By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The Congress on Monday released its election manifesto promising populist measures and freebies which include providing of two LPG gas cylinders in addition to the nine provided by the Central Government at subsidised rates for each household, free computer tablets to school children above the ninth standard, wedding assistance of Rs 15,000 for orphans of marriageable age and one lakh affordable houses to the needy over the next five years.
The Congress also promised to create 10,000 new job opportunities for women by promoting women-centric industries, another 10,000 new jobs for the youths in the Government sector and another one lakh new job opportunities in non-Government sector, besides providing livelihood security under the Integrated Basin Development and Livelihood Programme (IBD&LP) in the next five years.
The Congress also promised to pass the Public Service Delivery Act that will ensure that public servants deliver improved services like driving licenses, birth and death certificates and other citizen services in a time-bound manner and approach the common citizens as their customers who deserve world class services.
The party also promised that it would provide support to one lakh farmers under the IBD&LP in the next five years, creation of an integrated and holistic flood control programme to address the recurring floods along the Brahmaputra Basin as a top priority and widening of the road and upgradation of all State highways and major district roads.
Youths have been accorded special status in the manifesto with promises that specific funds would be allocated to support youths to become dedicated and trained teachers. There is also the promise of operationalising the Meghalaya State Technical University within the next five years.
Claiming that the party’s goal is to make the State self sufficient in power, the Congress promised to implement the Smart Grid technology for scaling up the utilities so that the quality as well as availability of power can be enhanced.
Addressing the gathering after the release of the party manifestoes by AICC general secretary Oscar Fernandes, Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma informed that the settlement of the long-pending inter-State border with Assam will be the topmost priority of the Congress.
The Chief Minister also informed that, if voted to power, the Congress intends to create two more districts, four new civil sub-divisions and four new community and rural development blocks to ensure better delivery of governance to the people.
He said that the Government also intends to open and upgrade another twelve border haats to facilitate growth of border trade between Meghalaya and Bangladesh.
Dr Sangma informed that the party has pledged to eliminate the scourge of militancy in the State.
Stating that the party was concerned over the problem of traffic congestion, the Chief Minister said the Congress would adopt several measures to ease the traffic congestion.
“We also have a vision of making Meghalaya a poverty free state by 2022 which is the year when we would complete 50 years of our Statehood,” he said.
On the agenda of protection of the environment, Dr Sangma said that the Congress-led MUA Government has always been ecologically sensitive and has launched various environmental-friendly initiatives in the State.
On the issue of women empowerment, Dr Sangma said the party would strive to provide fast track courts for crimes against women.
“Among other initiatives we will undertake special entrepreneurship training programmes for women to make them self sufficient and financially independent,” the Chief Minister said while also informing that the party intends to provide reservation for women in the Traffic Police Department.