Will delink Aadhaar from ration: JMM

RANCHI: The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), in its Lok Sabha election manifesto released on Saturday, vowed to end the mandatory use of Aadhaar card in distribution of ration, a move seen as taking on the BJP government's flagship scheme, but criticised for the reported cancellation of 11 lakh ration cards and the 19 alleged hunger deaths in the state.
Released two days before the first voting in the parliamentary polls scheduled to begin in the state on Monday, the 17-page 'Nischay Patra' of the tribal party also included the promises its self-described elder brother Congress of NYAY, employment, increase in MGNREGA working days and 33% reservation for women in government jobs. JMM is contesting in four of the 14 Lok Sabha seats under an understanding with Congress, JVM-P and RJD but it is not in the fray for the first polling for three seats that begins on Monday.
The document starts with a slogan - "Utho, Lado, Badlo (Rise, Fight, Change)" - on its cover and promises to focus on protection of Jal, Jangal and Zameen (water, forest and land), education and health for all, easing inflation, ending poverty and providing social justice and preservation of human rights. It was unveiled by party chief Shibu Soren and working president Hemant Soren at the former's official residence here in the morning.
Addressing the function, the junior Shibu said, "Our struggle is not over. Unemployment is at an all-time high. Heath services are crumbling. Issues like lynching, farmers' suicides and hunger deaths haunt us. But the BJP is making nationalism an issue, ignoring the state's problem." Hinting that the manifesto is also a pre-cursor of the poll plank the party will focus in the assembly election, which will be held later this year, he added, "If the problems the state is facing are not resolved, they will come up during the assembly polls."
The party, whose frontline leaders have been attacked by the BJP repeatedly for "misleading tribals and usurping their land", is attempting to turn the tables on the ruling party by promising to rollback the 2018 amendment in land acquisition Act which exempts the state government of mandatory social impact assessment (as per 2013 land acquisition law of the Centre) for acquisition in cases of government projects. Besides promising to dissolve the land bank policy, JMM also assured to review the feasibility of Mandal Dam and Iccha-Kharkai irrigation project, if it is voted to power.
On employment front, JMM promised to promote tourism ahead of mining industries, stating it will aide the youth to seek livelihood out of their traditional skills and preserve the state's tradition and heritage. "Every youth will be given permanent jobs in government and private sectors. Special incentives will be given to companies linked to tourism and handloom industries. Lakhs of youth will be given employment at monthly wages of Rs 10,000 in private companies which come under the purview of CSR council and district mineral fund," the document reads.
JMM also promised monetary assistance for malnourished women and their children under its health and education agenda. For the middle class, the party promised to provide Rs 10 lakh annual tax relief for women and bring petroleum products under GST's purview if the Congress-led opposition is voted to power.