AP Congress manifesto promises Navyandhra Pradesh

HYDERABAD: Pledging to rededicate itself for taking Andhra Pradesh on to a higher growth trajectory, improving the human development index and creating new employment opportunities in the new Andhra Pradesh state, APCC released its election manifesto here on Friday.

Speaking after the release of the manifesto Jairam Ramesh described it as the 10-point agenda to make the residuary state as 'Navyandhra Pradesh'. He wanted a Congress government in Telangana to safeguard the interests of Seemandhra and for a smooth transition from one state to two states.

''Like never before, a detailed development plan for new AP has been incorporated in the AP Reorganisation Act, which assures new educational institutions industrial corridors, railway zones and petroleum refineries. Polavaram will enjoy the status of special category paving way for its bright future,'' he said.

Explaining the highlights of the manifesto, APCC chief N Raghuveera Reddy said their manifesto is development oriented and caters to all sections.

The manifesto promises to enhance age of retirement for government employees to 60 years, setting up of separate board for purchase of paddy directly from farmers, farmers' Emergency Relief Fund with a corpus of `5,000 crore, nine-hour uninterrupted, free power to farmers during day time, one lakh hectares to be brought under assured irrigation every year, linking up of Krishna, Godavari and Penna rivers, a separate irrigation and power finance corproation.

Setting up of Rajiv Gandhi IT hubs for every two districts, development of satellite townships in and around cities like Visakhapatnam, Kakinada, Rajahumundry, Eluru, Vijayawada, Nellore, Ongole, Kurnool, Kadapa and Anantapur, development of one green airport for every district, one crore jobs per annum, waiver of SHG loans and an assurance to consider proposals for inclusion of Valmiki, Rajaka, Vaddera, Konda Kummari, Besta in the SC list, are some other promises.

Some key assurances of APCC manifesto

Enhancement of retirement age for government employees to 60 years

Introduction of five-day week for government administration

Constitution of a separate board to purchase paddy directly from farmers, barring middlemen system

Setting up of a Farmers Emergency Relief Fund with a corpus fund of `5,000 crore to address the problems caused due to natural calamities

Nine-hour uninterrupted free power for farmers during the day

1 lakh hectares of land to be brought under assured irrigation every year

No power tariff hike for next five years. Present tariff to be continued in addition to central concessions

Power consuming charges upto 100 units not to be collected from all domestic users for five years

Increase of old age and widow pensions to `1,000 and physically challenged pension to `1,500

Development of a high-speed rapid rail transport system from all district headquarters to the capital city

Laptops for students joining intermediate in government colleges and aided colleges

Upgradation of district hospitals to super speciality hospitals on the lines of NIMS and issuing Rajiv Aarogyasri cards to all people except Income Tax payers

100 square yard plot to be registered in the name of a girl child and a house to be constructed and given as a wedding gift from the state government at the time of her marriage (Priyadarshini scheme)

Unemployment allowance of `2,000 per month for three years after graduation