Rajashan Congress manifesto: Farm loan waiver, free education for women and jobs

The Congress on Thursday promised a loan waiver for Rajasthan farmers, free education for women and right to health in its manifesto released in the state capital for the ensuing assembly polls due on December 7.

Claiming it to be a 'people's manifesto', the party named it as the 'Rajasthan Jan Ghoshna Patra,' saying it has been finalised after going through over 2 lakh suggestions and opinions, said Sachin Pilot, state Congress president.

The party also promised pension for farmers and bring agricultural equipment out of the GST purview.

Party president Rahul Gandhi during his visit to Rajasthan had already promised a loan waiver to the farmers "within 10 days of coming to power" in the state, Pilot said.

He said the manifesto is not just a document, but a commitment to public. "We have plans for its time-bound implementation and the party will bring an accountability bill within 30 days," he added.

Promising "sufficient employment opportunities" for the youth, he said loans will be given to those who want to start their own business. Unemployed youth will get a monthly allowance of Rs. 3,500. Free travel will be arranged for students taking tests in the state, the manifesto said.

A law for the protection of journalists in Rajasthan, agriculture loans at lower interest rates, creating a board to stop migration of labourers and setting up Industrial Training Institutes in all districts figure in the manifesto.

Senior Congress leaders including Pilot, former chief minister Ashok Gehlot and chairman of the manifesto committee Harish Chaudhary were present at the formal luanch of the manifesto.

On Tuesday, the BJP had released its manifesto promising 30,000 new government jobs every year, 50 lakh employment opportunities over the next five years in the private sector and an allowance of Rs 5,000 for the educated jobless.

--IANS

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