As Chhattisgarh polls approach, Priyanka Gandhi promises subsidy of Rs 500 per gas cylinder, loan waiver for SHGs – Firstpost

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Monday promised a slew of measures, including waiving loans from self-help groups, subsidized cooking gas cylinders under a new scheme and free treatment for victims of road accidents if his party retains power in Chhattisgarh.

Addressing a gathering at Jalbandha in Khairagarh Assembly segment, she also said that around 6,000 government higher secondary and secondary schools would be upgraded to Swami Atman and English and Hindi medium schools. She also promised up to 200 units of free electricity if Congress retains power.

Khairagarh is among the 20 Assembly constituencies that will go to polls in the first phase on November 7. The remaining 70 constituencies will see voting in the second phase on November 17. Votes will be counted on December 3.

“If re-elected in Chhattisgarh, the Congress will launch Mahtari Nyay Yojana for women to provide a subsidy of Rs 500 per gas cylinder,” Gandhi Vadra said.

After the rally, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel said in a social media post that a grant of Rs 500 would be directly paid into the women’s bank accounts.

Loans from self-help groups and loans availed to women under the Saksham Yojna will be waived, she added. She also said that free treatment would be provided to victims of road accidents and other sudden accidents under the Chief Minister’s Special Health Assistance Scheme.

She said 700 rural industrial parks will be created, bringing their total number to 1,000 since 300 are already operational.

Tivara (a type of lentil) will be purchased from farmers at the support price, she said.

Unpaid motor vehicle tax and penalty of Rs 726 crore till 2018 for over 6,600 vehicle owners associated with the transport sector will be waived, she added.

Hailing the social programs and achievements of the Bhupesh Baghel government, the Congress general secretary said the people of Chhattisgarh were happy, while those of neighboring Madhya Pradesh, which will also see elections next month, were unhappy with their government BJP.

“This government (in MP) made 22,000 promises, but did not keep even half of them and committed 220 scams. If such a government which does not work for your welfare comes for five years, then there will be no harm to the politicians but the future of your children will be affected. Good projects for women will be stopped,” she said.

“The BJP has been in power for 18 years as an MP, but it has done nothing for women’s rights and safety. Violence against women is at its peak there. Seventeen rapes are reported daily in MP. Two months before the elections, they launched the Ladli Behna program and put money in women’s accounts. Do they think women are stupid? » she asked herself.

The Chhattisgarh government worked for farmers, women, tribals, Dalits and everyone in the state, and Bastar, which was earlier known for Naxal violence, was now famous for its millets, Gandhi said . “The Baghel government has returned your assets to you through various programs. But what does the Center do? It seizes the same assets and sells them to large industrialists like Adani. Ports, airports, railways and PSUs are sold to manufacturers at throwaway prices,” she said.

“We are about equality, empowerment and representation for all. It is the thinking of our party, which was the thinking and vision of Mahatma Gandhi, that the development of the country will not be complete without the development of rural areas,” she said.

In favor of a caste census, she asked how social protection systems would be created when the number (of the population in need and potential beneficiaries) is not known.

The BJP claims to want the upliftment of Scheduled Tribes, Scheduled Castes and other Backward Classes, but refuses when we (Congress) demand a caste census, Gandhi said.

“The Women’s Reservation Bill has been passed. There was a lot of publicity, but we later learned that this measure would not be implemented for ten years. Publicity is done but no work takes place on the ground. This is their (BJP) policy,” she added.

Criticizing the BJP, Gandhi asked the audience whether they would vote for the party which “misleads you in the name of religion and only brings problems into your life” or the one which “works to ensure your development and your well-being.”

She urged the people to vote for the Congress for a better future for themselves and their children. She said there had always been good relations between the royal family of Khairagarh (formerly) and the Gandhi-Nehru family, with Chief Minister Baghel, on behalf of the Congress, ensuring this relation and also responding to the demand of make Khairagarh a district.

The Congress fielded sitting MP Yashoda Verma from Khairagarh seat. The seat was won by Janata Congress Chhattisgarh (J) candidate Devvrat Singh in the 2018 Assembly polls. In the polls necessitated by Singh’s death, the Congress managed to win the seat.

Subsequently, the Baghel government separated Khairagarh-Chhuikhadan-Gandai district from Rajnandgaon.