Dhudike (Moga), November 6
The newly formed Sanjha Morcha today released its common minimum programme (CMP) for the Punjab Assembly elections, promising 5 lakh jobs for youths, a powerful Lokayukta to check corruption, providing “atta”, “dal” to the poor at nominal rates besides many other social welfare schemes.

CPM leaders Prakash Karat and Nilotpal Basu, CPI leader AB Bardhan, president of the Akali Dal (Longowal) Surjit Singh Barnala and president of the Peoples’ Party of Punjab Manpreet Singh Badal urged people to break the political monopoly of the SAD and the Congress in the state.

To tackle the problem of unemployment, the morcha promised to bring the Shaheed Bhagat Singh Rozgar Yojana for providing employment to 5 lakh youths. It also assured tax concessions for 15-20 years to encourage setting up of agro-based industries in the state. Filling vacant posts on a regular basis, providing loans on low interest rates to youths to start their own businesses and strengthening the MNREGA scheme would also be on the agenda, the leaders declared.

They said Baba Saheb Bhim Rao Ambedhkar Awaas Yojana would be set up for providing shelter to the weaker sections of society.

A six-member Lokayukta would be set up. The Vigilance Bureau would report to it and not to the Chief Minister, they stated. It would assure complete transparency and accountability of the civil and the police administration.

Bibi Nanki Girl Child Welfare Scheme would also be launched. Under the scheme, Rs 5,000 would be deposited in the account of each girl child for 20 years. The morcha leaders also announced that 25 government colleges, 25 hospitals and 200 schools would be opened during the first year of the morcha coming to power.

The morcha announced a populist measure to provide “atta” and “dal” at the rate of Rs 2 and Rs 3 per kilogram, respectively. They also promised to make Punjab a debt-free state, take scientific steps for sustainable agricultural growth, lower the rates of interest rates on loans for agriculture and allied practices, effectively control smuggling of drugs and bring in a new industrial policy.