Congress' manifesto proposes alternate model of development for Gujarat

New model to be based on Gandhian and Ambedkarite values; move from GDP to Gross National Happiness Index

The Congress party on Monday released its manifesto for the Gujarat assembly polls promising a “Gandhian model of development”, which would replace the “top-down approach” of the current ‘Gujarat model of development’. It also commits to implement a 'happiness index' to measure holistic growth, instead of the gross domestic product (GDP).

The manifesto, put together after consultations under the leadership of party leader Sam Pitroda, reaches out to the sections of Gujarat’s population which, it said, the ‘Gujarat model of development’ ignored.

“Constitutional values will be kept at the centre of (all) discussions rather than nationalism,” the manifesto states, while it