From scrapping AFSPA, sedition law to farmer Budget: Key Takeaways from Congress manifesto

 | Updated: Apr 02, 2019, 07:34 PM IST

Rahul Gandhi-led Congress on Tuesday released its manifesto eight days ahead of Lok Sabha polls 2019. Here's a look at the five key announcements in the manifesto of Congress for Lok Sabha elections 2019.

 

Proposes to scrap sedition law, amend AFSPA

The manifesto proposes scrapping and tweaking of several laws. The Congress has promised to scrap the sedition law as it feels that the law has been “misused” and has become “redundant because of subsequent laws”. The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 will be amended in such a way as to “strike a balance between the powers of security forces and the human rights of citizens” and, more critically, “to remove immunity for enforced disappearance, sexual violence and torture”.

(Photograph:Reuters)

Agriculture, farmers and farm labour

To ensure priority to issues pertinent to the agriculture sector, the manifesto promises a separate "Kisan Budget".

For farmers, Congress promised to put them on the path from "Karz Maafi" (loan waiver), to "Karz Mukti" (freedom from loans).

This will be done through remunerative prices, lower input costs, and assured access to institutional credit, the party said.

(Photograph:Reuters)

Women Empowerment

Congress has proposed to pass the Women's Reservation Bill for providing 33% representation to women at sate and central levels.

Similarly, it plans to reserve 33% for women in central government jobs. The party has also said that it will repeal any provision of law that prohibits night shifts for women. Congress has also promised to expand ICDS and provide a crèche in every Anganwadi based on need and demand.

(Photograph:Reuters)

Job Security

Congress pledged to make jobs its top priority, saying it will ensure 34 lakh jobs in the public sector. This, the party, says will be done by filling all four lakh central government vacancies before March 2020, persuading the state governments to fill 20 lakh vacancies and creating an estimated 10 lakh new Seva Mitra positions in every gram panchayat and urban local bodies.

The party also said it will also provide a fillip to the private sector by incentivising businesses for jobs creation and employing more women.

(Photograph:DNA)
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NYAY: Nyuntam Aay Yojana

On the party's showpiece minimum income guarantee scheme or Nyuntam Aay Yojana (NYAY), the party's manifesto promised to give Rs 72,000 per year to the poorest 20 per cent households in India.“Congress sets the goal of elimination of poverty by 2030,” the manifesto reads.

What NYAY promises to deliver:

  • 1. Target population - 5 crore families, who constitute the poorest 20%.
  • 2. Guaranteed cash transfer - Rs 72,000 per family per annum.
  • 3. Money to be transferred to the account of a woman of the family.
  • 4. Before roll-out, Design Phase to last 3 months, Pilot and Testing phase to last 6–9 months.
  • 5. The estimated cost will be less than 1 per cent of Gross Domestic Product in 1st year and less than 2 per cent of the GDP in the 2nd year.
(Photograph:ANI)