The BJP on Sunday released its manifesto for the Panchayati Raj elections in Rajasthan, promising development works worth about Rs 5 crore in every gram panchayat over five years, along with health facilities and higher secondary schools. The party also said annual assistance to farmers under the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi would be raised to Rs 12,000.
The manifesto, titled ‘Gram Vikas Sankalp Patra’, was released by Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma at the BJP state headquarters ahead of the panchayat elections in Rajasthan, which will be held from October 22 to November 16. The party also promised daytime electricity supply for agricultural irrigation in all districts, drinking water connections for every rural household and healthcare facilities in every gram panchayat.
Under its agriculture-related promises, the BJP said it would procure wheat at Rs 2,700 per quintal by giving a bonus over the MSP and set up agricultural equipment rental centres in every gram panchayat in phases. It also pledged to spend more than Rs 9,000 crore on constructing 19,000 kilometres of missing-link roads and build more than 3,000 kilometres of rural roads under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana.
For women, the Sankalp Patra promised loans of up to Rs 1.5 lakh at an annual interest rate of 1.5 per cent for Lakhpati Didis through the Rajasthan Mahila Nidhi, along with special efforts to bring 25 lakh women into the Lakhpati Didi category. The monthly pension for eligible widowed and abandoned women would be increased to Rs 1,500, while assistance under the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana would be raised from Rs 5,000 to Rs 8,000.
The manifesto also promised Atal Gyan Kendras in every gram panchayat with internet access, digital libraries and career guidance, besides the construction of 15,000 school buildings, 35,000 additional classrooms and 20,000 toilets. It proposed developing villages on the lines of urban areas with roads, drainage, streetlights, parks, internet connectivity and other civic facilities. The BJP said it would strengthen all 14,403 gram panchayats in the state and provide infrastructure, staff and digital facilities to around 3,600 newly created panchayats on priority.
Other proposals in the manifesto included 20,000 dairy cooperative societies, a Rs 100-crore camel conservation and development mission, and one lakh water-harvesting structures. Before releasing the manifesto in Jaipur, Sharma inaugurated the newly built Seva Sankalp auditorium at the BJP headquarters. State BJP president Madan Rathore, party state in-charge Sanjay Bhatia, organisation general secretary Ajay Kumar, co-in-charges Kuldeep Singh Chahal and Kavita Patidar, and other senior leaders were present. Overall, the manifesto focused on rural infrastructure, agriculture, women, education and local governance ahead of the Rajasthan Panchayati Raj polls.
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With PTI inputs
