The Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) on Friday released its Election Manifesto-2022 called ‘Policy Statement’ at Congress Bhawan BT Road, Imphal.
Among the 30 key promises made in the manifesto to transform Manipur as one of the fast developing states in India, the party assured to urge the Government of India to repeal the Armed Forces Special Powers Act.
It also promised to create Manipur Regiment, state forest development corporation, flood and irrigation master plans, Manipur Trade Centre and establishment of Manipur Staff Selection Commission.
Apart from 30 promises, they set 11 goals for period 2022-2027. In the said goals, they have ensured one-third reservation for women in all government jobs and to create 50,000 new jobs per year for youth.
Considering agriculture as mainstay of the state, the party set a target to become Manipur self-reliant in rice production and promote double and triple cropping by improving irrigation facilities.
Addressing the function, senior election observer, Manipur, All India Congress Committee, Jairam Ramesh said that manifesto of Congress party is all about survival and revival of Manipur by making Manipuris masters of Manipur.
The promises and target set by party in the manifesto would surely bring back Manipur on the track of development, peace and prosperity, he stated.
Ramesh further said that the present government claimed their government as "double engine" but in actual it is a “trouble engine” government for people of the state. With the formation of BJP government in Manipur, the progress of development has been derailed, he said.
The manifesto covered almost all the sections of Manipuri society such as farmer, women, youth, etc. to bring inclusive and all round development, he added while informing that the manifesto is being released with the hope that Indian National Congress will guide the state again.
The state will be free from darkness and betrayal very soon, he stated while expressing confidence of the Congress party winning with majority.
While assuring to update the report of the performance of its election manifesto annually, he said that the party took their manifesto as sacred documents and will be committed to it.
Okram Ibobi Singh, former CM and CLP leader said that the manifesto has been released with an aim to serve people of the state. He said that it was formulated carefully and cautiously as people would distrust them if the promises are not accomplished in future.
Ibobi also stated that the party will urged the Central government to create Manipur Regiment as its expenses is very high and couldn’t be borne by the state resources.
The Congress party usually review their promises made in the manifesto half yearly or quarterly or at least yearly. But, we don’t know how far BJP have carry out such review of their achievements, he added.
Some of the key promises made by MPCC in the manifesto are management of value-added tax rate in diesel and petrol to food and essential commodities price rise, creation of Loktak Lake Research and Training Centre, establishment of district guest house for every hill districts in the state capital, free critical medical treatment for children, Manipur Cultural Diversity Policy, minimum wages regulation for healthcare workers in private sector, review and update the list of NFSA beneficiaries.
It also included to preserve unity and integrity of Manipur, development of super-speciality sports infrastructure, formation of Manipur State Energy Policy, compensation for wrongly detained media persons upgradation of Manipur Science and Technology Council as Technology Vetting Agency, overnight shelter homes for unorganised sector.
Some other targets of the party are to attract half a million tourist per year, to formulate ‘project emarald fishery ‘ scheme to develop terrace pisciculture in the hills, to develop satellite towns around the capital city, to give minimum infrastructure to all primary schools, to promote atleast 5000 MSMEs yearly particularly for the local food processing industries, to ensure that Manipur is free from power cuts and power shortage.
As a part of the programme, 14 vehicles were also flagged off to campaign for upcoming election.
The programme was also attended by AICC in-charge, Bhakta Charan Das; president, MPCC, N Loken Singh and many other senior leaders of MPCC.
