To woo the poor in the rural areas, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today promised to provide rice at Re 1 only to the families living below poverty line (BPL). It also promised to supply dal at Rs 5 per kg and salt, free to these families if the party is voted to power in the state in the coming assembly polls.
This is seen as a move by the saffron party to take the winds out of the sail of the ruling BJD in Orissa. The Naveen Patnaik led BJD government, in which BJP was a coalition partner till recently, implemented the Rs 2 per kg rice scheme in the state since last year, which has contributed to the popularity of Patnaik.
While the party will implement a pension policy for the farmers, it will bring in legislation to ensure local employment in the industries coming up in the state. In the election manifesto for Orissa, released by the senior party leader Arun Jaitly today, party has assured to insure both the farmers and the crop and connect every village to the gram panchayats and the block head quarters with all weather road.
The farmers will be provided Rs 250 over the minimum support price (MSP). They will be provided loans at no interest for 1 year, at 1 per cent in the second year and at 2 per cent in the third year and at 3 per cent thereafter. It promised to constitute a special economic cell for the poor people among the general category of population.
The BJP manifesto also promises free power to the agriculture sector. While 30 lakh labour in the state will be provided identity card, compensation of Rs 2 lakh will be provided if the head of the BPL family dies. It proposes to irrigate more areas in the state through construction of small and medium reservoirs.