Targeting the younger generation, the DMK manifesto released on Sunday promised waiver of education loans, tablets or laptops bundled with 3G/4G internet connection and 10GB per month download option for 16 lakh students and smart phones for poor families.
Total prohibition figured prominently in the manifesto released by the party president, M. Karunanidhi.
The party promised establishment of the Lok Ayukta, enactment of the Right to Service Act, a separate budget for agriculture, a ministry for irrigation, waiver of crop loans for small and micro farmers, reduction in price of Aavin milk by up to Rs. 7 per litre, steps to include fishermen in the scheduled tribes list as ‘marine tribes’ and introduction of milk in the Nutritious Meal Scheme.
The manifesto said, if elected, the DMK government would formulate schemes to offset the loss of revenue caused by prohibition and create a Tamil Nadu Integrated Regulated Marketing Corporation in the place of Tasmac to ensure its workers do not lose their service seniority. To treat alcoholics, a new organisation under the Health Department will be created. De-addiction centres will come up in all districts where treatment and psychotherapy will be offered.
Alleging that the construction industry had suffered heavily during the AIADMK regime, the manifesto said a single window system will be put in place to grant permission within 60 days for construction of houses, factories, offices, multi-storied residential buildings and commercial buildings, and for rationalisation of fee for approval.
Some of the Highlights in Manifesto:
- Separate Agricultural Budget.
- Free Internet for students.
- Sethu Samudram Canal Project to be revived.
- Tamil will be introduced as official language in Central Government offices too.
- Maternity leave to be increased to nine months.
- Rs. 1 lakh funding for entrepreneurs.
- Smart card to be issued within 15 days for those who do not have a ration card.
- Separate ministry for irrigation.
- First generation graduates to get first preference for government jobs
- All Defamation cases to be withdrawn
- Cases against Kudankulam protestors to be withdrawn
- One lakh new jobs to be created every year
- Slums free Tamil Nadu
- Efforts to revive Jallikattu
- Rs 3 lakh subsidy for construction of concrete houses for low income groups
- Cell phones at subsidised rates.
