Cong promises good governance

JAIPUR: The Congress has promised to provide a transparent and sensitive government in Rajasthan in its election manifesto released here on Tuesday. State Congress president C P Joshi, releasing the party document, said: ���Our endeavour will be to bring peace and prosperity to Rajasthan.���

���We will give special attention to farmers, women, youth and the deprived sections of the society,��� Mr Joshi said. The manifesto seems to be having something for all sections of society. Electricity has always been a major issue in Rajasthan and the Congress has promised, that if it comes to power, it would ensure eight-hours of regular supply of electricity for farmers.

The anger of the state government employees was considered as one of the reasons for the Congress losing the 2003 state assembly elections, and the party this time has tried to appease them by promising a special package.
Mr Joshi said the Congress will strive to strengthen the panchayati raj institution.

He said the party will provide electricity at cheaper rates to the farmers and domestic consumers in rural areas. Mr Joshi said that the party will link villages with population of 2,500 with roads and would also undertake renovation and development of new roads in the state.

He said the party will establish hostels for working women in all districts. For drinking water, Joshi said the Congress will work towards ridding the state of fluoride contamination. ���If we come to power, which we will, we will work towards setting up a technology park and information technology city in the state,��� Joshi added.

The Congress in its manifesto has also given importance to environment. The party document assures fixed tenure jobs on stipend basis as ���Vanmitra (friends of forests)��� to youth in the age group of 20-25 years living near Ranthambore, Sariska, Talchapar and Ghana bird sanctuary areas to help conserve the ecology.