Delhi Assembly polls: Congress manifesto pledges ending contract jobs, holding caste survey

New Delhi: A slew of promises including filling of vacant government positions, ending contractual hiring and holding a caste survey were among the salient features of the Congress manifesto for the Delhi Assembly polls released on Wednesday.

The grand old party also pledged a 33 percent job reservation to women and Rs 25 lakh health cover.

Addressing a press conference after releasing the document at the Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee (DPCC) office here, party general secretary Jairam Ramesh along with spokesperson Pawan Khera and the Union Territory's Congress Chief Devendra Yadav said, “Congress party is running a ‘Jai Bapu, Jai Bhim, Jai Samvidhaan' campaign at the national level. Our manifesto has been prepared keeping in mind these sentiments”.

Calling the manifesto its “guarantee” Ramesh said, “We want to give this message to the public that the Congress party does what it says. Guarantee means it is a right of the public. If the promises made to them are not fulfilled, they can also take legal recourse. In this connection, the Congress has given five guarantees for Delhi”.

To woo the 'Purvanchali voters’, the Congress in its manifesto has promised to celebrate the 'Chhath Mahaparv' like a grand festival, akin to the Maha Kumbh and declare the day as a permanent holiday.

Meanwhile, Delhi Congress president Devender Yadav said that if voted to power, the Congress government will strengthen the Delhi SC/ST/OBC/Minority and Handicapped Development Finance Corporation, so that these communities get the lowest rate loans to start businesses.

The party has also promised of setting up a Scheduled Castes Commission to address the community's issues and will also enhance the scholarship amounts for SC students.

He further said that the party would bring in an Unorganised Workers' Social Security Act and establish 100 Indira canteens to provide affordable and nutritious meals to all.

Promising to raise the share of government schools in school enrollment, Yadav said, “The AAP government has made many claims about Delhi government school enrollment, but the fact is that the share of the private sector in school education has risen from 30 percent in 2014-15 to 37 percent in 2022-23. We will introduce a Delhi Education Policy to replace the NEP 2020”.

The party manifesto also promises to open 700 libraries for students i.e 10 libraries in every assembly.

The manifesto also promises to restore the Bhagidari Scheme pioneered by the former Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit that connected the people to governance, ensuring that the funds are allotted to RWAs and traders’ associations to address civic issues.

Yadav said the Congress after its formation will issue ‘pattas or Malikana Haq’ (ownership documents) to residents of resettlement colonies, unauthorised colonies and plots allotted under the 20-point programme.

On the issue of pollution, the Delhi Congress Chief said, “The pollution of the Yamuna River continues unabated despite expenditure of Rs 8,500 crore on its cleaning. We will take it up to the point that not only will Arvind Kejriwal be able to take a dip in the Yamuna but Chhath Puja worshippers will also be able to immerse themselves in the river”.

He said, “We will pass a much stronger Lokpal Bill within six months of forming the government. We will not give the LG any excuses to delay its passage, which has suited both the AAP and BJP”.

The party has already announced its five guarantees that included the Jeevan Raksha Yojana under which delhi residents will be given free health coverage of up to Rs 25 lakh; Pyari Didi Yojana scheme wherein Rs 2,500 per month will be given to one woman in every poor household; Yuva Udaan Yojana under which all unemployed youth will be given a one-year apprenticeship in the private or public sector and a stipend of Rs 8,500 per month for its duration.

Moreover, the party has also promised to provide cooking gas at Rs 500 per cylinder and a free ration kit that will include five kilos of rice, two kilos of sugar, one kilo of cooking oil, six kilos of dal and 250 grams of tea. Besides, 300 units of free electricity to all qualifying household.