Congress releases manifesto; Promises transparent, accountable Govt

Hyderabad: The Congress party has promised a transparent, accountable, people-centric and welfare government if voted to power in the elections.

The promise was made in the party’s manifesto for Assembly elections to be held on December 7 which was released at Gandhi Bhavan on Tuesday by Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) President Capt. N. Uttam Kumar Reddy, AICC Telangana Incharge R.C. Khuntia, former union minister Jairam Ramesh, TPCC Chief Spokesperson Dr. Sravan Dasoju, Hyderabad DCC President M. Anjan Kumar Yadav and other leaders.

Titled “People’s Manifesto – Samula Marpu Kosam, Samgrah Pranalika” (People’s Manifesto for Change), the 112-page manifesto covers 36 major topics pertaining to governance, agriculture, welfare of various communities and sections, industries, welfare of police personnel and also environment.

Explaining the highlights of manifesto, Sravan said that the next government would ensure that the Chief Minister and all ministers would run the administration only from the Secretariat and they will be always be accessible to people. RTI Act will be fully implemented. Lok Ayukta will be established and Chief Minister, all ministers and other officials will be brought under its purview. A ‘People’s Grievances Cell’, headed by a senior IAS officer, will be established in the Chief Minister’s Office.

Sravan informed that the manifesto has also promised justice for the families of Telangana martyrs and all those who participated in the Telangana movement of 1969 and post-2009. The Congress party has also promised crop loan waiver of Rs. 2 lakh and Rs. 5,000 crore Market Intervention Fund besides announcing Minimum Guaranteed Prices for 17 major crops. 20% of State’s budget will be allocated for education and this would be a major game changer. Mission 100% Literacy will be pursued. The manifesto also promises a NIMS-level Super Speciality Hospital and medical college in all districts and a100-bedded hospital will be constructed in each Assembly segment.

The manifesto covered various issues pertaining to Youth Welfare, Health, Education, Farmers, Women, Housing, Dalits, Girijans/Adivasis, BCs, Minorities, Employees, EBCs, Lawyers, Journalists, Gulf Migrant Workers, Physically Handicapped, Transgenders, Senior Citizens, Irrigation, Industry, Labour, Singareni Workers, Panchayat Raj, Urban Development, Road/Rail Network, Liquor Policy, Religious Affairs, Folk Artists/Cultural Affairs and Tourism.

“It is very rare that a political party has produced such a comprehensive and well written document covering all issues. If required, we will come up with a supplementary manifesto to cover points which are missed out,” said Uttam Kumar Reddy while complimenting Damodar Rajanarasimha, Komatireddy Reddy, Mahesh Goud, Dasoju Sravan and other leaders who compiled the manifesto based on interaction and feedback from all sections of the society. Uttam said that the next government would fully implement the manifesto and would come up with an annual report on its implementation. “We will be forming the government on December 12, 2018 and on the same day in 2019 we will come up with an implementation report,” he announced. He also promised that a Citizen’s Committee would be formed in all districts to conduct social audit and review of implementation of manifesto.

R.C. Khuntia described it as a people’s real manifesto that promises welfare of all segments in the society. He said allocation of 20% of budget for education would help a developing State like Telangana in improving the literacy rate. He said the manifesto speaks about civil rights and committed to bring everyone, including the Chief Minister, under the purview of Lok Ayukta.

[source_without_link]NSS[/source_without_link]