Gujarat Congress Party Manifesto Highlights- Assembly Election-2012

PREFACE

It is unfortunate that in the last one and a half decades, the very communal elements that have been responsible for the assassination of Gandhiji have used communalism as a weapon to mislead the people of Gujarat and gain power in the state. The BJP in Gujarat has used vulgar propaganda, communalism and blatant lies to hide its failures. When all excuses fail, the Central Government is blamed for all the state government’s failure.

Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru paved the way for planned development in India through the five-year plans. Lal Bahadur Shastri gave the slogan ‘Jai Jawan, Jai Kishan’ and paved the way for agricultural development and the defence of the country. Smt. Indira Gandhi continued the drive towards development of India with steps like nationalization of banks and abolition of annuity.

The Congress party has always prioritized the needs of the poor in India. Underprivileged people in rural as well as urban India got houses and plots of land under the various national housing schemes. Rajiv Gandhi lowered the voting age to 18 years to enfranchise and empower the youth of this country. Rajiv Gandhi lowered the voting age to 18 years to enfranchise and empower the youth of this country.

Beginning in 2004, under the leadership of Sonia Gandhi, the Congress-led UPA government brought in path breaking laws including ‘The Right to Information’, The Forest Rights Act and the game-changing employment guarantee act of MGNREGA. It was the Congress-led UPA that made primary education a fundamental right by enacting and implementing the ‘Right to Education’.

Despite the phenomenal growth of India since 2004, Gujarat lagged behind other industrialized states like Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Haryana and Andhra Pradesh even on economic parameters. On other social parameters like health, social justice, women’s health and child nutrition, Gujarat lags behind significantly compared to other states.

All-round inclusive growth of all sections of society has been the very foundation of all of the Congress party’s policies and initiatives. Under the present BJP government, Gujarat is seeing the benefits of economic growth accrue to the few millionaires and favoured industrialists. The number of jobless youths in the state of Gujarat has crossed 10.5 lakhs.

In comparison to other States the real capital investment in the State of Gujarat has been far less, with a bulk of that limited investment being restricted only to the national highways and around railway tracks. Coastal areas and the eastern tribal belts have been completely ignored.

Law and order in Gujarat has significantly deteriorated over the last decade. Fake encounters, disappearance of children, rape, kidnapping, theft in homes and even temples have gone out of control. This election manifesto of the Congress party highlights some of the key promises to the people of Gujarat.

ECONOMIC POLICY

The economic development policy of BJP government only focuses on a few selected ‘industrialists’. The result of such ill-fated economic policy has proved disastrous for the people of Gujarat. The so called “development” has increased the income and wealth of only a limited number of people, while there has been marginal or no change in the condition of majority of the people. As a result, this huge economic disparity is witnessed in Gujarat.

Gujarat has been pushed back to a lower position in two important social service categories of Education and Health. Startling official figures show that almost 45% children of Gujarat are victims of malnutrition and these figures prove that the claim of development in Gujarat is absolutely hollow. Real development and human welfare can be achieved only when proper facilities for daily needs like health, education, clean drinking water and low cost public transport facilities are adequately made available. All of these facilities in present day Gujarat are far from satisfactory.

General administration – law & order – prohibition

During the BJP rule, condition of the administration and overall law and order situation has deteriorated. Intentionally, huge numbers of posts in the administration are kept vacant resulting in unforgivable delay in carrying out people’s problems and even routine work suffers because of lack of staff.

• Congress will recruit employees i.e. teachers, policemen as well as doctors on full wages implementing the Gujarat High Court orders in the same matters.

• Recommendation of the Sixth Pay Commission will be implemented in State Government employees.

• All the 62,000 vacant posts and the huge number of backlog vacancies shall be field up within one year.

• The claims under ‘The Right to Forest Land’ Act shall be settled within six months.

• ‘Public Accountability Act’ will be enacted and implemented, to make the state administration more effective

Agriculture

• Agriculture is the backbone of the rural economy and the BJP Government has completely neglected this sector.

• The BJP Government has proved to be an utter failure even in the fields of water and electricity, which are vital factors for the development of agriculture. The work on the Narmada project has come to a grinding halt. It is unfortunate that the farmers have yet not derived the benefits of the project which they should have got by now.

• A Land Commission will be formed for better utilization of resources.

• Not a single vigha of the ‘Gauchar’ of Gujarat will be allotted for other purposes and necessary steps will be taken to protect and improve ‘Gauchar’.

• Loans at 2% interest rate to farmers for agricultural activities i.e. to purchase milch animals, tractors etc. State Government will bear the other interest burden.

• Adequate electricity at an affordable rate based on horsepower and 50% rebate on the electric motors of up to 5 horse power to the farmers.

• Free copies of 7/12 and 8 A to the farmers through Gram Panchayat.

• Tax Relief on agricultural equipments, tools and tractors

• Rs.100 crores will be allotted for the production and export of horticultural products, flowers and vegetables

• Separate export Zone for mangoes, onions, cumin seeds, castor seeds and isabgol.

