Congress’s campaign platform in Odisha has 90 pledges and 10 assurances
With 90 pledges and nine assurances for the people of the state, the Congress launched its manifesto for the 2024 Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in Odisha on Friday, hoping to gain an advantage over the BJD and BJP.
In agreement with the ruling party, the Congress said that, subject to the results of a socioeconomic caste census, it would provide a 27% quota for OBCs and SEBCs in government positions and educational institutions. In addition, the party promised to reimburse depositors for their chit fund balances within six months of taking power.
Within 100 days of taking government, the state will begin a socioeconomic census based on caste, according to the manifesto. It further declared that no one in the state shall be left without homestead land within a thousand days of taking office. It also said that the government will buy land if needed to distribute it to the underprivileged.
Minority, SC, and ST commissions would be established, according to the manifesto. In addition, the party pledged that the government will drop all criminal proceedings against SCs and STs pertaining to land disputes within a hundred days of taking power. PESA regulations will be developed within a year after taking effect.
The Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) president Sarat Pattanayak and other top leaders pledged in their manifesto to eliminate all agricultural debts and increase the minimum support price of paddy to ~3,000 per quintal. The manifesto was issued by Odisha in-charge Ajoy Kumar. Additionally, it guaranteed to provide farmers a pension of almost $2,000 per month.
In an attempt to win over middle class voters, the party promised to give out 2,000 free units of power to every household and an LPG cylinder for less than $500 to every family. The party, which came to power in the state, promised jobs to five lakh youngsters and an unemployment allowance of less than three thousand a month for three months. It claimed that both the BJP-led government at the Centre and the BJD government in the state had failed to address the issue of increasing unemployment. The guarantee provides aged, widowed, and disabled people (PWDs) with a monthly stipend of around $2,000.
To win over female voters, the party promised to provide ~2,000 per month to each woman head of home via the Grihalaxmi Yojana and waive bank loans for all women self-help organizations.
The party’s assurance also includes free medical care in public and private hospitals up to `25 lakh. This will also apply to all employees of the government.
