M A I N   N E W S

BJP promises to ban conversions
To make declaration of MLAs’ assets mandatory
Tribune News Service

Shimla, February 13
Enactment of legislations to ban religious conversions and make it mandatory for the members of Vidhan Sabha to declare their assets within three months of their election, harnessing of additional 10,000 MW of the state’s hydroelectric power potential, jobs for all and priority to infrastructure development by constructing tunnels to link Jubbal with Kotkhai and Una with Bilaspur are main highlights of the BJP manifesto.

The manifesto, released by senior party leader M.L. Khurana here today, promises to end unemployment by providing jobs to all unemployed persons registered with various employment exchanges in the state and make it mandatory for industrial units to recruit workforce from within the state by enacting a law. While three lakh jobs will be generated in the industrial sector, five lakh in hydroelectric projects and one lakh in tourism sector, another two lakh would be provided self-employment by encouraging cultivation of herbs, medicinal plants and floriculture on a commercial scale. A separate employment department will be set up to ensure proper monitoring of employment generation programmes.

Interestingly, there are several common points which also figure in the Congress manifesto released earlier like setting up of a “go sewa ayog”, increasing the minimum daily wages to Rs 75 and the constitution of an administrative reforms commission to streamline the administration.

The party has reiterated that the policy of giving Punjab pay scales to employees will be continued and promised to set up a special fund to help provide easy loans to them for the construction of residential houses, besides framing a transfer policy. Emoluments of chowkidars in panchayats and the Revenue Department will be enhanced, all vacant posts of Panchayat Secretaries will be filled and a policy will be formulated for the regularisation of daily wage workers.

The party has made an attempt to woo women electorate by promising to increase the maternity leave up to six months, introduce a “ridhi sidhi yojna” to provide self-employment to them, set up an anganwadi women welfare board and strengthen the mahila mandals.

Other important promises include potable water to all villages and urban localities by 2008 under the centrally sponsored “Swajaldhara Yozna”, construction of check dams to harvest rain water, financial assistance to farmers for laying irrigation channels,framing of a policy for re-employment of ex-servicemen in government and semi-government undertakings, provision of Army canteens in all districts, 15 per cent reservation to ex-servicemen in government jobs and status of freedom fighters to decorated soldiers.

The party proposes to implement its ambitious “Vision 2010” project to accelerate economic growth of the state. It envisages development of two special economic zones — Rohru-Parwanoo and Una-Manali — covering 10 districts of the state under the project. A sum of Rs 30,000 crore will be spent on the project over the next five years.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Khurana expressed surprise over the fact that the Congress had in its manifesto made certain promises like “one rank, one pension” and devolution of powers to the panchayats which came under the purview of the Centre. He said he was the Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Defence which had already taken a decision on this important issue concerning the ex-servicemen. Similarly, the Union Ministry for Rural Development, headed by Mr Shanta Kumar, was in the process of bringing a Bill to amend the existing law to make it mandatory for the states to give administrative control of at least 12 departments to panchayats.

He said the Congress was fighting shy of an open debate on the issue of development and trying to sidetrack the issue by indulging in a slander campaign.

Mr P.K. Dhumal, the Chief Minister, said the party had implemented all promises made by it in the last election and it would not be found wanting in this respect in the future too. He said the annual per capita income of the state had increased to Rs 18,940 as a result of which it had jumped from the 16th to seventh place in the country.

Mr Shanta Kumar said it was a pity that the Congress could not even think of providing basic amenities like potable water and hygienic toilets to the people during its prolonged rule and it were BJP governments which took initiative in this regard in 1977 and 1990.

Mr Sunil Shastri, national spokesperson for the party, and Mr Jaikrishan Sharma, state BJP chief, were also present on the occasion.