Trinamool Manifesto: No SEZ but industry & agriculture will go hand in hand

KOLKATA: Industry and agriculture will go hand in hand but with a human face, says the election manifesto of the Trinamool Congress. It has an action plan for the first 200 days of power and another for the next 1000 days.

The manifesto speaks of sweeping changes in infrastructure development, education, rural development and in the state finances. However, a Trinamool government will not allow Special Economic Zones in West Bengal and will promulgate new agriculture land to protect the multicrop lands in the state.

"Agriculture is our inspiration and industry our conscience" the manifesto said countering CPM's slogan, 'Industry is our future and agriculture our base'.

"We will bring impartial and good governance back to the state. Agriculture and industry will go hand in hand with a human face," Trianmool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee told reporters in Kolkata, while releasing the manifesto. Banerjee said single window system will be introduced to clear new industrial units. "I will also initiate measures so that West Bengal can get both the government (from Delhi) and non-government investments adequately."

Banerjee proposed in her manifesto to gift the people an administration which will be transparent and free from political interference. "We will run the administration democratically and will not influence it politically. We will also set up a police reforms commission to enable the police to deliver their job more effectively," she announced.

Trinamool honchos wasted no time, however, in launching into an hyper drive over the manifesto. "Clarity of purpose, transparency of process and determination to deliver to a measurable timeline," is how Derek O'Brien, a top Trinamool Congress functionary described the manifesto as.

The Trinamool manifesto draws up a 12-point development programme, which includes setting up a knowledge mission, a work culture mission and an employment bank to provide jobs to all categories of people. Banerjee has also promised to provide health facilities to everyone.

The manifesto devotes 22 pages on Banerjee's successes as Railway Minister. In these pages, the party has attempted to counter every allegation of CPM regarding non-performance of ongoing railway projects in West Bengal.

In the first 200 days of government, Banerjee proposes to develop a blueprint for the power sector, formulate a comprehensive work plan for food and cold chains and create a collaborative plan with the Airport Authority Of India for developing Kolkata airport. There is also promise to set up new airports at Malda, Cooch Behar, Balurghat, Asansol-Durgapur, Midnapore, Birbhum and Sagar. She also has a plan for upgrading Bagdogra airport and converting it into an international airport.

For the education sector, Banerjee plans to create 10 more medical colleges, a Motua community university, more Hindi schools and new Muslim universities and colleges. The manifesto says that her team will also try to ensure setting up of at least one multi-facility hospital in each sub-division.