JD(S) manifesto promises all-round development

For JD(S) supremo and former prime minister H D Deve Gowda, his party's manifesto for the forthcoming Assembly elections is nothing short of a religious book.

Releasing the manifesto at his party's media centre on Saturday, Gowda said: “This manifesto is like the Bible, Bhagavadgita and Quran for us. We will implement it religiously. All I request you (the voters) is to give our party a chance.”

Gowda said people had seen the deterioration of governance during the Congress and BJP rule and asked them to vote the JD(S) to power to see the difference.

The manifesto has many attractive features such as loan waiver for farmers and weavers, mandatory English medium from fifth standard in government schools, old age pension upto Rs 8,000 and quality hospitals on the lines of Jayadeva Hospital in North Karnataka.

Some of the other promises are the Right to Service Act, bringing all government functions under its ambit. If voted to power, JD(S) has promised to set up a Citizens’ Council in every government department.

It has also stated its intention to have a system of checks and balances on the government. The functioning of the government will be monitored by a network of cameras called ‘Third Eye’. The manifesto also proposes to introduce an annual five per cent ‘staff culling policy’ in each government department.

Anti-corruption stance

The party promises that chargesheets will be filed in three months in cases related to corruption. It promises online applications for mining leases to ensure transparency. It also proposes the setting up of the State Urbanisation Commission, to reorganise the Urban Local Body structure. Development of minorities is another focal point in the JD(S) manifesto.

The party has also proposed the strengthening of district wakf committees, coaching classes for Muslim students, constituting district-level Zakat Boards and waiver of loans given to minorities.

Impassioned plea

Flanked by his son and former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy and other office bearers, the former prime minister made a fervent appeal: “We have prepared the manifesto by keeping all sections of the society in mind. If you want these schemes mentioned in the manifesto to be implemented, we need your blessings.

“All the issues which have been highlighted in the manifesto will be implemented if we are voted to power. This is our commitment.”

Highlights

*  Citizens’ Council in each department
*  Introduction of an annual five per cent ‘staff culling policy’ in each department
*  Chargesheets in three months in cases relating to corruption
*  Online application for mining leases to ensure transparency
*  State Urbanisation Commission to be set up
* Sea World Amusement Park at Karwar
*  Focus on tourism development, urban development and rural development
*  Relook at urban housing programme and slum development
*  Implementation of Justice Sachar Committee recommendations
*  Anganwadi workers will be paid Rs 6,000 per month
*  English medium from 5th std in govt schools
*  Under Kannadigas quota, Kannada exam must for PU students to get into professional courses