By: Vijay Kumar Verma ( Editor-ICN Group )
SHIMLA: Himachal Pradesh Congress party today released its election manifesto which aims at winning over the electorate. Releasing the manifesto titled “Majboot Iradon se aage badhta Himachal” Virbhadra Singh, Chief Minister stated that it had been drafted by a committee headed by Kaul Singh Thakur.
Among the major promises offered are employment generation for 1.5 lac youth which includes 75000 in government services, laptops to 50000 meritorious students, regularisation of contract employees, daily waged and outsourced employees, raising daily wages to Rs.350 etc.
The manifesto also promises interest free loans upto Rs.one lac to small farmers, subsidies in agriculture equipment, seeds, fertilisers etc.
For the senior citizens above 75 years of age, the manifesto promises Rs.1500 per month subsistence allowance, while it also promises grant of Rs 1 lac for the marriage of daughters of widows.
For the meritorious sudents, in addition to the laptops it also promises Dr Ambedkar Scholarship to 10 students for higher studies.
Touching the nerves of state government employees the manifesto promises 4-19-14 promotion policy and also efforts to restore pension scheme which had been withdrawn about 15 years ago but has been in demand during employees agitations. It also promises to further the cause of One Rank One Pension for the ex servicemen.
Interestingly, the state congress President Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu was conspicuous by his absence on this occasion while central observer Sushil Kumar Shinde, Ranjit Ranjan, Kaul Singh Thakur besides Virbhadra Singh were on the dias.
Speaking on the occasion Kaul Singh Thakur declared that the congress party will come to power for the 7th time under the leadership of Virbhadra Singh.
