Congress- Elections 2009 Manifesto

8/14/2019 Congress- Elections 2009 Manifesto

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Table of Contents

I. Preface 1

II. Why Congress? 2

III. Achievements Of The Congress-led UPA Government: 2004-2009 6

IV. The Way Forward: 2009-2014 9

V. An Appeal 21


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I. Preface

Elections to the 15th Lok Sabha are to be held shortly.

This is the time or you to choose your government at the Centre.

The Indian National Congress respectully seeks a renewed mandate rom the people.

We pledge to continue our work to ensure a lie oSECURITY, DIGNITY AND PROSPERITYor every citizen.

The Indian National Congress seeks this mandate on the strength o the perormance o theCongress-led UPA government during 2004-09.

We made promises in our maniesto o 2004.

We have delivered on them in a very substantial measure.

The Indian National Congress seeks a resh mandate on the basis o its core values andideology secularism, nationalism, social justice, and economic growth or all, especially orthe aam admi.

We seek a resh mandate on the basis o our heritage, record o service and vision o the uture.

We rearm our unfinching commitment to the welare o all our people, especially to the well-beingo the weaker sections o our society.

The Indian National Congress is the only party that appeals to, and derives its strength rom, eachand every section o our society.

The Indian National Congress is the only party that believes that economic growth and communalharmony, and economic growth and social justice, are two sides o the same coin and must always gohand-in-hand.

The Indian National Congress is the only party that combines experience and youth, wisdom andexuberance, achievement and ambition.

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II. Why Congress ?

These are national elections.

While there will be regional, state-level and local issues that are important, these are electionsa government at the Centre, one that will govern all o India in its many diversities and ulll

multitude o hopes and aspirations.

It is only the Indian National Congress that is anchored in the larger vision o India as a nation, wat the same time being sensitive to regional and local sentiments.

It is only the Indian National Congress that has demonstrated its commitment to a strong Centrstrong States, and to strong panchayats and nagarpalikas. Indias political system must have spaceinstitutions at each o these three levels. Each has a vital and specic role to play.

The Indian National Congress is ghting these elections in alliance with like-minded parin some States. These parties share the progressive vision and values o the Congress. Overpast ve years, the Indian National Congress has managed a coalition government at the Cenaccommodating the views o its partners but without compromising on any o the essential princio nation-building.

Even so, what India needs most today -- what every Indian needs most today at the national leva party with an All-India perspective and with an All-India presence. The Indian National Cong

is the only such party.

The Indian National Congress is the party that, under the leadership o Mahatma Gandhi,our people into reedom rom colonial rule. It is the party whose leadership, by the admissionDr. Ambedkar himsel, made our Constitution possible.

The Indian National Congress is the party that, under the leadership o Jawaharlal Neestablished the oundations o the modern Indian nation-state with its abiding commitmentparliamentary democracy, secularism, economic development, and science and technology.


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Learning rom experience at every step, the Indian National Congress is the party that has respondedcreatively to the challenges o the times through the establishment o a vast public sector manuacturingbase in the ties; through bank nationalization and the Green and White Revolutions spearheaded byIndira Gandhi in the late-sixties and seventies; through prudent liberalization and the IT Revolutioncreated by Rajiv Gandhi in the eighties; bolder economic reorms in the nineties; and unprecedented

economic growth over the past ve years. It is the only party that is orward-looking, the only party thatbelieves a better uture is the right o every Indian.

The achievements o India since 1947 are the achievements o its people o its armers and arm labour,its organized sector and unorganized sector workers, its managers, its scientists and engineers, its teachers,doctors and other proessionals, its entrepreneurs and businesspersons. It has been the privilege o theIndian National Congress to have provided the political leadership that heralded these accomplishmentsunder the Prime Ministerships o Jawaharlal Nehru, Lal Bahadur Shastri, Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi,P.V. Narasimha Rao and Dr. Manmohan Singh.

