Tribal rights, jobs, affordable LPG in JMM's 'Adhikar Patra'

Ranchi: JMM patriarch Shibu Soren made an appearance to release the party's manifesto titled ‘Adhikar Patra' with the slogan ‘Ek Hi Naara, Hemant Dobara' on Monday.

Though the party released a joint manifesto with Congress and RJD earlier, the ‘Adkhikar Patra' clarified its stance on issues, including employment, social security, women's rights and flagship schemes.

Reiterating its commitment to increase reservation for OBC in govt jobs from 14% to 27% while allowing 28% reservation for STs and 12% for SCs, JMM also promised to give 33% reservation to women in all govt positions. The party clarified that the reservation proposal, along with the proposal to define locals based on the last land records of 1932 popularly known as 1932 Khatiyan, have already been approved by the assembly and sent for consent from the Centre. "We will make a strong push once we are voted to office," JMM spokesperson Supriyo Bhattacharya said.

To counter the subsidy on gas cylinders proposed by BJP, JMM announced a reduction in the price of LPG cylinders to Rs 450 for needy families. It also promised to increase the amount given under Maiya Samman Yojna to eligible women to Rs 2500 per month. "We will also increase the amount paid as a pension to widows, elderly people and specially-abled persons to Rs 2,500 per month while ensuring that health insurance coverage is available to even those working in the unorganised sector."

The party released a department-wise plan for the appointment of two lakh youths once the party is voted to office. Promising to open CM Schools of Excellence at the panchayat level and degree colleges at all blocks, JMM also said it plans to open medical and engineering colleges in 15 districts for which at least 10,000 people would be appointed in addition to 5,000 nurses and 1,500 doctors. The maximum chunk of 1.07 lakh appointments has been promised in rural development, urban development, health, mining, tourism and renewable energy departments.

The JMM document also said the new govt would cancel the land bank scheme of the previous govt and issue land titles to the landless besides issuing caste and residential certificates to those having no land records in the state within six months of coming to office.

Moreover, the party promised to increase the MSP on paddy to Rs 3,200 per quintal and increase the MSP on minor forest products like honey, lac, Mahua, tamarind, karanj, and others by 50%.

Bhattacharya explained that they named their manifesto ‘Adhikar Patra' because the party feels these are basic minimum rights of the citizens of the state who fought for Jharkhand as a separate state. "We, as a party, are trying to give the people what genuinely belongs to them," he added.