Cong promises wheat at Rs 3/kg, rice at Rs 5/kg to BPL families

Dehra Dun, Feb 9 (UNI) The Uttarakhand Congress today promised to provide BPL cardholders wheat at Rs 3 per kg and rice at Rs 5 per kg along with 200 units of free powersupply for domestic use if it returns to power after the forthcoming assembly elections in the state.

This assurance was given in the party manifesto for the Feburary 21 assembly elections, released jointly by Uttarakhand Congress in charge Motilal Vohra, Chief Minister N D Tiwari and State Congress Chief Harish Rawat.

An assurance was also made to establish a 31-member Assembly Council to give representation to the intelligentsia, backward classes, Dalits, minorities and other communities that have no representation in the Assembly.

The manifesto also included a pledge to complete selection of place for a permanent capital and the start of its construction work within a year. The Congress has given an assurance to the youth of the state to chalk out Vocational Education Policy and the educated unemployed has been promised to be provided Unemployment Allowances through Unemployment Allowances Treasury.

In the agricultural sector, the party has expressed its commitment to set up agro-university in every district and agro-colleges in all development blocks. It has also declared to implement new horticulture and floriculture policy. Computer education in madarsas and a promise to complete Urdu Academy with its headquarters in Piran Kaliyar has been made to Urdu learning students.

The Congress came to power winning 36 seats in the 70-member State Assembly in the February 2002 elections followed by BJP with 19 seats, BSP 7, regional Party Uttarakhand Kranti Dal 4, NCP 1 and three independents.

The Congress had formed the government in the state with NCP MLA joining it and with the support of three independents.

UNI