Congress promises better days for farmers in Karnataka manifesto

In its election manifesto for the May 10 Karnataka Assembly polls, the Congress has promised better days for farmers. The manifesto - 'Sarva Janangada Shanthiya Thota' (Peaceful garden of all communities) - says the Minimum Support Price (MSP) will be based on Agriculture Price Commission recommendation.

The party has promised an investment of Rs 1.5 lakh crore over next five years to complete pending irrigation projects in Karnataka, Rs 1.5 lakh crore for modernisation of agriculture, and Rs 50,000 crore for development of infrastructure in villages.

Under 'Ksheera Kranti' scheme, a target will be set to produce 1.5 crore litres of milk daily in Karnataka. It also promised to enhance financial incentive to the farmer from Rs 5 to Rs 7 per litre. Under Matsya Kranthi scheme, Rs 12,000 crore would be invested to improve income in blue economy. Congress has also promised to complete the Yettinahole irrigation project within 2 years of coming to power.

The party has also promised Rs 5,000 crore investment in tourism sector and setting up of a Rs 1,009 crore fund for MSME sector.

The party has also promised Karnataka State Educational Finance Corporation with a seed funding of ₹ 2,000 crore to provide scholarships. It has also promised to fill up all vacancies of teachers, doctors and other staff in education and health department. The party will also strive to increase solar power production by 5,000 MW.

With increasing number of people now dependent on gig work, the Congress has promised setting up of Gig Workers Welfare Board besides separate boards for auto drivers and taxi drivers. While it has promised hawking zones in all districts, it has also promised minimum wages for garment workers.

It seeks give guarantees of the party: Gruha Jyothi (electricity), Gruha Lakshmi (₹2,000 every month to women heads of families), Anna Bhagya (food grains to BPL families), Yuvanidhi (unemployment support) and Shakti (free travel for women under State buses).

While it has said that it would sympathetically consider the demands of government employees who joined service after 2006 to implement the Old Pension Scheme, it also promises to bring a transparent tendering system in major departments, such public works. panchayat raj, irrigation, urban development and power.

The manifesto released by the All India Congress Committee (AICC) president Mallikarjun Kharge in Bengaluru, ahead of the May 10 elections, stated that the NEP would be rejected, and a State Education Policy will be announced.

“Congress will restore the true values of Bharat and Karnataka, and the scientific temper in text books. The BJP government has distorted text books by insulting Basavanna and Kuvempu,” according to the manifesto.

The Congress said it is committed to take firm and decisive action against individuals and organisations such as Bajrang Dal and the Popular Front of India (PFI) "spreading hatred" amongst communities on grounds of caste and religion. The action will include a 'ban' against such organisations.

It also promised to "repeal all unjust laws and anti-people laws passed by the BJP government" within one year of coming to power.