THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In a bid to convert the present crisis into an opportunity, LDF election manifesto for local body polls, released here on Monday, said that election to three-tier panchayat institutions will record the public verdict against the alleged ‘conspiracy by Congress and BJP’ hatched against Kerala Infrastructure Investment Board (KIIFB).
The manifesto, released online, covered 65 points, mostly development promises and enhancement of welfare schemes. ‘A vote for development; a vote for social camaraderie’ are the slogans with which CPM-led front will approach voters this time.
The manifesto tries to project LDF as the real political force, which time and again, stood for decentralisation of powers. The major promises include creation of 10 lakh new job opportunities at local-body level. This, said the manifesto, will be achieved by creating five lakh job opportunities through development of agri sector and five lakh jobs in non-agri sectors such as micro and macro industries.
It promises Rs 5,000 crore in agriculture loans at low interest rate and claimed that at least three lakh more individuals will be brought under rural employment guarantee scheme and added that a welfare fund, for them, would be operational by January 2021 and all MNREG workers, who had worked at least 75 days, would be eligible for festival allowance.
The manifesto also promises help from local bodies to gulf returnees for setting up business units. It also proposed social auditing in all panchayats.