Congress vs BJP: Secular, Liberal Nationalism vs Narrow Communalism

The Indian National Congress has always been in the oreront o the battle against t hose orces that seekto divide and ragment our society.

The Indian National Congress has always been the bulwark against the our isms that threaten to tearour country apart -- commnalism o all kinds, linguistic chauvinism, regional parochialism and casteism.

At the national level, the BJP has sought to position itsel as the main political rival o theIndian National Congress.

The Indian National Congress rejects this presumptuous posturing since the BJP is simply not present inlarge parts o our country.

Even so, the contest between the Indian National Congress and the BJP is not just a ght between twopolitical parties. It is, in essence, a clash between two competing visions o Indian nationalism, betweentwo competing visions o what India should be.

The Indian National Congresss secular and liberal nationalism has an equal place or each and everyIndian. It is an inclusive vision. The BJPs narrow and communal nationalism denies equality and equalrights to large sections o our people. It is an exclusionary doctrine.

The Indian National Congresss secular and liberal nationalism is ounded on a celebration o Indiasmany diversities. The BJPs narrow and communal nationalism rejects many o these diversities and seeksto impose an articial uniormity on our people.

The Indian National Congress practices the politics o consensus and cooperation The BJP practices thepolitics o divisiveness and discord. Instinctively, the Indian National Congress unites, while the BJPdivides.

Third Front a recipe or chaos

There is also the so-called Third Front, a grouping o opportunistic parties. These parties have neiconsistency nor clarity. They have neither competence nor commitment. This Front, grounded in

politics o convenience, is nothing but a platorm or personal ambitions. It speaks o alternative poliwithout spelling out what these alternatives are. Parties o the Third Front do one thing when they arpower and quite another when they are rejected by the people.

Let Parties, who are prime movers behind the so-called Third Front, supported the Congress-led Ugovernment or over our years. They attempted to exercise authority without taking on any responsibAt every step, they violated the discipline, restraint and sobriety so very essential or running a coalismoothly. At every step, the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, brieed them on all important issThe Let Parties withdrew their support on the issue o the civilian nuclear agreement even though itbeen negotiated and concluded on our own terms. They adamantly reused t o listen to reasoned argumthat convincingly demonstrated that the agreement was in Indias supreme national interest.

The Let Parties and their present partners pride themselves on being secular. On the contrary, it marecalled that they had actively aligned with the BJP in the past.

They are, in act, responsible or the electoral growth o the BJP.

As past experience has shown, the Third Front is a recipe or political instability. Lacking a natnational anchor, it is a recipe or chaos, not cohesion.

Only a united India can fght terrorism

The integrity and security o India are paramount. Terrorism threatens many countries, including Ind

Terrorism knows no religion and it respects no political boundary. It is, as has become painully evidnot conned to any community or any political persuasion. Its method is the mindless use o violedirected at the innocent in the most cowardly manner.

Let it be very clear terrorism must be ought relentlessly, intelligently and wisely, and without eavour. Terrorism can be ought only by a united people, not by a people divided by religion. Religpolarization that is intrinsic to the BJP severely erodes our capacity to combat terrorism.

It is only the Indian National Congress that can deal with the scourge o terrorism squarely and decisibut without weakening the delicate strands that have, together, bound our society or centuries.

Dealing with terrorism aided and abetted rom across our borders does not require a muscular orepolicy as advocated by the BJ P. The country knows the heavy price that was paid or such a muscuoreign policystupor in Kargil, surrender in Kandahar and stalemate in Operation Parakram.

What India needs is an intelligent and wise oreign policy, a oreign policy that is rooted in our traditigives us strength through our unity and common purpose, and radiates condence.

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Ater the November 2008 attacks on Mumbai, the Congress-led UPA government mounted a orceuldiplomatic campaign. It was this campaign that led to Pakistan admitting, or the rst time, that Pakistanicitizens were responsible or the attacks. That admission was a notable victory or our well thought outoreign policy.

The Middle Path the Congresss way

Balanceor the middle path--has always been the hall-mark o the policies o the Indian NationalCongress.

