New Delhi: India’s grand old party on Friday released its manifesto for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls offering among others socio-economic caste census and women’s empowerment, NDTV reported.
The manifesto claiming "The Constitution of India shall remain our sole guide,’ said the party will take affirmative action based on the outcome of the socio-cconomic caste census, which will "enumerate the castes and sub-castes and their socio-economic conditions".
The Congress said once in power it will bring in constitutional amendment to raise the 50 per cent cap on reservations for SC, ST and OBC categories.
The party has offered to uphold fundamental rights to practice religion and rights guaranteed to religious minorities as given under Articles 15, 16, 25, 26, 28, 29 and 30 of the Constitution alongside promising to uphold the rights of the linguistic minorities under Articles 15, 16, 29 and 30, according to the report.
Another notable is the promise to raise pension for senior citizens , windows and persons with disabilities from ₹ 200-500 per month to ₹ 1,000 per month under the National Social Assistance Programme.
Most important, the Congress promises universal and free healthcare including examination, diagnostics, treatment, surgery, medicines, rehabilitation and palliative care in public health centres such as hospitals, clinics, primary health centres, mobile healthcare units, dispensaries and health camps.
In what appears to be an attempt to target youth, the Congress promised Right to Apprenticeship Act, which will ensure one year apprenticeship for every diploma holder or college graduate below the age of 25 with Rs 1 lakh per year at a private of public sector company.