Maharashtra Congress releases state assembly poll manifesto

MUMBAI: Congress today released its manifesto for the Maharashtra assembly polls, promising increased income limit for beneficiaries of a health scheme from Rs 1.5 lakh to Rs 2.5 lakh, besides police stations for women as well as elimination of manual scavenging in the state.

Releasing the manifesto which was prepared by a committee headed by former Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde, former Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan told reporters here that the income limit for beneficiaries under the popular Rajiv Gandhi Jeevandayi Health Scheme would be raised to Rs 2.5 lakh.

The Congress manifesto also promised that five per cent of the annual budget under the special component plan would be earmarked for the welfare of nomadic tribes and denotified tribes, he said.

He said that a permanent provision of Rs 500 crore for a "drought fund" would be made for drought prone districts.

The Congress manifesto said that farmers in the state would be supplied electricity for eight hours during day time and ten hours at night.

"If a crop is lost to the extent of 60 per cent, its damage will be treated as 100 per cent," the manifesto said.

A separate television channel named 'Krishi Darshan' would be launched to inform farmers about modern agricultural technology, various government schemes and success stories of farmers, the manifesto said.

Mango and cashew nut boards would be established for the benefit of farmers of these crops and subsidy would be provided through the board, it said.

The manifesto said that restriction on marketing agriculture produce would be removed.

The Congress has promised fast track courts to implement the Prevention of Atrocities Act.