As the world experiences a severe recession, it is this balance that is standing India in good stead.

It is a balance between the public sector and the private sector, with an important role assigned tocooperatives and sel-help groups.

It is a balance between building a modern economy and imparting a new thrust to traditional industries.

It is a balance between promoting employment in the organized sector and protecting livelihoods in the

unorganized sector.

It is a balance between addressing the needs o urban India and improving the quality o lie and standardo living in our villages and towns.

It is a balance between taking advantage o globalization and ensuring that these benets fow to local

communities.

It is a balance between regulation by the government and unleashing the creative spirits o our entrepreneursand proessionals.

It is only the Indian National Congress that cherishes and practices this balance in all spheres o ournational lie including in the conduct o economic and oreign policy.

This balance is needed now more than ever.

III. Achievements o the Congress-led UPA Government

The tireless campaign o Smt. Sonia Gandhi, President o the Indian National Congress resulted inreturn to the 14th Lok Sabha as the single largest party ater eight years in the Opposition. She the initiative to give shape to the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) comprising o the Indian NatiCongress, its pre-poll allies and supporting like-minded parties. As chairperson o t he UPA, Smt. SGandhi, along with Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, negotiated a Common Minimum Programthat became the basis o governance o the coalition.

The May 2004 mandate was or a government that would be responsive to the concerns o t he aam a

and to the needs o the poor, the deprived and the disadvantaged.

This has been achieved in very substantial measure.

The May 2004 mandate was or a government that would accelerate economic growth but with a oalways on livelihoods and jobs, on inclusive growth and on social justice.

This has been achieved in very substantial measure.

The May 2004 mandate was or a government that would take orward the agenda o empowerment oweaker sections o society in a orthright manner with emphasis on education.

This has been achieved in substantial measure. The May 2004 mandate was or a government that wbridge all divides, that would bring all sections o society together, and give them voice.

This has been achieved in substantial measure.

We let the record speak or itsel.

The Major Accomplishments: 2004-2009

The accomplishments o the Congress-led UPA government since May 2004 have been tangible visible. The maniesto o the Indian National Congress or the 2004 Lok Sabha elections providedoundation or the National Common Minimum Programme that ormed the basis o governance duthe past ve years. The pledges made in this maniesto have been translated into reality by the Congled UPA government.

It has restored secular and Constitutional values in governance. It has also made administramarkedly more transparent. The Right to Inormation Act, 2005 is a historic legislation. It is enablakhs o our citizens in villages, towns and cities to demand responsiveness and accountability rpublic ocials and government at all levels.

It has enacted the path-breaking National Rural Employment Guarantee Act which is being implemein all districts to provide 100 days o legally guaranteed employment to each rural household seeemployment in public works programmes. Not only has livelihood security been provided to many poor rural amilies but durable community assets have also been created.

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It has started and achieved considerable progress on the ambitious Bharat Nirman programme totransorm rural India by expanding and providing irrigation, all-weather roads, houses or the poor,drinking water, electricity or all poor amilies and phone connectivity in all villages.

It has brought comfort and hope to crores of our farmers and their families by (i) increasing the MSPand procurement prices; (ii) by waiving loans to the tune o Rs 65,000 crore; (iii) by increasing threeoldcredit rom banks and reducing interest rates on crop loans; and (iv) by extending irrigation acilities.

It has launched the National Rural Health Mission which has already made a positive impact byimproving the quality and accessibility o primary health care in villages. More children are now beingdelivered under the care o trained health proessionals. Around six and a hal lakh women have beentrained and posted as accredited s ocial health activists (ASHAs).

It has signicantly empowered the weaker sections of society by (i) giving scheduled tribes andtraditional orest dwellers rights over land they cultivate in orest areas; (ii) by providing reservationsor OBC students in all proessional institutions; (iii) by passing a new law to protect women romdomestic violence; (iv) by giving women equal rights to inherit property; and (v) by enhancing hugely

the scholarships or scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, minorities and OBCs to pursue college anduniversity education.

