Congress promises 300 units free power in Himachal, 5 lakh jobs

Tribune News Service

Shimla, August 8

The Congress today announced a five-point charter to woo unemployed youth, women and employees.

Five-point charter released

• Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel releases 5-point charter to woo unemployed youth and women
• He says that the Congress, like it has done in Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan, will implement the old pension scheme in Himachal as well
• The Congress to provide Rs 1,500 to every woman aged between 18 and 60 years
• Rs 10 crore to be spent in each of 68 Assembly segments to help the youth set up stratup units

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, who is the Congress election observer for Himachal, said, “The party, after forming government in Himachal, will provide 300 units of free power to all households, provide interest-free loans to the youth to set up their own ventures, fill all vacancies in government departments, start schemes to generate five lakh jobs and implement the old pension scheme for state employees.”

He said, “The Congress will come out with its election manifesto near the Assembly elections. However, after holding deliberations with senior party leaders in Himachal, we have decided to provide succour to every section of society, which has been aggrieved due to the policies of the BJP government.”

Baghel, along with party leaders Sachin Pilot, Pratap Bajwa, Rajeev Shukla, HPCC president Pratibha Singh and Congress Legislature Party (CLP) Leader Mukesh Agnihotri, addressed mediapersons here. He said that the Congress, like it had done in Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan, would implement the old pension scheme (OPS) in Himachal as well. He added that the party had decided to provide Rs 1,500 to every woman between 18 and 60 years of age.

He said, “On return to power in Himachal, the Congress government will fill all vacancies and launch schemes to create five lakh jobs. The BJP government has not fulfilled the promise of tackling unemployment. Our government will provide 300 units of free power to all households,” he added.

Baghel said that Rs 10 crore would be spent in each of the 68 Assembly segments to help the youth set up stratup units to create employment avenues. “Under this scheme, we will provide interest-free loans to the youth to set up their own ventures, especially in rural areas, so that value addition to raw material can be done to enhance their value,” he added.

Asked about the chief ministerial face, he said that as per the Congress tradition, the elections were fought under collective leadership where ever the party was in opposition. “Moreover, this is an issue to be decided by the top leadership” he added.

He said that the people of Himachal had decided to vote the BJP out of power. “People have big expectations from the Congress and are confident that the party will provide relief to them by reducing tax on packaging material for apple or providing the old pension scheme to employees,” he added.

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