CHANDIGARH: The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Tuesday unveiled its election manifesto for the 2017 Assembly elections with the dictum - 'Jo keha so kar vikhaya'.
The party promises provisions for free supply of power to farmers for 10 hours during the day; waiver on farm debts of farmers with land holdings of upto 2.5 acres; supply of 5 kg sugar at Rs10 per kg and 2 kg ghee at Rs 25 per kg to blue-card holders, small farmers, labour and other needy sections; free education for all toppers among boys and girls, full assistance for overseas studies for all 10 toppers in class 12, free two-wheelers to all girl students in class 12 and graduation, in their manifesto.
SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal said, "We have delivered what we have promised earlier-- be it the production of power within the State or introducing unique welfare schemes like Aata-Daal and Shagun, to providing 100 per cent water and sewerage facilities in 165 towns across the State. We are similarly committed to delivering on the promises made at this Assembly election.”
Focusing on farmers in the State, Badal said the alliance government will give fertiliser input incentive of Rs 100 per quintal on both wheat and paddy as an additional support to farmers over and above the minimum support price (MSP). All small farmers will also be eligible for Rs two lakh interest-free agriculture crop loan, he said. Besides this, the alliance has promised to set up tubewell for all farmers irrespective of the land holding. He said farm labourers will also be compensated in case of damage to crops due to natural calamities.
A one- stop-shop which will dispense aata daal, function as medical clinic cum Sewa kendra will be opened in villages. All link roads will be made 18 feet wide, he added.
Badal added that Akali-BJP alliance is also committed to equipping 10 lakh youth with skills through 25,000 skill centres--one skill centre catering to five villages. Those pursuing the courses will also be eligible for Rs 10 lakh interest-free loan. The alliance government will also facilitate 50,000 youth to acquire taxis without down payment and soft loans. We will give government employment and also create jobs in tourism and industrial sectors to reach the 20 lakh job promise, he said.
Outlining his vision for the industry, Sukhbir said, "We have laid down all needed infrastructure. All major towns and cities will be connected with four and six lane highways. We need mega industry centres. Accordingly we have planned to make the Malwa region a textile hub. An industrial park will be created over 2,500 acres in Rajpura. Trade fair centres will come up in Mohali, Ludhiana and Amritsar. Similarly world class IT hubs will be created in Mohali and Amritsar. A manufacturing hub will be created in Ludhiana by way of the Cycle Valley. A pharmaceutical hub will be created in Rajpura and Medicity at Mullanpur.”
He also assured that traders with a turnover of about Rs two crore per annum will not be required to maintain books and will be allowed to perform self certification and pay tax in lumps. Currently this facility is available for traders with a turnover of Rs one crore.
Sukhbir said, "The welfare of weaker sections is closest to our hearts. We have accordingly decided that all kutcha houses will be made pucca and the houseless would be given jobs.” He added that economically backward among general category citizens will also be eligible for all social welfare schemes meant for SC/ BC categories. He said it had been decided to increase all welfare pensions from the present Rs 500 per month to Rs 2,000 per month. Shagun scheme will also be raised from Rs 15,000 to Rs 51,000.
The manifesto promises free gas connections to all blue card holders. All blue card holders, small farmers, petty traders and construction workers would be eligible for medical claims to the tune of Rs one lakh per annum. Taking in account of the womenfolk, metric-pass women would be eligible for sewing machines.
Stating that controlling crime and continuing the fight against drugs was a top priority for the Akali- BJP alliance, he said CCTV cameras would be installed on all entry and exit points of villages and cities to check crime. He said a Special Border Area Force would be constituted to form a second line of defence and to keep a tab on infiltration.
He said the SAD- BJP government will give Darbar Saheb along with other major heritage and religious towns a heritage makeover. He also announced that the government would take steps to regularise all unauthorised colonies at a nominal price. He said there would not be any tax on CSD to benefit ex-servicemen.
He said big infrastructure projects which would be taken up in the next five years would include Super Expressway linking Jalandhar and Ajmer Sharif and New Express Alignment between Amritsar and Delhi.
Sukhbir also made it clear that presently Punjab did not have land or water for construction of the SYL canal. "We have returned the land on which the canal stood back to the farmers from whom it was acquired. The SYL canal cannot be constructed under any circumstances now. We are also committed to continue a peaceful democratic struggle to secure inclusion of Chandigarh and other Punjabi speaking areas in Haryana back into Punjab. We will also work devotedly to ensure the criminals who massacred innocent Sikhs are brought to book and the victims are fully rehabilitated. We also stand for a genuine federal structure, protection of minorities and peace and communal harmony.”