It has imparted a new momentum to the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyaan or primary education. It has alsointroduced a cooked mid-day meal scheme in all primary schools that eeds 15 crore children every day.At the same time, it has or the rst time in ve decades, increased the number o colleges, universities,and institutes o technology, management and inormation technology. The investment in highereducation in the XIth Five Year Plan (2007-08 to 2011-12) will witness a huge increase ve times theinvestment in the previous ve years.

It has delivered ve years of record economic growth. This has enabled an unprecedented step-up ingovernment spending particularly on (i) education and health; (ii) on agriculture and rural development;(iii) inrastructure like power and railways; and (iv) municipal services in towns and cities. Thiseconomic growth has enabled the introduction o theAam Admi Bima Yojana (lie insurance cover) orone and a hal crore landless households, the Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (medical insurance cover)or six crore unorganized sector workers living below the poverty line and the Indira Gandhi NationalOld Age Pension scheme or elder citizens over 65 years o age and living below the poverty line.

It has initiated the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) with an outlay ofRs.1 lakh crore in 63 cities or upgrading inrastructure and or providing basic services to the urbanpoor. Work amounting to over Rs.42,000 crore is in progress covering areas like water supply, sanitationand urban transport. 14 lakh houses or the poor are under construction. Governance reorms under

JNNURM has increased the availability o housing in the 63 cities. A major programme or improving

power supply in 1,420 towns and cities has also begun.

It has ensured that all States in the country received nancial resources from the Centre for developmschemes and programmes at a scale never known beore. Unlike the NDAs record during 1999-2004State has aced discrimination in the matter o unds rom the Central Government. Sensitive Statthe northeast and Jammu and Kashmir have beneted enormously and are seeing development activon a very large scale. For t he rst time, the Backward Regions Grant Fund with an annual allocatio

over Rs 5000 crore or 250 o the poorest districts is being implemented through panchayats.

It has earned for India a new respect and stature internationally. Civil nuclear agreements have bentered into with many countries entirely on our terms. India has today a place o honour in eglobal orum. The sustained campaign led by the Congress President has resulted in the declaratioGandhi Jayanti as International Day o Non-Violence by the United Nations.

It has considerably strengthened the countrys capacity and capability to deal with both externalinternal security challenges. New battalions have been raised and new hubs or anti-terrorist ocreated across the country. A new National Investigation Agency has also been established. Signicsuccess has been recorded in the ght against insurgency in some northeastern States and J&K. T

record turnout in the recent assembly polls in J&K by people braving calls o boycott and threaviolence is a tribute to their desire or peace and a vindication o the approach adopted by the InNational Congress and the Prime Minister personally. The security orces have also successully o

the plans o Naxalites to expand their nearious activities. We have raised our level o preparednemeet any terrorist threat or attack.

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IV. The Way Forward

The Indian National Congress says what it means and means what it says.

The Indian National Congress promises what it can do and will do what it promises.

The Indian National Congress is irrevocably committed to ensuring that government unctions in theinterest o the people or whom it exists and or whom it works.

The Indian National Congress has always believed that the correct approach to governance is to address

the daily concerns o the people and solve their problems. It is to be responsive and accountable to theneeds o the people. It is that governance is a partnership between the electors and the elected and thatthe perceived gap between the people and those in power must be signicantly narrowed.

Dr Manmohan Singh as Prime Minister has led the country with dignity and rm resolve. His integrity,maturity and wisdom, together with his unique expertise and experience, makes him best qualied to leadthe nation and handle the many challenges that India aces, both at home and abroad.

Towards aster and more inclusive growth

The Indian National Congress is ully aware that the world economy aces the worst crisis in 50 years.This crisis has been caused by a ailure o nancial markets in the USA and in other developed countries.

