BJD pledges jobs, farmer welfare

Bhubaneswar: The BJD president and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Tuesday released the party’s election manifesto for the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections 2019 promising a host of measures, especially for the welfare of farmers and women.

Slamming the BJP, Naveen said, “We fulfil what we promise unlike the BJP.” The party has, however, not promised any big scheme this time. It has chosen to win the hearts of voters with its existing KALIA scheme and the Mission Shakti.
In its manifesto, the ruling party has promised to continue ‘KALIA’ scheme and set up a commission every three years to monitor the programme. The party reiterated that the scheme would continue in future and farmers would receive `10,000 per year. KALIA scholarship for children of farmers and landless labourers will also continue, it promised.
The party has promised to provide interest free loans up to `1 lakh per farmer. A whopping `50,000 crore has been promised for irrigation. The regional party said it will pursue with the central government to enhance paddy MSP to `2930. The party has also promised 75 per cent reservation of jobs in all upcoming industries in the state for qualified local youths. All the state level recruitment fees will be waived off, it said.
The party also promised to sanction `10 lakh to 10,000 youths for setting up of start-ups. The manifesto has also promised that educational loans will be provided at zero per cent interest. All technical institutes, colleges and universities will be provided free Wi-Fi. All students upon joining colleges will be given 1 GB internet free, read the manifesto.
For women, the party promised to provide `5,000 crore government business to women SHGs with a profit of about `50 crore. Besides, interest free loans to SHGs upto `5 lakh will be given. The BJD government will provide marriage assistance of `25,000 for daughters of poor families. Girl child education will be free from KG to PG level, the manifesto stated.
The Biju Express Way will connect north to south and east to west of Odisha. The heritage Silver city of Cuttack will be connected to Smart City Bhubaneswar by metro railway, it added.
With an aim to end regional disparities in the state, the BJD government will come up with a special initiative called ‘JUHAR’ (Joint Upliftment of Habitations and Regions). “To reduce regional disparities and fast pace development, we will have Special Development Councils in Bargarh, Bolangir, Boudh, Deogarh, Jharsuguda, Kalahandi, Sambalpur districts and Athmallik, Kuchinda and Nilagiri sub-divisions,” the manifesto said. Reiterating its earlier demand, the party said, “A Special Category Status is the only way to rectify the historic neglect that Odisha has suffered.”
Claiming that no party will get a majority on its own at the Centre this time, the BJD said, Odisha will have to play a key role in formation of the next government at the centre. “The BJD will support a government that supports the legitimate rights of Odisha. This will be our only agenda with the central government,” it added.