Common Minimum Programme – Tall Promises of Farmer Welfare, Inclusive Growth

As the coalition formed by the Shiv Sena, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the Congress takes charge in Maharashtra, The CSR Journal takes a look at its Common Minimum Programme (CMP).

Uddhav Thackeray, the coalition’s leader, took oath as chief minister yesterday at Shivaji Park in Mumbai. We’ve learnt that there will be two coordination committees for the CMP, one for coordination within the State Cabinet and the other for coordination among the alliance partners. Here’s what it promises for the residents of Maharashtra:

Women

The CMP says that women’s safety shall be the highest priority for this Government. Ironically, this declaration came a day before the severely burnt body of a 26-year-old veterinarian, who went missing on Wednesday night near Hyderabad, was found. This brutal incident makes the ongoing 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence all the more pertinent. “Social justice warriors” are asking when the country will be safe for women, in a bid for Justice For Priyanka Reddy.

The vet was on her way from her house in Telangana’s Shadnagar to a veterinary hospital where she worked, was stranded in Shamshabad after her two-wheeler reportedly suffered a puncture. Her body was found in Shadnagar, about 30 kilometres away, below an underbridge. Cyberabad police have arrested four men in the murder case.

The CMP does not give details about what steps the Maha Vikas Aghadi will take to ensure women’s safety in the State. Here’s what else it promises women:

2) Free education for girls from economically weaker sections.

3) Working women hostels to be constructed at the city and district headquarters.

4) Honorarium increased and service facilities augmented for Anganwadi Sevikas / Asha workers.

5) Women’s Savings Group (Self Help Groups) to be strengthened with a focus on women’s empowerment.

Farmers

1) Immediate assistance to farmers suffering due to premature rains and floods.

2) Immediate loan waiver to farmers.

3) Crop Insurance scheme revised to ensure immediate compensation to the farmers who have lost their crops.

4) Measures to ensure remunerative prices for farm produce.

5) Construction of sustainable water supply system for the drought affected areas.

Unemployment

1) Process of filling vacant posts in the State Government to be initiated.

2) Fellowship for educated unemployed youth.

3) Law to ensure 80% job reservation for local/domicile youth.

Education

1) Increased standard of education in the State.

2) Children of farm labourers and students belonging to economically weaker section to receive education loan at zero percent interest rate.

Urban development

1) To improve roads in the urban areas a scheme on the pattern of the Chief Minister Gram SadakYojana. Separate financial provision to improve the road quality in Nagar Panchayats, Municipal Councils and Municipal Corporations.

2) Tenements of 500 sq. ft carpet area free of cost to slum dwellers (Mumbai and rest of Maharashtra) under slum Rehabilitation Programme instead of the 300 sq. ft tenements presently being provided.

Health

1) “One Rupee clinic” at the taluka level facilitating all pathological tests.

2) Super specialty hospitals and medical colleges to be set up in phased manner in all the districts.

3) Health insurance cover to every citizen of the state.

Industry

1) To attract new industries and investors in the state, all possible concessions shall be extended and permission process shall be simplified.

2) To attract new investment in Information Technology sector, necessary policy reforms shall be unveiled.

Social justice

1) To solve the pending questions of the Scheduled Castes and Tribes, Dhangar, Other Backward Classes (OBCs), Balutadars, etc. so as not to deprive the common people of basic necessities enshrined in the Indian Constitution.

2) The Government shall adopt various schemes to eliminate the social, educational and economic backwardness of the minority community and implement Constitutional safeguards for its security welfare in letter and spirit.

Other important provisions

1) In view of the social importance of traditional tourist destinations in the State, special facilities to be developed for the growth of tourism. Thackeray said the first decision of the cabinet was to approve INR 20 crore in funds for the conservation of the Raigad Fort, which was the capital of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

2) Increased facilities extended to senior citizens.

3) Cheap and “efficient” food for the common people in the State for INR 10 only.

The socialist promises of the CMP make all the right noises to appease farmers and the rural belt in particular. However, their implementation remains to be seen.