West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Wednesday released the manifesto of the Trinamool Congress for the assembly elections.
Addressing the press conference, Mamata Banerjee said it is not a political manifesto. “It is a development-oriented manifesto. This a manifesto of the people, for the people, and by the people.”
One of the key promises is a minimum basic income every month if voted to power.
“The state government has helped lakhs and lakhs of widows, senior citizens and specially abled people through monetary assistance. In continuation of the same, every family in Bengal will now be provided a minimum basic income. Under this, 1.6 crore eligible general category families will get a monthly cash transfer of Rs 500 every month, which is Rs 6,000 annually. Each SC/ST category family will get a cash amount of Rs 1,000 monthly, which is Rs 12,000 yearly,” Mamata Banerjee said.
The manifesto also promised to create half million jobs every year to halve the unemployment rate in the state. TMC also promised an additional one million MSMEs will be set up annually in order to generate employment for the state.
For students, the ruling party’s manifesto promised to introduce a Student Credit Card. This credit card will have a Rs 10 lakh credit limit. Students will be able to borrow the amount at the rate of 4% interest.
The TMC manifesto further claimed that the party will study the possibility of providing Other Backward Caste ( OBC) status to caste groups Mahisyas, Tili, Tamul, Sahas and Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to Mahato community.
The manifesto has also promised it will increase the annual financial aid that is provided to farmers. Banerjee said the aid will be increased from Rs 6,000 (present amount) to Rs 10,000 per acre per annum to all small and marginal farmers.
