KOCHI: The UDF on Thursday unveiled its manifesto for the April 9 assembly elections, promising a monthly stipend of Rs 1,000 for college-going girl students and a Rs 25 lakh ‘Oommen Chandy Health Insurance’ cover for every family. The 89-page document outlines a mix of welfare measures, infrastructure projects and economic revival plans.
Leader of the Opposition V D Satheesan released the manifesto in the presence of Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and other UDF leaders, highlighting the front’s focus on social security, employment and inclusive growth.
The UDF has promised to hike welfare pensions to Rs 3,000 per month and provide free travel for women on KSRTC buses.
It also proposes to construct 5 lakh houses over the next five years and time-bound solution for issues faced by settler farmers. As per the manifesto, the daily wage of ASHA workers will be increased to Rs 700.
The manifesto assured a procurement price of Rs 35 per kg for paddy and a minimum support price of Rs 300 per kg for rubber. Interest-free loans of up to Rs 5 lakh have been promised for young entrepreneurs, along with financial and technological support for MSMEs with turnover up to Rs 100 crore.
UDF’s ‘Job Watch Tower’ to track global trends
It has proposed to set up a ‘Job Watch Tower’ to track global employment trends and align higher education accordingly. The front has also pledged curriculum reforms, integrating AI and industry skills, appointment of ombudsmen in colleges, and implementation of the ‘Sidharthan Anti-ragging and Student Welfare Act’ along with a student distress app. A ‘Semester in Kerala’ programme and a state-level cookery institute are also part of the plan.
Among the key ‘dream projects’ is ‘Mission Samudra’, aimed at linking the state’s coastline, rivers and water bodies into a unified network for cargo and passenger transport. In the aviation sector, the UDF has proposed an aviation institute, a second runway at the Kochi airport, and expansion of Kannur airport, including MRO facilities.
It plans to facilitate the establishment of 10,000 MSMEs through a revolving fund, technology support and challenge funds. It also proposes using AI, drones and IoT to mitigate human-wildlife conflict.
The UDF also reiterated its opposition to the SilverLine project, stating it would instead pursue high-speed rail corridors. “We will have a special team to monitor and track the implementation of the proposals in the manifesto. We will provide an update on the progress in executing the manifesto proposals every year,” Satheesan said.