The most notable promises include one government job per family, 3 to 5 decimals of land for landless families, reinstatement of the Old Pension Scheme, and a review of the liquor prohibition policy, with an exemption for toddy from the liquor ban.
With the crucial Bihar Assembly polls round the corner, the Opposition-led Mahagathbandhan on Tuesday released its manifesto promising a renewed focus on “education, employment, healthcare, and irrigation”.
The most notable promises include one government job per family, 3 to 5 decimals of land for landless families, reinstatement of the Old Pension Scheme, and a review of the liquor prohibition policy, with an exemption for toddy from the liquor ban.
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The INDIA Alliance also pledged that all contract and outsourced workers, as well as Jeevika Community Mobilisers (CMs), will be made permanent employees and granted government worker status. Jeevika CMs will receive a monthly salary of Rs 30,000.
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The manifesto includes several promises that the alliance’s chief ministerial candidate Tejashwi Yadav has already made to the people of Bihar, along with several new announcements.
“Graduate and postgraduate youth will receive monthly unemployment allowances of Rs2,000 and Rs3,000 respectively. Exam form fees for job aspirants will be waived, and a minimum internship stipend will be ensured in all government institutions. The alliance also promised to create over 1.25 crore employment opportunities over the next five years,’ the manifesto read.
The current reservation cap of 50% will be increased to ensure representation in proportion to population, and reservation for Extremely Backward Classes (EBCs) in panchayats and urban bodies will rise from 20% to 30%.
Other key promises include health insurance coverage up to Rs25 lakh per family, Rs2,500 per month for women under the Maai Bahin Maan Yojana, a monthly pension of Rs1,500 for widows and the elderly under the social security scheme, Rs3,000 per month for persons with disabilities, and 200 units of free electricity for every family.
Speaking at the launch, Tejashwi Yadav said, “Each announcement is a heartfelt commitment, and we will fulfill every promise with full dedication. When a Bihari decides something from the heart, he doesn’t stop until he achieves it.”
Responding to the NDA’s allegations of making false promises, he said, “I repeat, every family without a government employee will get a government job. We have made every promise after thorough research and consultation with experts. Don’t be misled.”
He also urged the NDA to declare its CM face and present its own roadmap for Bihar’s development.
“We have presented a clear vision and roadmap to make Bihar number one. They only engage in negativity and make baseless allegations against our leaders,” he added.
Expressing sympathy for Nitish Kumar, Tejashwi said the Chief Minister was “being held hostage by other leaders and officials who are running the government in his name.”
He asserted that he would not allow outsiders to “hijack the future of Bihar’s people.”
“Modi ji and Amit Shah ji want to capture Bihar by waging war against Biharis. Outsiders with ill intentions will not run Bihar. Only Bihar’s sons will serve Bihar,” he declared.
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