Cheap electricity, Wi-Fi in public transport: Cong releases its manifesto

Facing a tough electoral battle, Congress on Friday made an array of promises in its manifesto like significant cut in power rates, Wi-Fi facilities in public transport, waving off pending water bills and ensuring a graft-free administration if voted to power in Delhi.

The party also promised to set up cyber cafes, carry out major expansion of Delhi Metro, give concessional metro passes for students, increase pension to all deserving categories to Rs 2,000 per month, hike the salary of aganwadi workers by up to 50 per cent and provide 24x7 diagnostic centres in the state-run hospitals.

It said it will work towards slashing power tariff to Rs 1.5 per unit for consumption up to 200 units per month against current rate of Rs 2.8 which includes subsidy of Rs 1.2. The party said it will also cut tariff for higher slabs.

In the 16-page manifesto released jointly by Delhi Congress Chief Arvinder Singh Lovely, party’s Delhi election campaign committee chief Ajay Maken and AICC-in-charge of Delhi P C Chacko, Congress highlighted achievements during the United Progressive Alliance rule as well as that of the Sheila Dikshit dispensation.

Lovely termed manifesto as “Gita and Quran” to the party, saying it has made promises which could be fulfilled.

“We will provide 200 units of electricity for domestic use at Rs 1.50 per unit, and cheaper rates thereafter. And we will wave off old water supply bills," Lovely said, while noting a second part of the manifesto will be released in the next few days.

Lovely said if party comes to power, it will set up cyber cafes in all constituencies and ensure Wi-Fi facilities in public transport. “With an aim to connecting with students with e-education, our government will set up internet cafes in all constituencies and Wi-Fi services in all modes of public transport in Delhi.”

Congress had faced a severe drubbing in the assembly polls in 2013 as it could win only eight seats in the 70-member house.

The party said that it would renew its demand for full governance and will also seek transfer of all rights exercised by other state governments on all subjects included in the State List of the Constitution.

Congress also promised to end contractual system for ‘safai karamcharis’ (street cleaners) and regularise those who have worked for more than 4 years, to give seven kg wheat and one kg rice per person to all eligible families living below the poverty line and regularise all unauthorised colonies which had been left out.

On the education front, it said it will work for reserving 85 per cent seats for the city students in the Delhi government colleges and set up 20 new colleges under Ambedkar University as also 150 schools which would be run in two shifts.

Making security of women as one its priorities, the party proposed to set up CCTV cameras in all constituencies across the national capital, gender training for the entire government staff and special training for the police force with respect to crimes against women.

Trying to woo the substantial Muslim population in the national capital, Congress also said it will to set up Haj House in Dwarka, carry out modernisation of madrasa education and provide loans for self-employment.

Similarly, the party also plans to provide financial aid for Utroni Mela to woo the voters who hail from Uttrakhand. On the business front, the party proposes to set up an Industrial Park at Baprola.