Highlights of Congress manifesto

The Congress manifesto released on Tuesday has many promises:

The Congress manifesto released on Tuesday has many promises:

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*25 kg wheat or rice for Rs.3 a month

*Maximum possible security to each and every citizen

*Highest level of defence preparedness and also take further steps for the welfare of the defence forces and their families

*Acceleration in the process of police reforms

*To take the National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme forward

*Enactment of a National Food Security Act

*Health security for all

*Comprehensive social security to those at special risk

*Implementation of a nation-wide skill development programme

*Expand schemes for improving well-being of farmers and their families

*Democratised and professionalised functioning of cooperatives

*Greater impetus to the empowerment of weaker sections of society.

*Elected panchayat institutions to be made financially strong

*Connect all villages to a broadband network in three years time

*Give special focus to the small entrepreneur and to small and medium enterprises

*Maintain the path of high growth with fiscal prudence and low inflation

*Introduce the goods and services tax from April 1, 2010.

*A completely new look to urban governance

*A new deal to our youth to participate in governance

*Protection of India's natural environment and steps to rejuvenate it

*A massive renewal of science and technology infrastructure

*To pursue judicial reforms to cut delays in courts

*To continue to be sensitive to regional aspirations

*Energy security for the country

*To pursue an independent, pro-India foreign policy

*To intensify the involvement of overseas Indians in development