West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday unveiled the Trinamool Congress' manifesto ahead of the Assembly elections on April 23 and 29.
Speaking at a press conference on Friday, CM Banerjee announced 10 pratigyas (10 promises) as a part of the TMC's strategy for the upcoming elections, and also sharply hit out at the BJP, accusing it of trying to take control of the state through unfair means.
"No other party can save Bengal, keep it alive except Trinamool Congress ... Do not listen to Modi's speech. Instead of sabka vikas (growth for all), they have done sabka vinash (destruction for all) ... In the name of Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, they are doing Beti, Mahila, Kisan hatao aur BJP gunda bachao (get rid of the girls, women, and farmers, and save the goons)," she alleged.
Alleging a "deep conspiracy" by the BJP, she criticised PM Modi for "not fulfilling the promises he made during his tenure", and highlighted the lack of law and order in various states, pointing out that West Bengal itself was functioning under "undeclared President's Rule" imposed by the BJP.
She also claimed that political concerns such as the NRC and the delimitation issue could very well affect the political landscape even after the elections.
Mamata Banerjee's '10 promises'
The Duare Chikitsa (Doorstep Healthcare) programme has been touted as one of the most significant of the TMC manifesto's promises.
"We will start it in every booth, we will organise Duare Chikitsa camps," she said, adding that thousands of schools will be modernised with e-learning facilities, and that over the coming days, the party would bring about "7-8 new districts, blocks, even new municipalities".
The Lakshmir Bhandar scheme is yet another social welfare scheme at the forefront of the manifesto this year. Under the scheme—as per the manifesto—women in the general category will receive Rs 1,500 per month, those in the SC/ST category will get Rs 1,700 per month, and unemployed youth will get Rs 1,500 as "pocket money".
She further spoke of boosting West Bengal's industrial growth, and also mentioned the Deocha Pachami power project, which is expected to address power shortages over the century.
Other proposals include working women's hostels in every district under the Karmanjali scheme, enhanced recruitment of women personnel in police force, Pink Booths run by women police officers at key intersections in Kolkata, and all-women night patrol teams on major roads.