However, the Indian economy has shown considerable resilience under the most adverse internationalcircumstances. This is the outcome o the policies o successive Congress governments. This is the directresult o a vibrant public sector that is the legacy o Jawaharlal Nehru, government ownership o banksthat is the legacy o Indira Gandhi, and a strong private sector that matured and fowered during thetenure o Rajiv Gandhi and thereater.

The average rate o economic growth during the sel-declared India Shining period o the BJP was just5.8% per year, as compared to 8.5% during the ve year tenure o the Congress-led UPA government.2008-09 has proved to be a dicult year or growth, yet the Indian economy will grow at about 7%. Thatis why our immediate priority is to revive the economy and restore the high growth witnessed in the rstour years o t he Congress-led UPA Government.

The Indian National Congress will put in place measures to ensure that the momentum o growth ismaintained. Three stimulus packages have already been announced. Interest rates have been reduced.

Credit fows to industry have been encouraged and assured. The impact o these policies will be elt in thecoming weeks and months.

The ocus o the new measures will be to stimulate demand in the domestic economy and to ensure that

there is more purchasing power in the hands o the people and more liquidity in the hands o companies.Public investment in agriculture and inrastructure, which has increased appreciably over the past veyears, will be s tepped up urther. Within 45 days o orming the new Government, the Indian NationalCongress will present the regular Budget or the year 2009-10 with the basic objective o returning to thepath o aster and more inclusive growth, which is so essential or ullling all our social and economicobjectives

In keeping with the promises made in our 2004 Maniesto, the Congress-led UPA government hadup a number o very important commissions including the Administrative Reorms Commission,

National Commission on Enterprises in the Unorganised Sector, the National Farmers Commissthe National Knowledge Commission and the National Manuacturing Competitiveness Council. Tvaluable recommendations will be taken up or implementation in a systematic manner and without

delay.

The Work Programme: 2009-2014

In addition to consolidating and taking orward the numerous missions, programmes and schelaunched during 2004-2009, the Indian National Congress makes the ollowing solemn promises topeople o our country.

We will guarantee the maximum possible security to each and every citizen.

Our policy is zero tolerance towards terrorism rom whatever source it originates. We have alre

initiated the process o equipping our police and other specialist security orces with the latest weapand technology to meet terrorist threats. This process will be taken orward vigourously. More specibattalions will be raised and positioned in key locations across the country.

Citizenship is a right and a matter o pride. With the huge IT expertise available in our country, possible to provide every Indian with a unique identity card ater the publication o the national popularegister in the year 2011.

We will ensure the highest level of defence preparedness and also take further steps forwelfare of the defence forces and their families

During the BJP-led NDA government, over Rs 24,000 crore o unds meant or deence modernisawere simply not spent. In the last ve years, modernisation o our deence orces has resumed substantiThis will continue at a rapid pace. The Indian National Congress also pledges to make Indias deorces technology-enabled and equipped with modern weapons, aircrat, ships and delivery systemrepel any threat rom land, sea or air.

Recognizing their special concerns, a new and separate department o ex-servicemens welare established in 2004 by the Congress-led UPA Government. Ex-servicemen constitute a large cadrdedicated and trained persons. We will utilize them extensively in crucial nation-building tasks.

We will accelerate the process of police reforms

The Indian National Congress recognizes the imperative o police reorms. A clear distinction betwthe political executive and police administration will be made. The police orce will be better provisioespecially in the matter o housing and education acilities; the police orce will be made mrepresentative o the diversity our population; and police recruitment will be made more eective training proessionalized to conront new and emerging threats. Accountability o the police orce wiinstitutionalized.

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We will build on the success of the NREGA and take the scheme forward.

The National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, rst promised by the Indian National Congress in its2004 Lok Sabha elections maniesto, has been an outstanding success.

While drawing on the lessons o various social audits, the Indian National Congress now pledges at least

100 days o work at a real wage o Rs 100 a day or everyone as an entitlement under the NREGA.

