TDP manifesto showers sops for all sections

HYDERABAD: For Telangana, the TDP leadership has focused on reconstruction of the new state and empowering weaker sections. As for Seemandhra, the party will emphasise building the residuary state from the scratch.

To woo various sections of people, TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu is learnt to have made several promises in the two manifestos.

According to sources, the party has included in the manifestos every promise made by Naidu till now. The assurances given by Naidu during his 'Vasthunna Mee Kosam' padayatra have also been included.

Waiver of all crop loans and loans taken by women SHGs, Rs 2,000 per month unemployment dole to youth, extension of retirement age for government employees to 60 years from 58, hike in old-age pension to `1,000, 24-hour power supply to households and 9-hour free power to the farming sector and 20 litres of mineral water at `2 to weaker sections under NTR Sujala Scheme are some of the key promises being made by the TDP.

The party is also making promises caste-wise. Reservation in education and jobs to Kapus and `500 crore in the state budget for the welfare of Brahmins are also in the manifesto.

According to sources, the following are some of the promises being made by the TDP:

For farmers

* Waiver of crop loans

* Separate budget for agriculture

* Nine-hour free power to farm sector

For BCs

* A number of seats for BCs in the general polls

* Pressure to be mounted on the Centre for 33 percent reservation in lawmaking bodies

* A quota of 50 percent in local bodies

* 33 per cent reservation in nominated posts.

* Separate sub-plan in the state budget with an outlay of minimum `10,000 crore

* Reservation of 33 percent in education and employment

For SCs

* Categorisation of SCs

* Implementation of SC/ST sub-plan effectively

For STs:

* Upgradation of tribal hamlets with over 500 population into gram panchayats

* Reservations in education and employment based on population ratio district-wise

* Free education to tribals children from KG to PG

* Two acres of land to the landless and houses

* A sum of `50,000 to ST brides

* Tribal university

* Special dole to the unemployed youth

For Youth

* Laptops for students

* Free education from KG to PG for all BPL children

* Unemployment dole of Rs 2,000 per month

For Muslims

* Allocation of Rs 2,500 crore in the budget for their welfare

* Interest-free loan of Rs 5 lakh to youth to start businesses and `50,000 loan to develop existing business

* Special SHGs for Muslim women with government aid

* A grant of Rs 50,000 for the wedding of poor Muslim girls

* Fee reimbursement for Muslim students

* A quota of 10 percent in education

For women

* Pandanti Bidda programme for newborn children and their mothers; government will pay `10,000 per month for six months

* Waiver of loans taken by the women SHGs

* GPRS-enabled cell phone to every woman to alter police in case of distress

* Free education to girl child from KG to PG

*Government to deposit Rs 25,000 in the name of girl child at birth, under Mahalakshmi Pathakam and Rs 2 lakh to be given at the time of marriage

*Gurkul institution for orphan girls and financial assistance for their marriage

Besides the above, the TDP will provide free bicycles to school-going children, free bus passes and fee reimbursement.