Assembly Elections 2005

JHARKHAND MANIFESTO

Following are the salient points in the election manifesto of the Congress Party for Jharkhand.

The demand for creation of the new state of Jharkhand was fulfilled after a prolonged struggle. A lot of hurdles came during the formation of the state, but the Congress honestly laid the foundation of the Jharkhand state by merging the party of late Jaipal Singh into the Congress in the 1950s. Before the formation of the Jharkhand state, the Congress party, in its election manifestos, in Parliament and outside Parliament and on every occasion extended its support for the creation of the Jharkhand State. Our supreme indisputable leader and the Congress President, Smt. Sonia Gandhi fulfilled the dream of Jharkhand by extending her support to the Jharkhand State Reorganisation Bill in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha (where BJP was in minority). The State's 18 districts out of 22 are in the grip of extremism. Attempts were made to harm the social harmony of the state. Attempts are also being made to destroy the social and cultural endurance of the state by spreading hatred on the lines of religion and caste. The comments of the High Court and the Governor on the style of functioning of the State government and its actions are a black chapter in the history of the State. This blind, deaf, dumb and anti-people government of Jharkhand has made more than 17,000 announcements and foundations but all these announcements remained on paper. Everywhere, there is an atmosphere of lawlessness, consternation, despondency and fear. Against the failures of the government, the Congress, rising over the party-level, through people's movement, put before the government numerous proposals for the development and welfare of Jharkhand. But there was no change in the functioning of this stupid and shameless government. The people have already decided to rock this BJP-led government.

Accepting the policies and leadership of Smt. Sonia Gandhi, the people of Jharkhand have given a new mandate by making Congress and its allies victorious in 13 out of 14 Lok Sabha seats in the last Lok Sabha elections. Jharkhand is the only state in the country where no Panchayat and local body elections have been held so far. This is injustice and deception to the people of Jharkhand.

The Congress party, if voted to power, will give an active, clean and good administration. The general administration and police administration will be reviewed and modernized. Solid steps will be taken to set up a commission for the improvement of administration and make it transparent and answerable to people so that Jharkhand can make an alround development, remove unemployment, remove poverty, educate all and live happily.

Economic condition and industries:

1. If the Congress forms a government, all closed and sick industries in Jharkhand will be modernized and revived.

2. Mineral-based big, medium and small-scale industries will be set up in Jharkhand.

3. The Congress will launch a planned programme for accelerating the industrial development after framing a positive and constructive industrial policy, based on a technical survey.

4. The size of economic plan of the state government has reduced during the last four or five years. After forming the Congress Government, the size of the plan will be increased to make it 100 percent effective for economic development of the state.

H.E.C. and Coal Industry :

1. The Congress assures the people of Jharkhand, especially people associated with H.E.C, that it will not allow closure of such industries and it is committed to run them efficiently.

2. The coal industry is the backbone of Jharkhand. The Congress will make all effort to increase coal production and to work for the progress of coal workers and their safety.

3. The Congress will frame definite and time-bound programme for rehabilitation of people affected by setting up of industries and other development work in Jharkhand.

Agriculture and Development

1. Rural economic system, especially, agriculture-based development will be the Congress party's top priority. The Congress will make effective policy for implementation of organic agriculture, commercial agriculture and to promote cash crops.

2. The Congress will make available fertilizers, seeds and electricity at cheap rates.

3. Plans will be made at district level so that farmers get profitable prices for their produce.

4. After formulating a crop insurance scheme, it will be implemented effectively to protect farmers from loss they might suffer due to heavy rainfall, flood, hail-storm, drought and other natural calamities.

5. The Congress is committed to frame a clear-cut policy for providing health, education and housing facilities to the families of farmers.

Irrigation:

1. After coming into power, the Congress will reopen irrigation projects, which were closed, without any delay. It will also set up a calamity fund for farmers to meet the challenges of natural calamity.

