Meghalaya polls: Free sanitary napkins to women to pension to labourers, BJP woos poor

In Meghalaya, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is going extra mile to win the support of the underprivileged section in the upcoming Assembly elections.

Shillong, Feb 16: In Meghalaya, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is going extra mile to win the support of the underprivileged section in the upcoming Assembly elections.

The opposition BJP's attempt to win the confidence of the poor voters was pretty evident when on Thursday the saffron party released its manifesto--"vision document". The Congress is in power in Meghalaya for the last 15 years.

From promising to provide free sanitary napkins to all women from the Below Poverty Line (BPL) households and pension to daily-wage labourers if the party comes to power in the state, the BJP is giving special attention to the needs of the disadvantaged sections of society in the hill state.

In the manifesto, released by defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman at a press conference in Shillong, the BJP promised to resolve the ban on coal mining, which affected thousands of families dependent on it, if voted to power.

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) had banned coal mining in Meghalaya in 2014. The BJP has also promised to implement the Seventh Pay Commission recommendations for state employees.

Highlighting that the youth are the strength of the state, the BJP said it will create an environment for big businesses to invest in the state and create jobs in large numbers.

According to the document, every youth in the state is assured of job opportunity. The BJP will create at least two lakh employment opportunities in the tourism sector, it said.

Stating that Meghalaya can become the centre of a robust healthcare system, the "vision document" said the BJP will establish a specialised cancer treatment hospital in Shillong and upgrade all health institutes, besides making available Rs 5 lakh health insurance under the Centre's new healthcare programme.

Pointing to the failure of the ruling Congress to build "pukka" roads in every village and provide 24/7 electricity to every household, the document assured housing for all with "pukka" roofs, setting up of more government schools with trained teachers and setting up of agricultural markets.

The document also promised that the BJP will try to resolve the inter-state boundary issues taking advantage of the party's governments at the Centre and in Assam.

The Elections to the 60-member Meghalaya Assembly will take place on February 27 and the results will be declared on March 3. The BJP is contesting 47 seats and has no pre-poll alliance with any party.

Congress leader Anand Sharma took a jibe at the BJP vision document for Meghalaya, saying they are good in selling dreams.

"I was told the BJP has released its vision document, it has promise the sun, the moon and the stars, but we have no quarrel they can promise more because they are nationally known now for selling dreams, making false promises and betraying the mandate and people," Sharma told reporters in Shillong.

OneIndia News