TFP Bureau, Raipur; April 5, 2024: The Indian National Congress unveiled its manifesto, titled “Nyaya Patra,” for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections 2024. The manifesto launch was presided over by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, former President Sonia Gandhi, and former President Rahul Gandhi in Delhi. Simultaneously, in Chhattisgarh, State Congress President Deepak Baij released the manifesto in Gunderdehi, Balod.
State Congress President Deepak Baij highlighted that the manifesto was formulated by a 16-member committee chaired by P. Chidambaram, incorporating extensive public feedback. The manifesto revolves around five pillars of justice and includes 25 key guarantees aimed at addressing the needs of various sections of society, including youth, women, farmers, laborers, and marginalized communities.
Five Pillars of Justice and Key Guarantees
1. Women’s Justice
– Implementation of Mahalaxmi Yojana with a yearly grant of ₹1 lakh to every poor woman.
– Fifty percent reservation for women in central government jobs.
– Doubling of central assistance to ASHA workers, Anganwadi workers, and midday meal workers.
– Appointment of legal assistants in every Panchayat to protect women’s legal rights.
– Establishment of working women’s hostels in all district headquarters.
2. Kisan Nyay (Farmers’ Justice)
– Legal status for Minimum Support Price (MSP) through special parliamentary legislation based on the Swaminathan Commission formula.
– Establishment of a permanent Agricultural Loan Waiver Commission.
– Redesigning of the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana for guaranteed payment to farmers within 30 days of crop damage.
– Formulation and implementation of an import-export policy for agricultural products, prioritizing farmers’ interests.
– GST exemption for agricultural inputs.
3. Youth Justice
– Creation of 30 lakh new jobs annually in the central government.
– Provision of ₹1 lakh per year (₹8,500 per month) to educated youth through one-year apprenticeship programs.
– Introduction of policies to eliminate paper leaks.
– Improvement of working conditions for youth in the gig economy.
– Allocation of ₹5,000 crore for a startup fund for youth.
4. Labor Justice
– Increase of MNREGA minimum wage from ₹200 to ₹400 per day.
– Guarantee of free essential healthcare services, including diagnostics, treatment, and rehabilitation.
– Establishment of a national minimum wage of ₹400 per day.
– Introduction of an Employment Guarantee Act for urban areas.
– Provision of life and accident insurance for unorganized workers.
5. Equity Justice
– Conduct of a comprehensive Social, Economic, and Caste Census.
– Removal of the 50% cap on reservations for SC, ST, and OBC categories.
– Allocation of SC, ST sub-budgets according to population share.
– Resolution of pending claims under the Forest Rights Act within one year.
– Declaration of scheduled areas in regions with a significant ST population.
Other Significant Points:
– Opposition to the “one nation, one election” concept.
– Amendment of the 10th Schedule to automatically disqualify MLAs on defection.
– Opposition to mob lynching, police encounter killings, and vigilante justice.
– Legal guarantee for Minimum Support Price (MSP) as per Swaminathan Commission recommendations.
– Amendment of election laws to enhance transparency and efficiency of electronic voting machines (EVMs) through Voter-Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT).
State Congress President Deepak Baij emphasized that the “Nyaya Patra” manifesto offers hope amid inflation, unemployment, and despair, promising to usher in a new era of development and prosperity by ending what he termed “Modi’s misrule.” The manifesto underscores Congress’s commitment to comprehensive economic development for all citizens.
This manifesto reflects the Congress party’s vision for inclusive growth and social justice, aiming to empower every section of society and ensure their economic prosperity.
The “Nyaya Patra” manifesto is a blueprint for transformative change, designed to address pressing issues and uplift the nation towards progress and equality.
