Congress Unveils Ambitious Manifesto for Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Elections
As Jammu and Kashmir gears up for its Assembly elections, the Congress party has unveiled its manifesto, promising a comprehensive range of initiatives aimed at revitalizing the Union Territory. The manifesto, announced on Monday, outlines the party’s commitment to restoring statehood and addressing various regional concerns, though it stops short of directly mentioning the repealed Article 370.
Key Promises from Congress
One of the standout pledges is the restoration of statehood, which Congress vows to prioritize if they form the government. Additionally, the party has promised to place a strong emphasis on local employment and resource management, including prioritizing Jammu and Kashmir residents in government job recruitment, tenders, land allotments, and access to regional resources.
Economic and Welfare Initiatives:
- Monthly Allowance: Congress promises a monthly allowance of Rs 3,000 for eligible women heads of households, aiming to provide financial stability to women in the region.
- Youth Support: Unemployed youth will receive Rs 3,500 per month, helping to alleviate some of the economic pressures faced by young people in the Union Territory.
- Health Insurance: The manifesto includes a commitment to provide Rs 2.5 million in health insurance coverage, a significant step towards improving healthcare access.
- Job Creation: A notable promise is the creation of 100,000 new government jobs, which could significantly impact the local job market.
- Agricultural Support: Apple farmers will benefit from a minimum support price of Rs 72 per kg, providing better economic security for the region’s apple industry.
Additional Commitments:
- Support for Farmers: Congress plans to provide Rs 4,000 annually to landless, tenant, and land-owning farming households. They also intend to arrange 99-year leases for landless farmers who cultivate state land.
- Rehabilitation and Cultural Revitalization: The manifesto includes a pledge to establish a minority commission within the first hundred days, focusing on the rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits. It also proposes the reinstatement of the Old Pension Scheme and the revival of the ‘Darbar move,’ a tradition of relocating the state secretariat and its offices between Srinagar and Jammu twice a year.
- Infrastructure Development: To boost agricultural productivity, Congress plans to set up a Rs 2,500 crore fund to enhance irrigation infrastructure.
Addressing Regional Concerns
The manifesto also tackles the issue of mining, specifically targeting the extraction of sand by outsiders and the mining of blue sapphire in Kishtwar and lithium reserves in Reasi district. Congress has pledged to ensure fairness and address these practices to protect local interests.
Congress chief spokesperson Pawan Khera highlighted that the party, in collaboration with allies such as the National Conference and CPI (M), will develop a common minimum program to guide their governance if they win. The first phase of the three-phase Assembly elections is set to commence on Wednesday, marking the beginning of a pivotal period for Jammu and Kashmir’s political landscape.
As the elections approach, Congress‘s manifesto presents a robust vision for the future of Jammu and Kashmir, promising significant changes and improvements for the region.
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