2. During the rule of the present government, hardly two lakh hectares land is irrigated. It will be increased to 14.51 lakh hectares.

Security of Minorities and their Development

1. The Congress is committed to honestly provide security and alround development of minorities.

2. An Economic Commission will be constituted for social, economic and cultural development of minorities.

3. Haj Bhawan will be established for Haj pilgrims in addition to government grants.

4. The Congress is of the view that Christian missionaries have done commendable job in education and medical fields in Jharkhand before independence.

5. The Congress will work for the welfare of language-based minorities, especially the Bengalese, keeping in mind their demands and problems.

6. In the Congress-rule, Hindus, Christians, Muslims, Tribals and other people of Jharkhand will get their just rights and honour.

Weaver Community :

1. For the welfare of weavers, production centres will be set up in rural areas through the medium of Jharkhand Handicraft Organisation.

2. Loans will be given to weavers on easy and simple terms.

SC/ STs and Dalit Community:

1. After the Congress coming into power, no enrolment fee, no tution fee, no examination fee will be charged from the boy and girl students of the scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and dalits at any level.

2. Hostel and residential school facilities for the students belonging to scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and dalits would be further strengthened.

3. Terms and conditions for giving loans to unemployed people through the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation will be made simple and easier.

Medical Facilities:

1. Within six months of coming into power, the Congress will definitely frame a medical scheme and strictly implement it for all under the Jharkhand's social, economic and geographical parameters.

2. After coming into power, the Congress will implement on priority basis the schemes for welfare of family universal Primary Health Scheme, T.B, Leprosy, renel diseases, blindness and malaria eradication programmes and maternity.

3. A medical facility on the line of AIIMS will be formed and implemented in a time-bound manner.

4. The Congress government will develop the traditional form of medicinal herbs _ for curing ailments and protection in a planned way.

Education, Teachers and Students:

1. The Congress will ensure that teachers get their wages regularly.

2. The transfer of teachers will be linked to their responsibilities and discipline.

3. Grants will be sanctioned to universities which fulfil the terms and conditions of deficit grants.

4. Recognition will be granted to colleges, which have been sanctioned permission for establishment.

5. Recognised middle and primary schools, which fulfil the terms and conditions of takeover will be nationalized.

6. The teachers and staff of the state recognized Sanskriti schools, madrasas and other schools run by minorities will get salaries and facilities like that of state government employees.

7. Urdu and Bangla teachers will be recruited in the High Schools and Primary Schools which are located in areas dominated by Urdu and Bangla speaking people.

8. Nagpuri, Oraon, Munda, Ho, Khadia, Kurmali languages will be included in the Eighth schedule of the Constitution.

9. A Middle school for girls will be established in every block.

10. The service terms and conditions of teachers of colleges and universities will be as per the guidelines of the University Grants Commission (UGC).

11. Universities will be established at Palamau, Jamshedpur and Dhanbad.

12. Apart from modern and job-oriented vocational institutes like Jharkhand Institute of Bio-technology _ medical and engineering colleges will be opened at Dumka, Daltonganj and Gumla.

13. Every educational institution will provide a course in of computer education and a typing/shorthand course.

Employment and Self-Employment :

1. To remove unemployment, the Congress government will exploit the resources of the state in an efficient way to ensure employment and self-employment.

2. Effective steps will be taken to create jobs and self-employment opportunities for unemployed boys and girls of tribals and dalits.

Women Upliftment and Protection :

1. As per its declared policy, the Congress will provide reservation to women at every level.

2. The Congress government will provide free education to girls at every level.

3. The Congress government will constitute a State Women Corporation and a state commission for women.

4. For cases relating to atrocities on women, women police stations and Women Protection Force alongwith women courts will be set up.

Panchayat Poll and Panchayat Raj :

The Congress will ensure conduct of Panchayat elections as early as possible in accordance with the order of the High Court.

