How India may change after 2024 polls, the story of two manifestoes

With less than a week before India goes to poll, the biggest two political parties – BJP and Congress – have released their manifestoes, giving an outlook to voters on the path of development the country is to take after the elections.

From employment to women empowerment, Bhartiya Janata Party’s ‘Modi Ki Guarantee’ and Congress’ ‘Nyay Patra’ have detailed their own plans for furthering India’s growth in the next five years in their respective manifestoes.

Here’s a look at how promises made by both parties might change India after the Lok Sabha elections of 2024:

India to shed inequality, empower women

- What BJP promises: Under its vision of ‘Viksit Bharat’, the saffron party pledges to make women an equal partner in society through policies like ‘Lakhpati Didis’ where three crore
rural women will be able to avail benefits of the scheme that aims to make female members of families financially independent.

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Apart from this, women’s Self-Help Groups (SHGs) will be integrated with ongoing initiatives such as One District One Product (ODOP), Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), Ekta Mall, ONDC, GEM, One Station One Product to ensure their products reach better markets.

- What Congress promises: In its resolve to ensure that every Indian family is assured of a basic income every month, the grand old party will provide Rs 1 lakh each year to poor families under the ‘Mahalakshmi scheme’.

Congress has also vowed to scrap the provisions of the Constitution (106th) Amendment Act, which will provide one-third of seats in Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies after 2029, and immediately bring the Amendment Act into force.

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The party will also reserve 50 per cent of central government jobs for women starting in 2025.

India to create more employment opportunities for youth

- What BJP promises: With schemes like Public Linked Incentive and Make in India, BJP has guaranteed to make India a global manufacturing hub and enhance employment in crucial sectors.

The saffron party will further strengthen efforts to make India the global hub for High-Value Services by establishing more Global Capability Centres (GCCs), Global Tech Centres (GTCs) and Global Engineering Centres (GECs).

In terms of the startup ecosystem, the party has also pledged to expand the scope of the Startup India Seed Fund Scheme and Startup Credit Guarantee Scheme to disperse more funds to youths seeking to begin their entrepreneurial journeys.

- What Congress promises: Through the introduction of its flagship Right to Apprenticeship
Act, the Congress promises to o provide a one-year apprenticeship with a private or a public sector company to every diploma holder or college graduate below the age of 25.

The grand old party, like the BJP, wants to make India the prime destination for startup companies. To do so, Congress will restructure the Fund of Funds Scheme for start-ups and allocate 50 per cent of the available funds to youth below the age of 40 years to start
their own businesses and generate employment.

If it comes to power in 2024, the party will give a one-time relief to applicants
who were unable to write the qualifying public examinations between 2020 and 2021 owing to the pandemic.

India to become a better place for farmers

What BJP promises: To ensure that farmers, who account for more than 50 per cent of the workforce, are compensated enough for their produce, the Bhartiya Janata Party will continue to increase the Minimum Support Price (MSP).

Under the PM Fasal Bima Yojana more technological interventions will be made to ensure speedy and more accurate assessment, faster payouts and quicker grievance resolution to farmers.

The launch of a Krishi Infrastructure Mission will integrate the planning and coordination of agri-infrastructure projects like projects like storage facilities, irrigation, grading and sorting units, cold storage facilities, and food processing.

What Congress promises: MSP, being one of the most contentious issues in the recent farm protests, will be legally guaranteed by Congress every year as per the Swaminathan Commission.

Crop insurance will be made farm and farmer-specific. Premium will be charged from the farmer according to the sum insured and all claims will be settled within 30 days, the Congress manifesto says.

The party will also establish farmers’ retail markets in large villages and small towns to enable the farmers to bring their produce and sell the same to consumers.