The BJP in Uttarakhand promised on Monday to create 10 lakh jobs in the state’s next five years, besides bringing a whistle-blower law, providing agriculture loans at 2 per cent interest rate and attracting Rs 50,000-crore investments.
The ruling party’s election manifesto, released here, also focuses on the clean image of its next chief minister. Senior BJP leader Rajnath Singh, speaking at the function, said the present BJP government has fulfilled all the 206 announcements it made in the 2007 manifesto. While 184 announcements have already been fulfilled and remaining are under the different stages of implementation, he added.
The BJP’s promises, though, sharply contrasted with what the Congress had last week promised -- to give unemployment allowances. The saffron party said it would not give such doles. It would, instead, create job opportunities for the youth. The party pledged to create 10 lakh jobs in both government and private sectors.
After the lokayukta bill, the BJP said it would bring a whistle-blower act to give security to all those who come forward to expose corruption in the state. This is in continuance to various steps its government had already taken against graft -- such as citizen charters, transparent transfer policy and setting up of an anti-corruption department.
On the development front, the manifesto said its next government would increase the per capita income to Rs one lakh from the existing Rs 64,000. Similarly, efforts would be made to bring the growth rate at 10-12 per cent from the current 9 per cent in the state.
For boosting agriculture, there is a provision for loans at 2 per cent interest rates to farmers against the current interest rate of 5 per cent. A separate farmers’ commission will be set up to resolve the problems of farm sector.
The manifesto also pledged to pass a Chardham development act for the overall development of the four shrines of Yamunotri, Gangotri, Badrinath and Kedarnath.
On technical and higher education, the party promised to construct new medical colleges at Almora, Rudrapur and Dehradun, and set up new engineering colleges, ITIs and polytechnic colleges in other areas. For minorities, it promised to set up a Muslim education board for the welfare of the community.
For artisans, a special shilpi credit card would be launched on the lines of kisan credit cards.
A disaster management force will be raised. There will also be a provision for 10 per cent horizontal reservation for the children of ex-servicemen in technical and industrial training institutes.
The manifesto also promised to create 11 new industrial hubs for further industrialisation process and attract investments worth Rs 50,000 crore for various projects on PPP mode.
