Congress puts people first in manifesto

​Hyderabad: Reiterating party’s commitment to implement election promises, PCC president N Uttam Kumar Reddy on Tuesday said that social audit would be done on the implementation of the manifesto of the party every year apart from setting up a citizens committee in the districts to oversee its execution.

Uttam said that the results of the social audit would be revealed on December 12, every year, the day of the government formation, exuding confidence that Congress would form the government in the state on December 12. TPCC chief was addressing a press conference at Gandhi Bhavan where the party manifesto was released by AICC core committee member Jairam Ramesh. The programme was also attended by state Congress affairs incharge RC Khuntia and Manifesto Committee member Dasoju Sravan.

The manifesto titled as "People's Manifesto - Samula Marpu Kosam, Samgra Pranalika" (People's Manifesto for Change), the 112-page document covers 36 major topics pertaining to governance, agriculture, welfare of various communities and sections, industries, welfare of police personnel and also environment. It also promises to make ‘Jaya Jayahe’ song written by Telangana Prominent Poet Ande Sri as a State Song.

Sravan said that the next government would ensure that the Chief Minister and all ministers would run the administration only from the Secretariat and they will be always be accessible to people. RTI Act will be fully implemented. Lok Ayukta will be established and Chief Minister, all ministers and other officials will be brought under its purview.

A 'People’s Grievances Cell', headed by a senior IAS officer, will be established in the Chief Minister's Office.
Sravan informed that the manifesto has also promised justice for the families of Telangana martyrs and all those who participated in the Telangana movement of 1969 and post-2009. The Congress party has also promised crop loan waiver of Rs 2 lakh to farmers and Rs 5,000 crore Market Intervention Fund besides announcement of Minimum Guaranteed Prices to 17 major crops. The Agriculture department would be renamed as Farmers’ Welfare and Agriculture Department. Sravan said 20 per cent of State's budget will be allocated for education and this would be a major game changer. Mission 100 per cent Literacy will be pursued.

The manifesto also promises a NIMS-level Super Specialty Hospital and medical college in all districts and a 100-bedded hospital will be constructed in each Assembly segment. A new hospital building would be constructed near the present Osmania General Hospital. The old building would be conserved as heritage structure. A 1000 bedded medical college cum hospital would be constructed at Chest Hospital at Erragadda.

The manifesto covered various issues pertaining to Youth Welfare, Health, Education, Farmers, Women, Housing, Dalits, Girijans and Adivasis, BCs, Minorities, Employees, EBCs, Lawyers, Journalists, Gulf Migrant Workers, Physically Handicapped, Transgenders, Senior Citizens, Irrigation, Industry, Labour, Singareni Workers, Panchayat Raj, Urban Development, Road and Rail Network, Liquor Policy, Religious Affairs, Folk Artistes and Cultural Affairs and Tourism.

"It is very rare that a political party has produced such a comprehensive and well-written document covering all issues. If required, we will come up with a supplementary manifesto to cover points which are missed out," said Uttam Kumar Reddy while complimenting Damodar Rajanarasimha, Komatireddy Venkat Reddy, Mahesh Goud, Dasoju Sravan and other leaders who compiled the manifesto based on interaction and feedback from all sections of society. He said, "Unlike TRS, which was not serious in honouring its promises, we are committed. We will implement each and everything which we are promising with the people."

RC Khuntia described it as a people's real manifesto that promises welfare of all segments in society. He said allocation of 20 per cent of budget for education would help a developing State like Telangana in improving the literacy rate. He said the manifesto speaks about civil rights and committed to bring everyone, including the Chief Minister, under the purview of Lok Ayukta. The manifesto has stated that the Congress-led government would control the menace of pubs, high-tech wine shops, permit rooms and belt shops. Three separate corporations would be set up in the SC department for Mala, Madiga and other sub-castes of SC community. Similar arrangement would be made in the STs department and separate corporations would be set up for Lambada, Adivasi and for other sub-castes of ST community. Three separate corporations would be set up for BCs also.