BJP's manifesto for Bengal: 33% job quota for women, implementing CAA

The BJP's manifesto for Bengal emphasises on women's safety, infra development and healthcare

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will provide 33 per cent reservation for women in all state government jobs if voted to power, said Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday while releasing the party's manifesto for high stakes election in West Bengal. Free education will  also be provided to women from KG to PG if the party comes to power.

The manifesto for Bengal emphasised on women's safety, infra development, and healthcare. It promises every household in Bengal at least one job in the next five years and vows to implement Seventh Pay Commission in the state.

According to the manifesto, PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana will be extended to Bengal and Rs 18,000, will be transferred to 7.5 million farmers' bank accounts. Three new AIIMS hospitals will be built in North Bengal, Jangalmahal and Sundarban. 

"Locals don't have to travel to Kolkata to avail healthcare facilities, said Amit Shah.

Amit Shah said the core of BJP's mainfesto is based on "Sonar Bangla" and the party will ensure violence free Bengal if voted to power. He said that CAA will be implemented in the first Cabinet and refugees who have been staying here for 70 years will be given citizenship. Each refugee family will get Rs 10,000 per year for 5 years.

The party manifesto promises a Common Eligibility Test for all state government jobs to keep a check on corruption.

To transform Kolkata into an international city, BJP promised to set up a Kolkata Development Fund worth Rs 22,000 crore. 10 multistorey parking facilities will also be started. To ensure Kolkata becomes a UNESCO Heritage City, the party claims it will invest Rs 500 crore.

Addressing the event, Shah slammed Trinamool supremo Mamata for "politicising administration, criminalising politics and institutionalising corruption.

He said that his party would work towards building a safe Bengal, an "appeasement-free Bengal" and an infiltration-free state, if voted to power.

"We will bring back the Bengal that made the entire nation proud," he said.

"You have given time to Congress, over 30 years to Communists and ten years to TMC. Give us five years to build a Sonar Bangla," Shah said, urging the people to vote for the BJP.

Led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, the BJP has taken its election campaign several notches higher, stepping up attacks on opponents in the poll-bound state.

"TMC runs on scams, while BJP governments run on schemes," said Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday at a poll rally in Bengal, in a sharp dig at Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress government.

Some of the other promises in the manifesto include: 

Widow pension will be increased from Rs 1,000 to Rs 3,000.

9 women police battalion and 3 women police reserve battalion will be started to safeguard women's security.

Free education to backward classes till graduation level.

Rs 5,000 crore intervention fund will be set up to assure farmers' economic security.

Accidental insurance worth Rs 3 lakh for small farmers and fishermen from state's treasury.

Upgraded KCCs and Rupay cards will be provided to all farmers.

ASHA workers' basic pay is Rs 4,500 and will be increased to Rs 6,000

Starting new ambulance services.

By 2025, seats in Nursing and medical colleges including post-graduate will be doubled.

One Nation, One Health ID card will be started.

10,000 start-ups will be supported with subsidized rooms.

For every landless farmer, Rs 4,000 will be provided yearly