Maintenance Plan for BCs & Weaker Sections :

1. Within one year of coming to power, the Congress after formulating a maintenance Plan for the weaker section, will make available sugar, kerosene oil, rice, wheat, edible oil, salt, tea, loin cloth and saree at fair prices through the Public Distribution System.

2. The Public Distribution System will be made more transparent and simple.

3. The Congress government will not allow any family living Below Poverty Line (BPL) to go without a shelter and after bringing transparency in the Indira Housing Scheme it will provide a home to every poor family.

Electricity :

Alongwith an atomic power station, solar energy and wind energy will be utilized for generation of electricity and projects will be set up.

Road, Transport and Traffic:

1. After coming to power, the Congress will see that roads are constructed by using modern technology and pay special attention to its maintenance. A Master Plan will be formulated for road and traffic. A plan will be finalized for construction of four-lane roads.

2. Every village will be linked with a `Pakka' road.

3. Efforts will be made to construct an international airport in the state. A project will be initiated for linking this state with the other states through inland waterways system in Santhal Paragana.

Information Technology :

After coming to power, the Congress will construct an information technology park.

Extremism:

The Congress party is in favour of modernization of the security forces as per the needs. The priority of Congress party is to raise the strength of security forces, make them available modern technology and modern weapons and provide security to security personnel and their families. The Congress is in favour of holding talks with the extremists but at the same time it advocates strong action against them if the need arises.

Forest, Environment and Tourism:

1. A reforestation project for the dwindling forests will be linked to educational institutions and citizens will be provided all possible assistance in plantation.

2. Effective steps will be taken to train and make people aware so that they maintain environmental balance in Jharkhand. Use of polythene will be banned in Jharkhand.

3. Job opportunities will be created by developing natural tourist centres, religious tourist centres and heritage tourist centres.

4. National Parks will be improved and developed.

Sports:

1. The Congress government will frame a reservation policy for sports persons in government jobs.

2. It will establish sports centres as well as a Hockey Centre linked to the cultural activities of the state, in different districts and will ensure that the centres which have already been established in Khunti, Gumla and Ranchi run efficiently.

3. It will establish a stadium as well as basic infrastructure for development of sports in every district of the state.

4. It will provide allowances to all sportspersons at national and state level.

Development of Tribals and Native People:

1. There will be no change in the Chhotanagpur Tenancy Act and Santhal Paragana Tenancy Act.

2. The issue of giving tribal status to the offspring born from tribal mother and Hindu father will be reviewed.

3. An academy will be set up for the development of Napuri, Santhali, Ho, Munda, Kudukh (Oraon), Khadia, Kurmali, etc., regional dialects.

4. Academies will be set up for the development of Urdu, Bengali, Maithali, Bhojpuri, Magahi languages.

5. A Financial Corporation will be set up for minorities.

6. A constitutional reservation provision will be ensured for recruitment of third and fourth class employees at district level to ensure the local people's participation in the administration.

7. A provision will be made to provide right of information to every person.

8. A welfare scheme will be launched for ex-servicemen and the government will utilize their experience.

Industry and Trade Development :

1. A conducive environment will be created for the development of industries and trade in order to provide basic protection.

2. Trader and industrialist organizations will be allowed to take part in policy decision. All possible attempts will be made to simplify tax and licence system.

3. Interests of Jharkhand will be taken care of while imposing VAT.

4. A land bank will be set up.

Appeal:

The Congress, with all humility, presents itself before the people of the Jharkhand state.

The Congress is aware of its responsibility in regard to the state and the coming days' challenges.

The vote cast in favour of the Congress is the vote for Jharkhand's belief where its people get respectable, dignified and a place free from fear and equal opportunities to fulfil their aspirations.

Please vote for the Congress for maintaining transparency in state-affairs and administration, commitment, sensitivity and profoundity.

"This `hand' will give job to every `hand',

This `hand' will irrigate every field,

This `hand' will give prosperity to every man."

Vote for Congress, Support `Hand'.