INDIA bloc promises 10 lakh jobs, Rs 15 lakh health cover for poor in J’khand manifesto

PTI Ranchi, The INDIA bloc on Tuesday unveiled its manifesto for the upcoming Jharkhand assembly elections, promising 10 lakh jobs for youth and health insurance coverage of up to Rs 15 lakh for the poor. The ‘7 guarantees’, the election manifesto of the INDIA bloc, includes social justice by enhancing reservations for STs to 28 per cent from 26 per cent, SCs to 12 per cent from 10 per cent and OBCs to 27 per cent from 14 per cent at present. “INDIA bloc will ensure 10 lakh jobs for youth and Rs 15 lakh health cover for the poor,” Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said while jointly releasing the manifesto with Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren and RJD’s JP Yadav.

Kharge said, “Whenever we talk about any guarantees, Prime Minister Narendra Modi immediately criticises it... PM Modi came here and during his speech, he mentioned my name and said that there is no reliability of Congress’s guarantees... Congress fulfills all its guarantees but Modi’s guarantees never get fulfilled.” INDIA bloc promised to increase the free monthly ration for the poor to 7 kg from 5 kg and make available gas cylinders at Rs 450 in Jharkhand as against BJP’s promise of providing it at Rs 500 in addition to two free cylinders during festivals.

The other guarantees unveiled include guarantee of domicile policy based on 1932 Khatiyan (land record settlement), implementation of a separate Sarna religious code for tribals and protection and conservation of regional languages. INDIA bloc also promised that paddy would be procured at a minimum support price (MSP) of Rs 3,200 per quintal from existing Rs 2,400 per quinal.