BJP woos Haryana farmers with interest-free loan

CHANDIGARH: Staying clear of competitive populism vis-a-vis Opposition parties, the ruling BJP today released its “realistic” election manifesto focusing on farmers, youth, women, underprivileged, health care and industry in a bid to regain power in poll-bound Haryana.

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 13

Staying clear of competitive populism vis-a-vis Opposition parties, the ruling BJP today released its “realistic” election manifesto focusing on farmers, youth, women, underprivileged, health care and industry in a bid to regain power in poll-bound Haryana.

Terming the manifesto as “sankalp patra” (commitment paper), BJP working president JP Nadda said it was a pragmatic and practical document prepared keeping in mind every section of society.

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said the “sankalp patra” was based on the principles of “Ram Rajya” and underlined a vision for the next five years. “We have deliberately kept the promises realistic, focusing on points that could be fulfilled,” he said adding that the promises would cost the state exchequer about Rs 32,000 crore.

Major promises in the manifesto included Rs 3,000 old-age pension, interest-free crop loan of Rs 3 lakh to farmers, collateral-free loan of up to Rs 3 lakh to SCs, free education up to postgraduate level to two girl students of families having annual income up to Rs 1.8 lakh/up to 5 acres of land, free smart phones to digitally literate persons whose family income is less than Rs 1.8 lakh per annum or landholding is less than 5 acres.

Doubling of farmers’ income by 2022, Rs 1,000 crore for the Kisan Kalyan Pradhikaran, skill development of 25 lakh youths at a cost of Rs 500 crore, DC rates for outsourced employees, special incentives for industries providing more than 95 per cent employment to Haryanavis, pink bus service for girl students, doorstep delivery of central and state government services, free WiFi in universities and colleges and setting up of 2,000 health and wellness centres and 1,000 sports nurseries.

The party also promised the start of Haryana Startup Mission and Digital Literacy Mission. A sustained campaign to make Haryana anaemia-free and TB-free was also outlined in the manifesto.

Chairman of the manifesto drafting committee and Agriculture Minister OP Dhankar said over 1.7 lakh suggestions were received from public for the manifesto of which over 200 were included in the 32-page document. The manifesto termed as “Mhare sapno ka Haryana” (Haryana of our dreams) has 15 chapters.