Rs 3,000 for women, Rs 25 lakh health cover in MVA's Maharashtra manifesto

The Maha Vikas Aghadi has unveiled its election manifesto for Maharashtra, announcing 5 guarantees including free bus rides for women, Rs 4,000 for every unemployed youth and a socio-economic caste census.

by · India Today

In Short

  • MVA manifesto promises Rs 3,000 aid for women, farm loan waivers
  • Monthly support of Rs 4,000 for unemployed youth
  • Manifesto unveiled by Rahul Gandhi, Uddhav Thackeray and others

The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) -- comprising Shiv Sena (UBT), NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) and the Congress -- on Wednesday unveiled a joint manifesto for the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly elections, promising Rs 3,000 financial assistance for women, farm loan waivers and health insurance coverage of Rs 25 lakh.

The poll manifesto was released at a mega rally, the 'Samvidhan Sabha', attended by Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, Uddhav Thackeray among others at the MMRDA grounds in Mumbai.

5 GUARANTEES OF MVA FOR MAHARASHTRA POLLS

  • Mahalakshmi scheme: The MVA has pledged a monthly financial aid of Rs 3,000 for women across Maharashtra. Additionally, women will receive free transportation on government buses across the state.
  • Krushi Samruddhi (Agricultural prosperity): Aiming to support the state’s farmers, the MVA has promised to waive farm loans up to Rs 3 lakh for all farmers. As an added incentive, farmers who consistently repay their loans will receive an additional amount of Rs 50,000.
  • Yuvakanna Shabd (Youth support): To address unemployment, the MVA has promised a monthly support of Rs 4,000 for every unemployed youth in Maharashtra.
  • Kutumb Rakshan (Family protection): Under this scheme, each household in Maharashtra will be entitled to affordable health insurance coverage worth Rs 25 lakh. Essential medicines will also be made available free of charge in government hospitals.
  • Samantechi Hami (Commitment to equality): The MVA has promised a socio-economic caste census across Maharashtra to identify and address the needs of marginalised communities. Following this census, the alliance aims to abolish the 50% reservation ceiling to ensure adequate representation.

After releasing the poll manifesto, Rahul Gandhi launched a scathing attack on the Modi government, accusing it of using central agencies like the ED and the CBI to topple elected state governments.

"The previous Maharashtra government (led by Uddhav Thackeray) was your government, but Modi ji removed that government by stealing. Centre puts pressure on the Election Commission and topples the government using the CBI, ED, Income Tax department," he said.

The Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha also said that the country is witnessing a battle of ideology and the BJP and RSS want to destroy the country.

"There is a battle of ideology in the country. On one side is the BJP-RSS. On the other side is the INDIA alliance. On one side, there is Ambedkar ji's Constitution, which has unity, equality, love and respect. On the other hand, are the people of the BJP-RSS, who want to destroy the Constitution. But they (BJP-RSS) don't say this openly because if they speak it openly then the whole country will stand against them," the Gandhi scion said.

Elections to the 288-member Maharashtra Assembly will be held on November 20, and the votes will be counted three days later.