Along the lines of NREGA, we will enact a National Food Security Act

The Indian National Congress pledges to enact a Right to Food law that guarantees access to sucientood or all people, particularly the most vulnerable sections o society. The Indian National Congresspledges that every amily living below the poverty line either in rural or urban areas will be entitled, bylaw, to 25 kgs o rice or wheat per month at Rs 3 per kg. Subsidised community kitchens will be set up inall cities or homeless people and migrants with the support o the Central government.

We will guarantee health security for allThe National Rural Health Mission has already begun to make a noticeable impact and will be implementedwith an even greater sense o urgency. The Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY) introduced by theCongress-led UPA Government oers health insurance or poor amilies. Expenditure on health is amajor cause o indebtedness, particularly in rural areas. The Indian National Congress pledges that every

amily living below the poverty line will be covered by the RSBY over the next three years. Every districtheadquarters hospital will be upgraded to provide quality heath acilities to all.

We will ensure comprehensive social security to those at special risk

The Indian National Congress will ensure a comprehensive cover o social security to all persons whoare at special risk including (i) single-woman headed households; (ii) disabled and the elderly; (iii) urbanhomeless; (iv) released bonded workers; (v) members o primitive tribal groups; and (vi) members odesignated most backward dalit communities.

We will be make quality education affordable to everyone

India today has one o the largest educational loan programmes in the world. Over the past ve years,over teen lakh students have received loans totaling more than Rs 26,000 crore and are pursuing variousproessional courses.

The Indian National Congress now pledges that all students admitted to any recognized course in anyrecognized college/university will be provided, on a need basis, either a scholarship or an educational loanwithout collateral repayable over a very long period.

In order to ensure quality school education or all children, we have already made a beginning by approvingthe setting up o one model school in every block o the country.

Every year, over the next ve years, we will add one more model school in every block.

The Indian National Congress pledges to ocus more sharply on outcomes and achievement leveleducation and not just on enrolment. It also pledges a major programme or training o teachers improving the physical environment in schools.

A massive expansion in higher education has been undertaken in the past two years8 new IITs, 7 IIMs, 5 new Indian Institutes o Science Education and Research, 30 new Central Universities, 20 Indian Institutes o Inormation Technology and 374 new colleges in educationally-deprived distrThe Indian National Congress pledges to ensure that these expansion plans are implemented ully wtheir twin ocus on excellence and armative action.

We will implement a nation-wide skill development programme

India is a young country with 70% o the population below the age o 35. To reap the demograpdividend, the Indian National Congress believes that there is an urgent need to put in place an extenskill development programme so that the employability o youth is enhanced. The Congress-led Ugovernment has already put in place a National Skills Development Mission. Rs 30,000 crore wil

invested in this mission which is o crucial importance or the uture o our youth. Funds will be provto ensure its widest possible coverage. A wider and more comprehensive spectrum o skills wilimparted.

We will expand schemes for improving well-being of farmers and their families

In addition to continuing the programmes that were launched over the past ve years, the Indian NatiCongress pledges that every small and marginal armer in the country will have access to bank credlower rates o interest. While the massive loan waiver scheme has already been implemented and 3crore armer-amilies have beneted rom it, the Indian National Congress now pledges to extend interelie to all armers who repay bank loans on schedule.

The Indian National Congress is determined to ensure that arming becomes a protable occupatAll measures in support o this objective will be taken. Programmes or agricultural diversication, processing and rural industrialization will be pursued systematically. Dairying, aquaculture, sherhorticulture and sericulture will receive an additional boost. The special needs o crops like tea, corubber, spices, cashew and coconut will be met. A renewed emphasis will be placed on wastedevelopment and aorestation.

The Indian National Congress will implement comprehensive crop insurance schemes and will examine the easibility o direct income support to armers in the ecologically vulnerable regions ocountry. Minimum Support Price (MSP) and procurement will be ensured at the doorsteps o armer

All controls on the ree movement o arm commodities and processing o agricultural products andregulations that depress incomes o armers will be systematically eliminated.

