Jharkhand: BJP manifesto promises jobs to BPL families, JMM dangles job quotas

Union Minister and senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad on Wednesday released the party's manifesto for the Jharkhand elections, promising a job for at least one member of every below-poverty-line (BPL) family in the state, if re-elected to power.

The saffron party also pledged to provide financial assistance to high school students hailing from backward and poor families.

Every student of classes 9 and 10 will receive Rs 2,200 and that of Classes 11 and 12 Rs 7,500 as scholarships, Prasad said, releasing the manifesto.

The party resolved to create job opportunities for local youth, if it forms government in the state again.

It assured a loan of up to Rs 5 lakh for tribal women running self-help groups.

JMM promises reservations in govt, private jobs

The BJP's manifesto was released a day after the opposition Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) released its manifesto. The JMM manifesto has promised 67 per cent reservation to STs, OBCs and SCs and government jobs to local people.

The JMM, the main opposition party in Jharkhand, which has formed an alliance with the Congress and the RJD, said it would provide 28 per cent reservation to scheduled tribes, 27 per cent to Other Backward Classes and 12 per cent to scheduled castes.

Releasing the party's manifesto for the polls on Tuesday, JMM president Shibu Soren and his son Hemant said, if it came to power, 75 per cent jobs in the private sector would be reserved for local residents.

"Within two years of formation of the government, all vacancies in different government departments will be filled up with the youths of Jharkhand under the local policy," the JMM manifesto promised.

Unemployed graduates and post-graduates would be given an allowance of Rs 5,000 and Rs 7,000, respectively every month, it said.

Of the 81 seats in the state, the JMM is contesting in 43 while the Congress and the RJD are fighting in 31 and seven seats, respectively.

The manifesto said, tenders of up to Rs 25 crore would be reserved for the natives of Jharkhand only and Bhoomi Adhikar Kanoon (Right to Land Act) would be introduced to give land to landless people.

Land lying vacant for five years would be taken back and returned to the original owners, the JMM manifesto said.

"Within three months of government formation, the government will recommend to the Centre to incorporate Ho (a tribal language) in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution," it said.

Banks for women would be set up in the state to provide loan up to Rs 50,000 without any guarantor, the JMM manifesto said.

An amount of Rs 2,000 would be given to women from poor families towards kitchen expenses.

For farmers, Kisan Bank would be set up, minimum support price (MSP) for agriculture produce and fruits would be earmarked, it said, adding that the MSP for paddy would be between Rs 2,300 and Rs 2,700.

If the JMM formed a government, the manifesto said, it would not acquire agriculture land for private companies.

The man-days under MGNREGA would be increased to 150 days in a year, the manifesto said.

The Sachar Committee recommendations would be implemented for the benefit of the minorities, it said, adding madrassa boards and Urdu academy would be set up.

Criticising the poll promises, Jharkhand unit's BJP president Laxman Gilua said, the JMM manifesto is akin to Mungerilal ke Haseen Sapne.

Mungerilal Ke Haseen Sapne, a TV show on Doordarshan in the 1990s, was about a clerk who was bullied by his boss in the office and wife at home. His escape from his unpleasant world was through daydreaming where he took revenge from his boss.

The five-phase elections in the state will be held between November 30 and December 20 and counting will take place on December 23.