Shimla: Pitching for royalty from the vast forest cover that Himachal has been protecting for ecological concerns, Trinamool Congress (TMC) in its manifesto released here today has advocated scientific forestry and put tackling rampant corruption and high unemployment as it top most priority.
Unfolding the party’s vision for the hill state, KD Singh, TMC incharge for northern states, at the manifesto release function said, “Himachal has been guarding its forest wealth ferociously but is not being compensated for doing so.”
He said that even though the party was contesting elections on only 24 seats but should the party be in a position to influence policy, it would insist upon providing royalty to Himachal for the ecological benefits that the protected forest wealth brings about in the region.
The party also mentioned that it would work for obtaining the just rights of the state in the union territory of Chandigarh that had been denied under the Punjab re-organization Act 1966, something which both Congress had BJP had failed to secure for the hill state.
At the same time, Singh said that scientific forestry could add enormous resources to the states kitty as was being done the Canada.
Like in Bengal, he said, the party was against forceful acquisition of land and through innovative thinking would create 1 lakh jobs each year to overcome the problem of unemployment.
Charging both Congress and BJP as harbingers of corruption, he said, a view around the country was reflective of how the two main party’s had abetted and supported corruption.
“Fighting corruption was one of the topmost issues for Trinamool Congress that it has spelled out in its election manifesto,” said Singh.
The businessman turned politician said that both Congress and BJP had failed to tap the vast potential tourism has in increasing Himachal’s gross domestic product.
Without naming any party, he said that TMCs early release of issues like providing of unemployment allowance and laptops for ten plus two students had been also included in manifestos of other parties. (Congress in its manifesto has talked about providing Rs 1000/- unemployment allowance.) TMC has stated that unemployment allowance between Rs 2000 to Rs 5000 would be given to the unemployed depending up ones educational qualification.
Mentioning that today’s education demanded computer literacy, Singh said that all 10 plus 2 students would be given laptops. However, he did not say how much these freebies would cost the state exchequer saying means for the scheme would be found.
Saying that government employees have been at the receiving end of policies of both Congress and BJP that have been used to exercise power at time of recruitment as well in transfer cases, he said that TMC would bring forth a transparent policy that would be just to all categories.
Social security pensions would be increased from Rs 400 to Rs 750 and for senior citizens over the age of 70 it would be Rs 1000/- per person.
Daily wagers would get Rs 200/- per day for unskilled labour and Rs 600 for skilled labour, said Singh.
TMC state president Pramod Sharma, who is also contesting elections from Theog was also present on the occasion.
As Editor, Ravinder Makhaik leads a team of media professionals at Hill Post.
Spanning a career of over two decades in mass communication, as a Documentary Filmmaker, TV journalist, Print Media journalist and with Online & Social Media, he brings with him a vast experience. He lives in Shimla.