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The Indian National Congress is rmly committed to ensuring that armers get, at a very minimum, marketrates or the land that is acquired or industrial projects. The Indian National Congress also believes thatarmers should be given an option to become stakeholders in such industrial ventures. As a matter opriority, the National Rehabilitation and Resettlement Bill, 2007, that could not be passed because o theobstructionist tactics o the BJP, will be t aken up or passage in the 15th Lok Sabha. The Land Acquisition

Act, 1894 will also be amended to ensure that the interests o land-owners are more than adequatelyprotected.

We will democratize and professionalize the functioning of cooperatives

The Indian cooperative movement comprising about 5 lakh cooperatives with more than 22 croremembers is the largest such movement in the world. It plays a crucial role in our development. TheIndian National Congress has always stood or its democratic, autonomous and proessional unctioningand this will be ensured by enacting appropriate laws, including making a Constitutional provision.

We will give even greater impetus to the empowerment of weaker sections of society.

The empowerment o the weaker sections o society scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, OBCs, minoritiesand women has been an article o aith with the Indian National Congress. This will be carried orwardwith emphasis on education, particularly skill-based and proessional education.

Education at all stages primary, secondary and university will be ree in all respects or boys and girlsbelonging to dalit and adivasi communities.

Coaching ees or all entrance exams or at least one lakh scheduled caste/scheduled tribe students everyyear will be paid by the Central Government. National scholarships or boys and girls belonging toscheduled castes and scheduled tribes will be urther increased.

The Indian National Congress will take steps to ensure that allocations under the Special ComponentPlan or scheduled castes and the Tribal Sub-Plan or scheduled tribes (rst introduced by Indira Gandhiover three decades ago) are made in accordance with their proportions in the population.

An unprecedented special drive was launched by the Prime Minister and over 53,000 vacancies ingovernment have been lled through direct recruitment or promotion omembers belonging to scheduledcastes and scheduled tribes. This drive will continue.

The Indian National Congress is deeply committed to pursuing armative action or scheduled castes andscheduled tribes in the private sector. It has already initiated a national debate on this issue. It also pledgesto carve out a reservation or the economically weaker sections o all communities without prejudice to

existing reservations or scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and OBCs.

For the rst time, a separate Ministry o Minority Aairs was created in May 2004 and the Rajinder SaCommittee was set up to look into the social, economic and educational status o the Muslim commuin the country. The implementation o the recommendations o the Sachar Committee is already unway and an Equal Opportunity Commission will be established by law. Nearly our lakh scholarshave been awarded over the past two years alone or pre-matric, post-matric and proessional cou

with more than 50% o these being awarded to girl students. The Prime Ministers 15-point programwas launched in June 2006 with physical and nancial targets or minorities in all welare programmthe Central Government. A special development package or the 90 minority-concentration districdierent states has been introduced.

The Indian National Congress is irrevocably committed to ensuring that the Constitutional rights ominorities are protected ully, that the representation o minorities in public administration incresubstantially, and that minorities recognize that the government is working or their welare at all tiThe Indian National Congress has pioneered reservations or minorities in Kerala, Karnataka and AndPradesh in government employment and education on the basis o their social and economic backwardn

We are committed to adopt this policy at the national level. A Wak Development Corporation wiestablished to develop wak properties. A National Unani University will be set up. The corpus oMaulana Azad Educational Foundation will be doubled.

The Indian National Congress introduced reservation or women in panchayats and nagarpalikas. Toabout 40% o the elected representatives in panchayats are women, compared to a reservation o 3mandated or them. This is nothing short o a quiet revolution. The Indian National Congress will enthat the Bill or reserving 33% o t he seats in the Lok Sabha and the State legislatures is passed in the 1Lok Sabha and that the elections to the 16th Lok Sabha are held on the basis o one-third reservationwomen.

Over the next ve years, the Indian National Congress will endeavour to ensure that at least hal ocountrys rural women population will be enrolled as members o sel-help groups linked with banksthat they will get loans rom banks at moderate interest rates. The Indian National Congress also propto reserve one-third o all central government jobs or women.

