JD(S) promises jobs for Kannadigas in pvt sector; e-bikes for girl students of degree colleges

BENGALURU: The Janata Dal (Secular), which was the first to release its first list of candidates, has gone ahead and released its manifesto for the May 10 Assembly election on Thursday. The manifesto committee, headed by B M Farooq, has prepared two separate documents, including one exclusively for Bengaluru.

The party manifesto was released at its headquarters JP Bhavan by former CM H D Kumaraswamy, state president C M Ibrahim and other leaders. The party had already announced 12 guarantees for the voters.

The JD(S) manifesto includes the Mathrushree Yojana for women and child welfare, loan waiver for Stree Shakti self-help groups, five LPG cylinder free in a year, Rs 6,000 aid for six months for pregnant women, raising widow pension from Rs 900 to Rs 2,500 per month, increase in monthly pension for senior citizens from Rs 1.500 to Rs 5,000, honorarium of Rs 5,000 for anganwadi workers and assistants and pension for those who have served for a minimum of 15 years.

The manifesto lays stress on Kannada and promises job reservation for Kannadigas in the private sector apart from prevailing upon the Centre to allow all central recruitment exams to be written in Kannada. The JD(S) has also promised aid of Rs 10,000 per acre for farmers, Rs 2,000 aid for families of agricultural labourers and Rs 2 lakh from brides who marry farmers. It has also announced free bicycles for all high school children and e-bikes for 60,000 girl students who have completed 16 years of age and are studying in degree colleges.

On the health front, the JD(S) has promised Rs 25 lakh relief within 24 hours from the CM’s relief fund in case of expensive surgeries, inclusion of more treatments under Ayushman Bharat-Yashaswini scheme, Jayadeva Institute-type multispecialty hospital in every district, 500-bed neurological institute on the line of Nimhans.

The manifesto also talks about setting up a high-level committee to protect wakf properties, a committee to study the recommendations of the Justice Sachar Commission report, reducing interest on KSFC loans from 4 per cent to 2 per cent, Rs 5 crore seed money at 2 per cent interest for SC/ST entrepreneurs and contractors, among others.

A separate manifesto for Bengaluru will deal with traffic issues, extension of Metro lines, road development, increasing green cover, policy on use of solar and renewable energy and proper drinking water supply.