Odisha Chief Minister and Biju Janata Dal (BJD) President, Naveen Patnaik released the party manifesto in Bhubaneshwar on Tuesday for the upcoming general and assembly elections. The party manifesto highlights the reduction of regional disparities, considering the women, farmers, and youth as the basis of their agenda, and ensuring a fast pace development for the people of Odisha.
Taking a troll on the ruling party (BJP), Naveen Patnaik mentioned the fulfillment of the BJD during its governance of the state and the promises that BJP did not fulfill. The party claims that BJD is ought to support the government that favors the development of Odisha and supports its legitimate rights including the special category status for the state. The manifesto has put clearly the statement that ” BJD will support the government that supports Odisha’s legitimate rights. That is the only agenda with the central government.”
The manifesto promises the upliftment of women and farmers in the state calling it a people’s manifesto. Naveen Patnaik also mentioned the manifesto as “a resonance of people’s hope and aspiration for a ‘new Odisha, empowered Odisha’.” Some instances that the chief minister has mentioned in the manifesto are:
The manifesto includes 75% percent reservation of jobs for all the upcoming qualified youth, development of the existing industries in the state and building the economy. It promised world-class skill development programme by installing a world-class skill center.
The manifesto promises free education loans to the weaker sections of the society, establishing the scholarship council, free wifi to all educational and technical institutions, one GB free internet to the college students, and creating the world-class sports facility for the youth in the state.
The manifesto laid the emphasis on the importance of women education in the society saying that free education would be given to the girls from KG to PG and in the medical and other colleges as well based on the performance. Free education loans shall be provided. Rs 5,000 crores will be provided to strengthen the Self Help Groups (SHG) under ‘Mission Shakti.’
The women will also be given government jobs like Public Distribution System, Paddy procurement, Management of mid-day meal (MDM), transportation, Ashram schools.
BJD has promised the metro services between Cuttack and Bhubneshwar.
The party has promised two installments of ₹10,000 of Kalia Assistance to over 25 lakh farmers on the day of government formation. The party has promised to increase the interest-free loan up to ₹1 Lakh.
To reduce the regional disparity in the state, Joint Upliftment of Habitations and Regions (JUHAR) programme will be initiated. The programmes will have special councils and special bodies for the less represented communities in the state like Kudumi, Schedule castes and the economically and culturally weaker sections of the society.
It also promises to provide marriage assistance to poor families by providing them ₹25,000.
The state has 21 Lok Sabha seats and 147 Assembly seats. Odisha is scheduled to go on polls in four phases on April 11, 18, 23, and 29.