BJP spokesperson Mariahom Kharkrang has expressed disgust over two proposed Trinamool Congress (TMC) schemes to transfer money directly to women and unemployed youth.
The TMC has launched registrations for its WE Card for women and MYE Card for jobless youth, promising Rs 1,000 a month for each if the party comes to power in the upcoming state election.
The BJP Meghalaya said that the TMC has no mandate by the people as it is not in government but is still acting like it is. In the process, the TMC is “taking the people of the state for a ride,” the release said. “By taking a cursory look at the whole scheme of things, one may assume that the TMC has pegged the price of a vote at Rs 1,000 per month. However, there is more to it than meets the eye.”
Kharkrang said that the MYE scheme will encourage rather than reduce unemployment and that it is an affront to “tribal pride” to accept the money.
“The TMC estimates that almost 4.16 lakh youth of Meghalaya will derive benefits under the MYE Card scheme every year. This, in effect, translates to the TMC conspiring to keep 4.16 lakh youth in Meghalaya always unemployed,” the BJP release stated.
Instead, Kharkrang was quoted as saying that the saffron party wants to empower people so that they are not at the mercy of politicians.
Kharkrang said the people of Meghalaya take pride in their capability to work under all circumstances. They are diligent and hard working. They are creative, they are strong and they are survivors. “The tribals of Meghalaya are a proud people who do not accept freebies as a way of life. By luring the people with menial schemes, the TMC was trying to hurt the self-respect of the proud tribes of Meghalaya.”
The state exchequer is also incapable of bearing the cost of the twin schemes, Kharkrang asserted.
