Congress promises free TV sets and rice in Jharkhand poll manifesto

RANCHI: The Congress today promised to provide 35 kg rice free of cost to people not in the Income Tax category and free TV sets to BPL families if it came to power in Jharkhand ahead of the five-phase polls beginning on November 25.

"People who are not in the IT category will be given 35 kg rice every month and TV sets to BPL families to make them aware of happenings around the world," Congress leader and former Union Minister Subodh Kant Sahai said at a press conference after releasing the party's poll manifesto.

AICC leader B K Hariprasad, Jharkhand Finance Minister Rajendra Prasad Singh, PCC president Sukhdeo Bhagat, former MP Furkan Ansari and several other leaders were present on the occasion.

With an aim to bring political stability in the state, the manifesto promises to initiate steps to increase the present Jharkhand Assembly strength from 81 to 140 seats and setting up of a Legislative Council to accommodate educationists and intellectuals.

To deal with the Maoist problem in Jharkhand, the Congress said if voted to power, it would initiate dialogue with the Left Wing Extremists, besides taking strong steps in dealing with the problem.

The manifesto also focuses on rehabilitation in a time-bound manner of those residing in the Jharia coal belt where underground fire has been raging for several decades, threatening the residents.

Promising to shift the headquarters of Steel Authority of India Limited, Coal India Limited and Damodar Valley Corporation to Jharkhand, the manifesto vowed to impart skill training to one crore youth to make them fit for employment.

It also promised to give Rs 50,000 as seed money after setting up self-help groups comprising 50 women in every village.