Odisha Congress Unveils Election Manifesto with Nine Assurances

Posted on by Vividh Bharthi

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) unveiled its election manifesto on Friday, presenting nine guarantees to the people of the state in a press conference attended by PCC president Sarat Pattnaik and the party’s Odisha in-charge Ajoy Kumar.

In its manifesto, the party pledged to provide a Minimum Support Price (MSP) of Rs 3000 per quintal for paddy, along with a bonus for farmers. Additionally, the Congress promised agricultural loan waivers and a monthly pension of Rs 2000 for every farmer if elected to power.

Furthermore, the manifesto included promises of free electricity up to 200 units for households, mirroring initiatives in Karnataka, and the creation of job opportunities for five lakh unemployed youths. The OPCC also committed to providing a Rs 3000 unemployment allowance to every graduate.

The Congress assured the waiver of loans taken by Women Self Help Groups and announced Rs 2000 under the Gruhalaxmi Yojana for women heads of families. Other pledges encompassed offering gas cylinders at Rs 500 each, free medical treatment up to Rs 25 lakhs in both private and government hospitals, and increasing pension amounts for widows, individuals with disabilities, and the elderly to Rs 2000 per month.

Moreover, the party vowed to conduct a caste-based socio-economic survey in the state and provide 27 percent reservation in jobs and educational institutions for backward classes. Additionally, plans were outlined to establish Gau Shalas in every village and Gau Seva Kendras in every Gram Panchayat.

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Himachal MP Harsh Mahajan meets PM Modi, seeks highway to connect Chamba with Leh

New Delhi, Dec 12 (IANS) BJP’s Rajya Sabha MP from Himachal Pradesh, Harsh Mahajan, on Thursday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the Lok Sabha and sought a highway to connect Chamba town with Tisa, Pangi, Kishtwar and further Leh.

On the occasion, the Prime Minister wished Mahajan on his birthday.

Mahajan said Prime Minister Modi has always considered Himachal Pradesh as his second home and has left no stone unturned for the state. “The state Congress government is also getting money from the Centre, but trying to loot it,” an official statement quoting Mahajan said.

He said Rs 89 crore would be spent on clean water and sanitation in Himachal Pradesh. On the recommendation of the 15th Finance Commission, the Central government has released Rs 89 crore as a tied grant to the rural local bodies of Himachal.

“For this also, we thank the Central government on behalf of the Bharatiya Janata Party. Apart from this, the state government has also received Rs 81 crore as a non-conditional grant. This is the first instalment of a tied grant for 2024-25.

“The second instalment has been released as non-conditional grant. An instalment of Rs 58 crore has already been received by the state under this head. This amount will develop basic facilities like drinking water, and waste management in the rural areas of the state. This grant amount of the Centre will be used by the local bodies for two types of basic services. First, works will be done to get rid of open defecation including domestic waste, human excreta, faecal sludge management and treatment, which will increase cleanliness in the village,” the three-time legislator Mahajan added.

BJP’s Harsh Mahajan, a Congress rebel who was once known for his proximity to Chief Minister Sukhvinder Sukhu, got elected to the Rajya Sabha in February by defeating Congress nominee Abhishek Manu Singhvi amid reports of cross-voting by at least six ruling party legislators.

Both the candidates secured 34 votes each in the 68-member House, including three Independent legislators who are believed to have voted in favour of the BJP. Mahajan was eventually declared the winner through a draw of lots.

–IANS

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Indore: Beggar claims Rs 75,000 found in her possession during rescue earned in a month

Bhopal, Dec 12 (IANS) Madhya Pradesh’s Women and Child Development Department on Thursday claimed to have rescued a woman beggar near a temple in Indore with cash amount more than Rs 75, 000.

The administration claimed, that the woman, who has been shifted to a rescue centre run by the Women and Child Development Department, has confessed to earning the money within one month from begging in the area.

Project Officer of the Child Development Department in Indore city, Dinesh Mishra said, “During the interrogation woman said she had earned this money in the past month. She has been involved in begging for the last several years.”

The state government has revived the beggar-free campaign which was initially planned in September 2023 by the then Indore District Collector Ilayaraja T.

Ilayaraja T is now serving as Additional Secretary of the Madhya Pradesh Tourism Department while new Indore District Collector Ashish Singh has taken forward the implementation of the scheme.

The district administration has said that the campaign has been launched so that the children and women engaged in begging at crossroads could be rescued.

An official said that a committee under the supervision of the Indore District administration, along with the concerned departments must identify sectors (hotspots) where there are cases of disguised begging.

The rescued child labourers cum beggars are being given proper counselling followed by education and training so that they are properly rehabilitated and do not go back on the streets.

“Rescued persons are counselled in three phases and if they are still found on the streets, then there is also a procedure for legal action against them,” Dinesh Mishra said.

Indore district administration has deployed a dedicated team that looks after the issue along with the other departments to introduce a grassroots campaign for this purpose.

–IANS

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