Job guarantee card: TMC’s latest election bonanza offer

SHILLONG, Jan 5: The opposition Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Thursday promised jobs to 3 lakh youth through the ‘MYE card’ over the next five years if voted to power in Meghalaya.
This is the party’s second electoral promise after the ‘We card’ aimed at the financial inclusion of women in the state.
Apart from providing jobs to 3 lakh youth, the MYE card would ensure Rs 1,000 per month or Rs 12,000 annually to all unemployed youths aged 21-40 years, the party said while announcing the card.
The TMC justified the scheme as “37% of the youth are excluded from the population of active workers” with 42% of rural and 20% of urban youth being unemployed in the state.
Furthermore, the ratio of dependency on the youth in Meghalaya is the highest in the country, indicating that many families in the state are suffering deeply, the party said.
“Once a party gets the mandate to form the government, it becomes the responsibility of that party to ensure that the promises made in its manifesto are implemented. This spirit of democracy has been reinforced by the observation of the Supreme Court,” TMC leader Mukul Sangma said.
“It (MYE card) is a massive challenge, but we have done our job to know where the jobs will be created,” he said.
Asked why the people should believe their promises, he referred to a viral video where Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong is heard saying that they fool the people before and after elections.
“You have heard from the horse’s mouth that the party (NPP) lies during the elections. The people will use their conscience and wisdom and this time, I feel the people know what will happen if they do not give a clear mandate,” Sangma said.
He claimed the TMC “knows the minds” of the people and they will vote for a change. Sangma said the TMC’s manifesto would be released soon and it will incorporate issues such as the implementation of the inner-line permit (ILP) system and the ensuring the safety, security and personal liberty of the people.
Indicating that the people need to be wary of the BJP’s agenda, he advised caution because of what has been happening in the name of alleged conversions and the persecution of people belonging to a particular faith. “We are against any threat to the inclusive character of this nation,” he said.
Calling out the “hypocrisy” of Tynsong on the ILP issue, Sangma slammed the NPP-led coalition government for failing to push the Meghalaya Resident Safety and Security Act and stand up against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act.
“They have let the people of Meghalaya down on the ILP and other crucial issues because they belong to the breed that lies to and fools the people before and after the elections,” he said.