In an effort to check corruption and promote development in Uttar Pradesh, the Congress in its manifesto for the state’s assembly poll may promise special anti-graft ombudsmen to keep a tab on health schemes. The Congress is mulling over the idea after the incumbent Mayawati government was stung by the multi-crore National Rural Health Mission scam. The scam, currently being probed by the CBI, has so far claimed the lives of four UP officials.
The manifesto, expected to be released this week, is also likely to offer a special cell to look after employment generation, hubs for local industries and health sops for BPL families, according to sources.
Congress president Sonia Gandhi is set to start her election campaign in the most populous state while party general secretary Rahul Gandhi is to undertake another tour of the state this week.
In yet another move that is aimed to woo young voters, the Congress may promise holding elections every year in the colleges and universities of the state. After becoming the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh with absolute majority, BSP boss Mayawati had imposed a ban on students’ elections on the grounds that the educational atmosphere in the state will improve if violence-marred elections are stopped.
{{/usCountry}}In yet another move that is aimed to woo young voters, the Congress may promise holding elections every year in the colleges and universities of the state. After becoming the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh with absolute majority, BSP boss Mayawati had imposed a ban on students’ elections on the grounds that the educational atmosphere in the state will improve if violence-marred elections are stopped.
{{/usCountry}}A compulsory health insurance for all BPL families and special schemes for easy loans to women and women-run self-help groups are also expected to feature in the manifesto.
The Congress is likely to announce that it would constitute an advisory body for UP on the lines of the Sonia Gandhi-led National Advisory Council. This advisory body will provide key inputs and draft legislation for the state government.
The manifesto may also talk about the recruitment of thousands of new school teachers. The party may also promise the creation of special hubs for local industries like the brass industry of Moradabad or the silk and handloom sector of Varanasi or the carpet industry of Bhadoi to boost artisans and traders.