Bhubaneswar: Optimistic of retaining power for fourth term in a row, BJD on Saturday promised pucca houses for all, agriculture loans at 1 per cent, besides a separate Food Security Act for Odisha.
"Perhaps for the first time a political party guarantees to fulfil primary infrastructure needs in areas of roads, drinking water, electrification, irrigation, agriculture and education both rural and urban areas of the state," BJD president and three-time Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said while releasing his party`s election manifesto.
Reading out the manifesto, the BJD supremo said, "Every household in the state should have a pucca house. In a phased manner all kutcha houses will be provided assistance for conversion to pucca houses."
Shelter security would also include homestead land and households in rural areas to be considered for housing loan, he said, adding if government land was not available, private land would be purchased to homesteadless persons.
There would be a Shelter Security Mission under him which will monitor this initiative, Patnaik said.
The BJD promised to reduce the rate of interest further to 1 per cent for agriculture loans in the next one year.
Already providing rice at Rs 1 a kg, BJD supremo said, "The state will have its own revolutionary Food Security Act inspite of a similar enactment by the Centre."
Stating that the manifesto would help realise the dreams of his father late Biju Patnaik, he claimed that Odisha had turned out to be a revenue surplus state under BJD rule, while there was a substantial reduction in poverty in the state.
Stating that BJD had the vision to create additional irrigation potential of more than 10 lakh hectare in the next five years, Patnaik said to strengthen storage, a comprehensive Warehousing Act would be legislated.
The ruling party also promised to provide medicines through Odisha Medical Corporation and to make health insurance coverage universal.
The manifesto promised loans to women self help groups at 2 per cent interest, establishment of a Commission for Minorities Welfare, Slum Rehabilitation Board, Urban Slum Dwellers Rehabilitation Policy and Welfare Board for all unorganised workers.
"In addition to whatever has been provided in the Land Acquisition Act, the state government will make it mandatory for industries to provide shares to Gram Panchayats and people from whom land is acquired and make them shareholders in the project," Patnaik said.
Pledging to continue the fight for special category state status for Odisha, the manifesto said BJD would take steps for inclusion of Koshali/Sambalpuri language in the 8th Schedule of Constitution.
All major two-lane roads within KBK region will be upgraded to four lane ones in next five years, Patnaik said, adding an expressway would be constructed connecting northern and southern parts of the state that would run through the backward regions of western and KBK districts.
In Right to Social Security category, the manifesto said, "There will be a shift to universal coverage from a target based coverage under social security schemes."
While promising to include all unmarried and destitute women above 30 years under the pension scheme, the manifesto said a new scheme `Biju Bal Bikash Yojana` will be launched for the rehabilitation of all orphan and destitute children.
A new health insurance scheme `Niramaya` will be launched for autistic children and those of similar categories with government bearing the premium.
"The government will provide assistance to senior citizens of all religions to go on pilgrimage," it added.
