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In a race to woo voters with freebies ahead of the upcoming state assembly elections, Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu on Monday promised Rs 2,000 per month for women homemakers if his party returns to power.
Sidhu also promised eight free cooking gas cylinders to homemakers every year.
The state Congress chief also promised two-wheelers to girls taking admission in colleges for further studies, Rs 20,000 to those passing class 12, Rs 15,000 to the ones passing class 10 and Rs 5,000 to those passing class 5.
Sidhu's promise to allowances to women goes beyond Aam Aadmi Party national convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's pre-poll assurance of Rs 1,000 to all women in Punjab.
Sidhu made these announcements in a rally organised in Punjab's Barnala district.
Addressing the rally, Sidhu made the promises while stressing the need for empowering women in the state.
“Women homemakers will be given Rs 2,000 per month and eight (LPG) cylinders free by the Punjab government,” he said.
Announcing his second promise, Sidhu said girls, be it from villages or urban areas, after passing fifth class will be given Rs 5,000.
“As an incentive, girls who pass class 10th standard will be given Rs 15,000 and girls after passing 12th standard and wish to go to colleges for higher studies will be given Rs 20,000,” he said.
He further promised computers for girls for pursuing higher studies.
He promised that the girls will also be given two-wheelers to enable them to go to college.
Transfer of properties in the name of women will be done free of charge, he further said.
He also promised to set up 28 skill development centres for women across the state.