Urging the Central government to direct the Reserve Bank of India, NABARD and other banks to reduce the interest rates on loans and waiver of GST for the powerloom and handloom weavers are among the promises made by the ruling AIADMK in Tamil Nadu.
Releasing the party’s manifesto on Tuesday, in the presence of Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami, AIADMK party coordinator O. Panneerselvam promised a national-level poverty eradication scheme that would grant a sum of Rs 1,500 a month for every family below poverty line (BPL). He also promised statehood for the Union Territory of Puducherry and water management schemes including linking of rivers and diverting water to drought-hit areas.
“The ‘Amma National Poverty Eradication Scheme’ is aimed at supporting each of the BPL families with a monthly financial assistance of Rs 1,500,” Panneerselvam said reading the manifesto.
The ruling party also promised that it would insist the Centre to transfer the ‘education’ portfolio to the state list from the concurrent list. “The AIADMK will reiterate its stand to exempt students from Tamil Nadu from the purview of NEET meant for medical admissions in the country,” he said.
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Highlights of AIADMK manifesto:
The AIADMK will urge the Centre to direct RBI, NABARD and other banks to reduce the rate of interest levied for loans led to agriculture, industry and service sectors.
It will urge the Centre to put together a people-friendly price fixing policy on petroleum products.
The party will urge Centre to give up the policy of bringing in FDI in retail in order to protect small retailers.
The AIADMK will urge Centre to strengthen the Coast Guard and enable Tamil fishermen to exercise fishing rights without fear.
The party will seek establishment of a national commission for fishermen welfare
It will also seek to set up SEZ for fish processing and fish exports.
The Centre will be urged to set up modern infrastructure and wireless communication for fishermen.
The party will bring a full scale insurance scheme for fishermen.
It will bring a consultancy scheme for coastal and inland fishermen.
Each fisherman will be given Rs 7000 during gestation period.
The party will urge Centre to lift the ban imposed on the catching of sea cucumber.
It will remove GST for handloom and powerloom weavers and will bring a subsidised business development loan scheme.
The AIADMK will urge Centre to bring education from concurrent list to state list.
The party will seek exemption for Tamil Nadu students from NEET.
It will urge Centre to provide free higher education to all children as national policy.
The party will urge Centre to resort to need-based allocation of full quantum of wheat and kerosene for all family card holders under the PDS.
It will bring in reservation policy in private sector also.
The party will ask Centre to undertake and implement a girl child protection scheme and cradle baby scheme at national levels.
The AIADMK will seek the passing of 33 per cent women reservation bill.
It will urge Centre to bring in stringent legislation to eradicate bonded labour and human trafficking.
A special water management scheme will be initiated at the cost of Rs 1,652 crore, which will benefit about 35 lakh people in western Tamil Nadu, with Noyyal river as base in Coimbatore and Cauvery river as base in Namakkal.
Cauvery - Agniyaru - South Vellaru link scheme at an estimate cost of Rs. 7000 crores will be set up. Water will be taken through open canals benefitting Tiruchirapally, Pudukkottai, Sivaganga, Ramanathapuram and Virudhunagar.
