Chhattisgarh polls: BJP promises sops for landless farm workers, paddy procurement at Rs 3,100 a quintal

Yearly financial assistance to landless agriculture labourers, paddy procurement at Rs 3,100 per quintal and cooking gas cylinder at Rs 500 to poor families are some of the key highlights of the BJP's poll manifesto for Chhattisgarh released on Friday, barely four days ahead of the first phase of the assembly elections.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah released the BJP manifesto titled 'Modi's Guarantee for Chhattisgarh 2023' in Raipur. It promises Briefing about the promises in the manifesto, Shah said, "If BJP is voted to power in the state, 'Krishi Unnati Scheme' will be launched, under which 21 quintal per acre paddy will be procured (from farmers) at Rs 3100 per quintal." The payment against paddy procurement will be done in one time, he added.

The party-led government will also launch 'Mahtari Vandan Scheme', under which married women will be given a financial assistance of Rs 12,000 per year, he said. Similarly, Deendayal Upadhyay Krishi Majdoor Yojana will be launched, under which landless agricultural labourers will be given Rs 10,000 per year, Shah said.

Women from poor families will get cooking gas cylinders at Rs 500 each, while students will be given monthly travel allowance for going to college through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), the union minister said and pledged to fill one lakh vacant government posts in Chhattisgarh in two years.

Under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, funds will be sanctioned for the construction of 18 lakh houses, while every house will have tap water connection within two years under the 'Ghar Ghar Nirmal Jal Abhiyan', he said.

"Chhattisgarh was transformed into a good state from being a BIMARU (laggard) state during 15 years of the BJP rule (2003-2018). Now I assure you on behalf of the BJP that we will work with the aim of making it a developed state in next five years," he added. BIMARU is an acronym for Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, a grouping of states that historically lagged in economic and social indicators. 

It may be recalled that an election rally in Khairagarh Assembly constituency in Chhattisgarh last week, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra too had promised subsidised cooking gas cylinders under a new scheme, waiving of loans of Self-Help Groups, and up to 200 units of free electricity if Congress retains power, besides purchase of 'Tivara' (a type of lentil) from farmers at support price.

"If re-elected in Chhattisgarh, Congress will launch Mahtari Nyay Yojana for women to provide Rs 500 subsidy per gas cylinder. Loans of Self Help Groups and the loans availed by women under the Saksham Yojna will be waived," she had said. Gandhi had also said 700 rural industrial parks will be set up, which will take their overall number to 1000 as 300 are already operational.

Elections to the 90-member Chhattisgarh assembly will be held in two phases - on November 7 and 17.