Sixth Pay Commission: MP Cong releases manifesto, promises wheat at Re 1 for poor

Bhopal, Nov 19: Going a step ahead of the ruling BJP in Madhya Pradesh, the Opposition Congress today promised interest-free agricultural loans while releasing its manifesto for the November 27 assembly elections in the state.

The manifesto, which was released jointly by the AICC Manifesto Committee chairman and External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee and the state Congress president Suresh Pachouri, promised interest-free loans for agricultural purposes and wheat at Rs one per kg to the extremely poor.

While, BJP in its manifesto had said that farmers would be charged three per cent interest for agricultural loans and those living below the poverty line (BPL) would get wheat at the rate of Rs two per kg through ration cards.

The manifesto also promised installation of free irrigation pumps up to five horse power and said that disparities of the Fifth Pay Commission would be removed and and the Sixth Pay Commission recommendations would be implemented in toto for the state government employees.

It said that cases framed during the BJP rule against farmers in connection with non-payment of electricity bills would be withdrawn and all poor people would get wheat at the rate of Rs two per kg.

Other populist promises in the manifesto include free salt for poor families and unemployment allowance for the educated jobless.

The Defence Minister said that people in Madhya Pradesh should now vote for the Congress as the party had provided a much better government in the state for 10 years till 2003 as compared to the present BJP government. Pachouri said that his party was dedicated to providing a responsible and transparent government that would work hard for ameliorating the lot of the people particularly poor.

He said it will be made mandatory for the Chief Minister and other ministers to declare their assets each year.

The tax structure for petrol and diesel in the neighbouring states would be studied in depth and based on it the prices would be decided for Madhya Pradesh, he said.

The UPA government at the Centre releases each year a report card on its performance and the same would be done by the Congress government in the state, he said.

A new policy would be announced for women after studying the existing programmes for them and added that educational societies for the minorities would be encouraged, Pachouri said.

The Congress would also work for the creation of a Legislative Council (Upper House) in the state, he said.

Source: http://www.samaylive.com