Along with the rest of the country, the Congress party in Meghalaya today released the party manifesto for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
The manifesto was released by Meghalaya Pradesh Youth Congress vice president Banphiralang Basaiawmoit.
In the manifesto, the Congress has guaranteed to pass a constitutional amendment to raise the 50 per cent cap on reservations for people from the SC, ST, and OBC communities.
It also promised a reservation of 10 per cent in jobs for the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) from all castes and communities. Further, the party has promised to fill all the backlog vacancies in posts reserved for SC, ST and OBC within one year.
The Congress’ manifesto also promised to bring in a law under Article 15 to provide for “reservation in private educational institutions for SC, ST and OBC students”.
In order to boost education opportunities, the party promises to double the funds for scholarships for OBC, SC, and ST students.
“We will aid SC and ST students to study abroad and will double the number of scholarships for them to pursue a PhD,” the manifesto read.
Further, the party also promises to establish a network of residential schools for the poor, especially SC and ST students, and provide free education for children from nomadic and denotified tribes.
It further promises to enhance institutional credit to SC and ST for home-building, starting businesses, and purchasing assets.
The Congress assured to abolish the system of contractual employment in regular government jobs and ensure regularisation of such appointments.
The party also promised the right of entrepreneurship where every graduate or diploma holder will be paid a minimum wage to protect them from exploitation in the private and public sector.
The party also promised a sports scholarship of Rs 10,000 per month for youth below 21 years of age and who are talented in their respective disciplines.
As far as women empowerment is concerned, the party has resolved to give a sum of Rs 1 lakh to every poor household and the amount will be transferred to the oldest woman member of the family.
The party also promises to double the wages of frontline health workers like ASHAs.
Under MGNREGA, the party also plans to increase the wage to Rs 400 per day for every female worker.