• The Gujarat Warehousing Corporation will be reactivated to build godowns for storage of forest produce and agricultural produce.

• Crop insurance cover to all farmers will be considered.

• Special encouragement for organic farming by providing them urban/foreign market.

Dairy – Poultry farming – Fisheries

• A mechanism will be developed to reduce hardships of fishermen, ferry etc. due to provisions of the Coastal Regulation Zone Act and the issues relating to Coast Guards and other Security / para-military forces .

• Subsidized diesel, motor and bore to fishermen.

• Dairy, Poultry farming and breeding of ducks will be developed scientifically.

• Priority to the Cooperative societies of the local backward classes for inland fisheries.

Industries, Mine and Minerals

It is a myth that the vibrant summits have brought more investment in Gujarat. Only 13% of the billion worth of MOUs signed have been materliazed.

A clear policy will be developed for proper, integrated and balanced industrial development of the state

• Khadi Gramodyog will be developed to promote Khadi.

• Special Status of Cotton Export Centre to Manavadar and Kesar Mango Expert Centre to Talala.

• Special policy to safeguard the interests of the farmers for industrial purchase of in SEZ.

• Industrial Rehabilitation Board to generate employment and to use the assets of sick industries for the productive purposes.

• 85% employment to local residents.

• Revival of the Handloom Corporation, the Leather Industry Corporation, the Scavenger Board and the Ati Pachhat Jati Vikas Board

• Diamond Development Board will be constituted to develop diamond industry.

• Creation of Bio Diesel Bank for the better utilization of waste land

• Process of granting permission to the industries by GPCB will be simplified

Tourism

• A ferry service to connect Maharashtra through sea route.

• Allocation of Rs.200 crore for the development and maintenance of the Pilgrimage places

• Proper development of Tourist places like Dang District, Kutch and other ancient/ heritage sites of the state.

Education, Sports & Cultural Activities

• Tablet PC for the 10th Standard pass student and a Laptop for 12th Standard pass student.

• Right to Education will be implemented in letter and spirit.

• Residential Schools for the students of SC/ST

• Grant-in-aid secondary schools for the areas where secondary or higher secondary schools are not available within 5km.

• Fully subsidized Primary School Uniform for every school going children

• Immediate recruitment for the vacant post of teachers in all primary schools

• Sports Academies on zonal basis. Job opportunities for sportspersons based on good performance at state level

• Reduction in Text book prices

• Free textbooks for girls to promote girl education

• New Industrial Technical Institutes (ITI), Vocational Schools and Skill Development Centres will be started in each taluka

• Special scholarship for poor students qualifying for study in National level institutes like IIM, IIT, and NID

• Implementation of principal of equal wages for equal work.

• Recruitment of Vidhya Sahayak, Shikshak Sahayak and Adhyapak Sahayak on regular and full pay scale

Health, Drinking Water

• Efficient Government General Hospital at District level, which will be upgraded to the multi-disciplinary hospitals and subsequently converted into a medical college

• No user charges in Government Hospitals.

• Fully equipped Mobile Clinics for faraway places with high tribal population.

• Free of charge medical treatment, medicines and food for people with annual income of less than Rs 3 lacs at Government Hospitals.

• A guest room for the family members of the patients at all Government Hospitals.

• Potable water will be made available in all villages.

Panchayat – local self governance bodies – Cooperatives

• The election of the Cooperative Bodies at five year interval instead of three years. Seats will be reserved for the weaker sections, Adivasis, Dalits and Thakor samaj.

• Increase in limit of work given to Labour Construction Cooperatives from Rs.8 lacs to Rs. 15 lacs.

• Exemption to Cooperative Credit Societies from stamp duty in credit up to Rs. 5 lacs

• A separate department to monitor the MNREGA scheme and to abolish rural unemployment.

• Gram Panchayat will be given more power over the rights of water, land, and forest in tribal areas.

Social welfare, women and child welfare

• 35 Kg food grains at the rate of Rs. 2 and iodine salt at free of cost for BPL families

• Increased Financial assistance to widows

• Fast-Track Courts for quick disposal of cases of violence against women.

• 50% Concession to women in Public Transportation

• Complete Elimination of Manual Scavenging.

• The honorarium paid to Mid-Day Meal workers/ Anganwadi workers will be doubled.

• Unsecured loans of up to Rs.1.00 lac to Woman of SC, ST, OBC and minority community to set up self employing activity.

• Promotion of Youth and Women oriented cottage and small industries.

• Subsidized power to Cottage Industries run by women as well as relief in sales tax on their products.

• Necessary measures will be taken for the welfare of nomadic and estranged communities

Dalit, Tribal, Minorities, Nomadic communities and OBCs Welfare

• Strict implementation of PESA and Forest Rights Acts

• Santhani Lands for Landless Dalit as well as returning of the land acquired by BJP Government

• Revival of 16 welfare plans for the Dalit under social welfare and empowerment

• Increase in ceiling of Annual Income limit of the parents of the SC/ST/ Minority communities students studying in hostel.

