NCP releases manifesto for Maharashtra assembly polls

Mumbai: In a bid to outdo the Congress assembly poll manifesto, the Nationalist Congress Party’s (NCP) manifesto for the Maharashtra assembly polls released today, has promised to increase the income limit for Rajiv Gandhi Jeevandayi Scheme beneficiaries to Rs 3 lakh. Incidentally, the Maharashtra state Congress assembly poll manifesto released today promised to increase the income limit for beneficiaries of the same Rajiv Gandhi Jeevandayi Health Scheme, from Rs 1.5 lakh to Rs 2.5 lakh. The NCP Maharashtra assembly poll manifesto, which was released here by the party’s state unit chief Sunil Tatkare, has promised free laptops to students from the “non-creamy layer”, after they clear HSC exams. [caption id=“attachment_1708383” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Representational image. Ibnlive[/caption] The NCP has promised a separate ministry for Other Backward Castes (OBCs) if it is voted to power in Maharashtra. It has promised that the budget of the Maulana Azad Minority Economic Development Corporation for minorities would be raised to Rs 2,000 crore. The NCP manifesto promised that all prominent cities in Maharashtra would be linked through air connectivity, while mono-rail services would be rolled out in Aurangabad, Nashik and Nagpur. The party has promised connecting Mumbai, Nashik and Nagpur through “high-speed railway” as well as development of clusters of industrial units alongside, besides a separate cluster for women entrepreneurs. Similarly, entrepreneurs would get property tax waiver and a separate scheme to co-ordinate agriculture and industrial sectors would be implemented. “Digital smart classrooms” would be set up in all schools, free wi-fi Internet connectivity would be provided to all colleges and Maharashtra would be made child labour free in five years, the NCP assembly poll manifesto said. A ‘Krishi Kavachkundal Insurance Scheme’ for farmers would be introduced, the NCP assembly poll manifesto said. Non-conventional energy sources would be utilised to increase electricity generation capacity, it said. The NCP has also promised pension for farmers with small holdings, farmers cultivating dry farmland and farm labourers above 65 years of age. PTI