Modi promises 50 lakh houses, 30 lakh jobs

Ahmedabad, Dec 3: The quantum of electricity being produced in

at present will be doubled over the next five years and the pending demands of

for more power will be met on a priority basis, Chief Minister

said here today.

Releasing the BJP's election manifesto for the state, he announced Rs 4,125 crore plan under which the government will arrange irrigation facility for tribal farmers.

The BJP promised to bring nearly 16 lakh hectares of land under irrigation in the next five years. Farmers of the state will benefit from the new agro-processing units and cold storages that are to be established at district level, the party stressed.

The state government will levy a lower stamp duty on those farmers who seek a change in the survey number of their land, Modi said and averred that the maximum number of jobs will be created in the agriculture sector.

"In the next five years, we will ensure that Gujarat again becomes a textile hub. The cultivators of cotton will then be able to directly sell their produce to the industry," he noted.

The ruling party has promised to share a part of the interest burden on poor farmers. His government will see to it that water from the Narmada river reaches every dam/water body in Saurashtra, Modi said and pointed out that "Green Gujarat" is the party's main objective.

Describing the BJP manifesto as a "Sankalpa Patra" i.e. its commitment to the six crore people of Gujarat, he assured that safe drinking water will be provided to all households in the state.

As many as 28 lakh houses will be built in the rural areas over the next five years and construction of 22 lakh houses in the urban areas is the target set by the state government, Modi said.

Other highlights of the manifesto are as follows:

• Super speciality hospitals to be opened in Vadodara, Surat, Rajkot and north Gujarat.

• More government schools to have English as the medium of instruction so that children from the "neo-middle class" and poor families can compete better with their counterparts in private schools.

• Hostels for working women, jobs for three million women, nari adalats at taluk level, homes for underprivileged women.

• Age limit for employment to be increased from 25 years to 28 years and in some areas the limit to be hiked to 30 years.

• Hospitals to have exclusive wards for the aged. On Sundays, a special Out Patient Department (OPD) to function for the sake of the elderly.

• Over 30 lakh youth in Gujarat to get job opportunities. In order to promote sports among the youngsters, a new policy is to be framed.

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