• Immediate recruitment of 13000 backlog vacancies as per the judgements of the high court

• 4 Kg flour at Rs. 1/- and 500g Dal at Rs. 20/- per family member for poor family.

• Under the ‘Rajiv Gandhi Rural Electrification Scheme’, electricity will be made available even in the scattered homes in tribal areas.

• Implementation of the Roster Act in letter and spirit

• Formation of State level Scheduled Cast Commission

• Part time sweepers will be made permanent and contract system will be eliminated.

• Revival of Hast Shilp Vikas Nigam, Charm Udyog Vikas Nigam

• Autonomous status for Scheduled Caste Economic Development Corporation, Safai Kamdaar Nigam and Ati Pachhat Jati Nigam.

• Revival of Rural Housing Board, Gujarat Housing Board and Slum Clearance Board

• New Hostels for dalit students in cities and towns having more than one lac population and modernization of existing hostels, Aadarsh Nivasi Chhatralay

• Simplifying the process of scholarships for Minority Class

• 100% scholarship for Minority Students pursuing technical/profession education i.e. Engineering, MBA, MCA

• Immediate implementation of Sachar Committee recommendations

• Formation of State Minority Commission.

• Financial Development Corporation for the development and welfare of Minorities.

• Gujarat State Minority Educational Institute Commission will be formed.

• Revival of Welfare Board for Denotified Nomadic Tribes

Urbanisation- Civil Supplies

• All slums built upto 31.12.2010 will be regularised and provided with all civic facilities

• 25 sq.mt. land at token rate for housing purpose to urban poor residing in slums

• Special Zones as well as provision of financial assistance for small traders, hawkers, street vendors

• Relief in electricity bills for urban poor living in slums.

• Distribution of sorghum (jowar), millet, maize, rice, bunti- bavto under the PDS

• Formation of “Municipal Road Corporation” to construct durable and quality roads in municipal areas.

Electricity, Transportation, Roads and Ports

• Result oriented plan for the implementation of ‘Ghar nu Ghar’ project

• Free units of 50 units of electricity for all households

• Review and Simplification of Electricity charges in all the sectors

• Reduction in electricity tariff for residences, educational institutions, hostels and public organisations of rural area.

• Reduction in electricity tariff for small shopkeepers and self employed businessmen

• Construction of a bridge between Ghogha and Bharuch on sea route to connect Saurashtra and Soth Gujarat

• Priority will be given to the development of civic facilities in Coastal villages

• Simplification of Motor Vehicles Tax structure.

• Construction of 4 lakh houses under Indira Awas Yojana

• Enough power supply to all farmers in the tribal area

• Free Single phase power connection to each farmer cultivating less than 5 acres of land in tribal reas.

• 50% relief in the power tariff in the tribal villages.

Irrigation- Narmada Project

• Sub canals, small canals and talus have not been constructed in the command area of the

Narmada dam.

• New Irrigation projects will be implemented

• Small irrigation schemes, middle level dams and check dams on rivers, canals, and ponds will be uilt to improve water resources in Gujarat, Saurashtra and Kutch region.

• Resurrect and implementation of the recommendation of Expert Committee constructed in 995 to control salinity ingress and reclaim the fertility of such land .

Labour and Employment

• Exemption from payment of royalty to the unit producing bricks up to 25 lacs

• Formation of “Gujarat Soil Works and Rural Technology Institute”

• Financial assistance to labourers and daily wagers in rural areas for tool-kit.

• Job on Compassionate ground to the family member of the deceased within three months. nemployment allowance will be paid in case job is not given within the stipulated time period.

• Immediate recruitment for the vacant government posts

• Formation of a Board for the welfare of people working in unorganised sector.

• Review of wages structure of unorganised labour considering the price index

• Implementation of Minimum Wage Provision for workers of Anganwadis and cooperative ector.

• Recruitments for all the posts of labour commissioner and officers as per requirements of labour aws

• Formation of a Welfare Board for the Auto Rickshaw Drivers

Financial Arrangements

• Financial discipline will be adhered to by proper allocation of budget in various development chemes for the overall development of various section of the society

• Policy of taxation will be improved for a balanced financial growth considering the state xpenditure and income.

• Abolition of additional tax of 1% to 2.5% , which has been imposed from 1.4.2008.

• The summary assessment system for annual turnover of up to Rs 50 lakh.

• Exemption from VAT for the units having Turnover up to Rs.50 lakh.

• Exemption from paying professional tax to the workers and employees earning up to Rs.15000 er month

Issues with the Centre

• A separate department for better co-ordination of various Central and State related issues.

• Proper implantation of various public welfare schemes of Central Government schemes like MNREGA, The Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission (JNURM) of the UPA government