Odisha Congress Offers 9 Lucrative “Guarantees” Ahead of Assembly Polls

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha unit of the Congress in its manifesto for the coming Assembly polls in the state released on Friday offered nine “guarantees” to the people of Odisha.

The manifesto was launched in the presence of Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) President Sarat Patnaik, party’s state in-charge Ajoy Kumar, and other top leaders.

In its manifesto, the Congress promised to provide bonus along with Minimum Support Price (MSP) of Rs 3000 per quintal to farmers for paddy. The party also vowed to waive agricultural loans and offer a monthly pension of Rs 2000 to the peasants.

The manifesto also promised to provide 200 units of free electricity for domestic consumers in the state.

The Congress envisioned generating employment opportunities for approximately 5 lakh youths and providing an unemployment allowance of Rs 3000 per month.

The other “guarantees” included in the manifesto of the Odisha Congress included loan waivers for women Self Help Groups, a monthly allowance of Rs 2000 for female heads of households under the Gruhalaxmi scheme and providing domestic LPG cylinders to every family at Rs 500.

The Odisha Congress promised to provide free healthcare services of up to Rs 25 lakh in government and private hospitals for both government employees and other citizens.

The party also pledged to provide monthly allowances of Rs 2000 for the aged, widows, and divyangs.

The manifesto also promised implementation of 27 per cent reservation for backward classes in educational institutions and service sector in the state.