Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, August 3
Getting into populist mode ahead of the 2022 Assembly elections, the SAD today made a set of 13 announcements for a cross-section of society, hoping to return to power riding on these poll promises.
Announcing free power up to 400 units to all residential consumers, 33 per cent quota in colleges and universities for government school students and a 500-bed hospital in each district, SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal said most of these would be fulfilled within one year of the SAD-BSP forming the government next year.
Notably, no Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) leader was present at the press conference organised by the SAD at a hotel, instead of the party office. Sukhbir was the only leader on stage with the party slogan — “Jo keha oh keeta, jo kehange, oh karaange” — in the backdrop.
BSP state president Jasvir Singh Garhi said party leaders could not attend the event due to a pre-scheduled programme. “The promises made by Sukhbir were finalised in consultation with us at a joint meeting on Monday. We fully support the promises,” he asserted. Assuring prompt implementation of the promises, Sukhbir said: “The process would start from initial Cabinet meetings and unlike the Congress government, the SAD-BSP will do its best to honour the promises within a year.” He said he would announce a separate policy for sand and liquor businesses soon.
Sukhbir promised Rs 2,000 per month to all women heads of families holding the ‘blue card’, besides cutting the price of diesel for agriculture consumers by Rs 10 per litre, providing power @ Rs 5 per unit for industry and an interest-free loan of Rs 10 lakh for students to pay college and coaching fee.
The party further promised a health insurance scheme of Rs 10 lakh per annum, covering treatment, medicines, diagnostic tests, surgeries and medical equipment in all public and private hospitals.
Announcing initiatives for the agriculture sector, Sukhbir said legislation would be passed in the Assembly to ensure the three agriculture laws were not implemented in Punjab. He said the government would introduce minimum support price (MSP) on fruits and vegetables and the differential would be paid in case of reduction in prices to farmers.
One lakh new jobs would be created in the government sector and 10 lakh in the private sector, he said, adding at least 75 per cent jobs would be reserved for Punjabi youth in the private sector.
Sukhbir further promised a minimum of 50 per cent reservation for women in all government jobs, besides regularising all contract staff, including safai workers. All government services for citizens would be digitised and “sewa kendras” that were shut by the Congress government would be revived.
Large companies would be encouraged to switch over to solar energy by waiving transmission charges in the state, and new textile and IT hubs would be created, he added.
Key assurances
- 50% quota for women in govt jobs; 75% for state youth in pvt sector
- Power @ Rs5/unit for industry
- Rs10/litre cut in diesel price for agri consumers
- Rs2,000/month for women heads of families with blue card
- Rs10L insurance cover for all
- MSP for fruit/veggies; differential to be paid to farmers if reduction in prices
- Law against three agricultural Acts
- 1L new jobs in government, 10L in private sectors
- Regularise contract staff, including safai workers
SAD promises free power, quota in varsities for govt schoolkids
{$excerpt:n}
