JOIN US A Rs 2 per kg rice scheme for all, enhancement and expansion of welfare pensions, creation of 25 lakh jobs in non-farm sectors and increasing the state spending on infrastructure projects were some of the highlights of the LDF manifesto released by Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan.
“The thrust of the manifesto is Kerala’s development while ensuring justice and peace for all”, LDF convener Vaikom Viswan said.
If voted to power,the LDF government would amend the Lok Ayukta rules to provide information to public regarding the assets owned by public figures within and outside the country and to ensure transparent and corruption-free administration.
Apart from the extension of Rs 2 per kg rice scheme to all sections, the manifesto promised to increase old age pension from Rs 400 to Rs 1,000.
A populist promise in the manifesto is offer of a subsidy of Rs 20 per litre for kerosene for the weaker sections. It also contained several sops for women and children with the professed aim of making Kerala a “woman friendly” state by implementation of various empowerments schemes totalling Rs 7,500 crore. The maternity leave with wage for women worker in unorganised sector would be increased to three months from the present one month.
All the school children would be given free meal, uniforms and textbooks. A welfare-cum-pension scheme for employees of places of worship of all religions will be introduced.