agricultural Sector Reforms: Congress pledges a legal guarantee of Minimum Support Price (MSP) for crops, addressing farmers’ concerns about fair pricing. Additionally, the establishment of farmers’ retail markets in villages and small towns aims to facilitate direct sales from farmers to consumers, enhancing market access and profitability.
10. Social Security for Fishing Communities: Similar to the Kisan Credit Card scheme, fishing communities will be issued credit cards by banks, providing them with financial support and access to credit facilities.
11. MGNREGA Wage Increase: Wages under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) will be increased to ₹400 per day, ensuring better livelihoods for rural workers.
12. Defense and Armed Forces Reform: The party aims to abolish the Agnipath programme and prioritize achieving full recruitment strength across the Armed Forces, enhancing national security capabilities.
13. Taxation and GST Reform: To boost entrepreneurship, Congress plans to lessen the tax burden on Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). Additionally, the party promises to replace the existing Goods and Services Tax (GST) laws enacted by the BJP/NDA government with GST 2.0, aiming for a more simplified and effective tax regime.
The Congress party’s manifesto, titled ‘Nyay Patra’, encapsulates a comprehensive vision for inclusive growth and social progress. If implemented, these proposals could have a transformative impact on India’s socio-economic landscape, addressing key challenges and fostering equitable development across diverse sectors of the society.
