Guj Polls: Cong releases manifesto, promises free laptop, tablet PCs

Also promised guaranteed employment for youth, reduction in VAT on petroleum products, irrigation projects

The Gujarat Congress on Tuesday released its manifesto for the Assembly elections making promises on scores of issues affecting the 'common man', including free laptop and tablet PCs for students.

The manifesto released by senior party leader and Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dixit along with Gujarat Congress President Arjun Modhwadia further promised guaranteed employment for youth, reduction in value added tax (VAT) on petroleum products, irrigation projects, low coast housing for urban and rural poor, insurance cover for families living below poverty line (BPL) , food grains at Rs 2 per kg for BPL families and drinking water for all.

"In its 17 years of rule in the state, the BJP has violated rights of people and broken promises that it had made. We intend to restore those rights," said Modhwadia after releasing the party's manifesto for 2012 assembly election calling it a 'Blueprint of Gujarat's Future'.

"This is a common man centric document where we have promised what the Congress was implementing while in power. There would be no favours to the Tata's , Adanis, Rahejas or the Satyam Computers," the Congress leader claimed.

The Congress manifesto promised free tablet PCs for students of class 10 and 12, while free laptop PCs were promised for college students. Further, pre-metric scholarships for minority students and college students was also in fray.

It has also proposed slew of schemes for the fishing community by planning a fishing harbour, housing projects and insurance cover. "The entire coastal belt has been sold off to industrialists by the present BJP government, without taking into consideration the fishermen. In the last decade the Modi government had not build even a single fishing harbour," Modhwadia claimed.

He said that his party intends to develop the coastal region for development of tourism which could in turn generate employment for youth in the area.  

Modhwadia further said that his party would put the Narmada irrigation project on priority and ensure irrigation to 1.8 million acre land across the state.

Besides this the manifesto also promised 50% reservation for women in local bodies, enacting of Public Accountability Act, setting up of Land Commission for better utilisation of land resources, interest subsidy on farm loans, storage and agro-processing units, promote dairy, poultry and fishing industries, special policy to safeguard interests of farmers for industrial purchase in special economic zone (SEZ).

It has also promised a Diamond Development Board for the diamond industry, ferry service between Gujarat and Maharashtra, exemption from VAT for the units having turnover up to Rs 50 lakh and have a separate department for coordination between Central and State governments.

Definite & Promising

Reduction in VAT on petroleum products

Guaranteed employment to educated unemployed along with skill based training

Low cost home to women across Gujarat

Electric connections to farmers across the state

100 sq yard plots to women in rural areas

Uninterrupted power supply to all

Benefit of 6th Pay Commission to govt employees

Nutritionally rich food at subsidised rated for needy

Free life0-saving medicines and drugs

Qualitative education in govt schools, colleges

Free laptops, taFree laptops, tablet PCs for students

Irrigation to 1.8 million hectare land in state

Solar powered street lights in 18K villages