NEW DELHI: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday released the second part of its manifesto for the Delhi Assembly elections, promising the provision of free education from pre-school to post-graduate degrees to “needy students” at Delhi Government institutions, and cash aid of Rs 15,000, along with travel reimbursements, to young men and women appearing for entrance tests.
The party announced the decision to form special investigation teams (SITs) to probe major cases of corruption in DTC, Mohalla Clinics, classrooms and excise policies, stating that their government would have a “zero tolerance approach” towards corrupt practices.
The AAP voiced strong opposition to the BJP’s manifesto and highlighted the BJP’s proposal to restrict free education to only “needy” students a move that former CM Arvind Kejriwal described as a “direct attack” on Delhi’s education system that currently benefits 1.8 million children.
“I had already said that the BJP is fighting the Delhi elections only to stop all schemes being given to the people of Delhi. They have now accepted that they will stop free education and free treatment,” Kejriwal said.
Releasing the party manifesto, former Union Minister Anurag Thakur said they would find collaborative solutions to several problems, be it in the terms of health, transport, electricity or water, with neighbouring states and Central governments. The saffron party’s first part of ‘Sankalp Patra’ (manifesto) was released on January 17 that primarily focused on welfare schemes for women and senior citizens.
This time, the freebies were announced keeping in mind the student community. Apart from free education for the needy students, the BJP has announced a monthly stipend of Rs 1,000 for students belonging to the Scheduled Castes, and those pursuing technical and professional courses such as ITI, skill centres and polytechnics.
The BJP has decided to form two separate welfare boards for auto and taxi drivers and another for domestic workers. The auto-rickshaw driver community is considered as the core supporter of the AAP, who had also promised them multiple welfare schemes in these polls.
The party has decided to provide life insurance of Rs 10 lakh and accident insurance of Rs 5 lakh to both domestic workers and taxi drivers. Additionally, their children would get a scholarship of Rs 5 lakh for education. For the first time, the BJP has announced a paid maternity leave for both domestic workers and taxi drivers.
Notably, in their last manifesto, the party had decided to provide six nutritional kits and assistance of Rs 21,000 to every pregnant woman in Delhi under Chief Minister Matritva Suraksha Yojna. The party has also given them a target to double the beneficiaries of PM SVANidhi Scheme — a microcredit programme that provides working capital loans to street vendors in urban areas.