The Indian National Congress believes that, in addition to education, business development program

are needed on a larger-scale or scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and women. Preerential policies wiadopted in government contracts to stimulate entrepreneurial activities amongst these groups.

Social security schemes or occupations like weavers, shermen and sherwomen, toddy tappers, leaworkers, plantation labour, construction labour, mine workers and beedi workers will be expanded.

The Indian National Congress is deeply committed to ensuring equality o opportunity and ull participao persons with disabilities, including the blind, in all sectors o lie. To begin with, a comprehenreview o laws and programmes will be undertaken and the shortcomings noticed in their implementawill be removed.

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We will combat communalism of all kinds and caste atrocities with determination

The Indian National Congress reiterates its unfinching resolve to combat communalism o all kinds andto deal ruthlessly with those perpetrating atrocities on weaker sections like dalits and women. The Indian

National Congress believes in ensuring the right to compensation and rehabilitation or all victims ocommunal, ethnic and caste violence on standards and levels that are binding on every government. TheIndian National Congress will propose a law that empowers the National Human Rights Commission tomonitor investigation and trial in all cases o communal and caste violence.

The Indian National Congress will bring school curricula o various communal and sectarian organizations regardless o their aliation under the regulatory purview o an empowered national body.

We will bring a sharp focus on the special needs of children, especially the girl child

For the rst time, a National Commission or Protection o Child Rights was established in 2006. TheCommissions mandate is to ensure that the welare o children as guaranteed by various laws is protected

and promoted. New laws have also been passed to prohibit child labour and child marriage. New schemesto improve the nutritional status o children, especially girls, and to educate them have been launched inthe past ve years. Over 18 lakh anganwadi workers and helpers have beneted rom an increase in t heirremuneration last year.

The Indian National Congress commits itsel to the universalisation o the ICDS by March 2012 andto provide an anganwadi in every habitation and ull coverage o children up to the age o six or ood,nutrition and pre-school education. The special requirements o children o migrant workers in townsand cities will be met through new programmes in association with civil society organizations. A numbero programmes have already been launched to combat the still widely-prevalent phenomenon o childmalnutrition and these will be inused with an even greater sense o urgency.

The Indian National Congress will introduce special incentives or the girl child to correct the adversesex ratio and to ensure education o girl children. Girl children in districts that have an adverse sex ratioand/or low enrolment o girls, monetary incentives will be given to the girl child to be credited to the girlchilds account on her completing primary school, middle school, secondary school and higher secondaryschool.

We will make elected panchayat institutions nancially strong

Thanks entirely to the tireless eorts o Rajiv Gandhi, there are some 2,50,000 elected panchayat bodiesall over the country with almost 32 lakh elected representatives. It is through such institutions that wewill ensure inclusive governance which is essential or inclusive economic growth. The Indian National

Congress is unwavering in its commitment to ull Constitutionally-mandated devolution o unds,unctions and unctionaries to the panchayats. The annual allocations to gram panchayats that can beused or purposes designated as priority by the gram sabha will be substantially stepped up.

The Indian National Congress will also upgrade the technical capabilities o panchayat institutions andensure that inormation technology is used extensively to enhance their eectiveness.

We will connect all villages to a broadband network in three years time

While connectivity across the country has increased maniold in recent years, the Indian National Congpledges to bring the ruits o the IT revolution to more cities and towns. It also pledges to connect evillage to a broadband network within three years. This will help locate new, non-agricultural jobvillages and open vast new opportunities or our rural youth. Thus the vision o Rajiv Gandhi theo IT or rural transormation -- will be realized in even greater measure. Already, IT is being used in alike computerization o land records but we now promise a bolder, time-bound initiative.

We will give special focus to the small entrepreneur and to small and medium enterprises

Small and medium enterprises and the sel-employed are the backbone o our industrial and serveconomy. They are the major generators o productive employment or our youth. The Indian NatiCongress pledges a new deal or SMEs and or rst-generation entrepreneurs by assuring them greaccess to collateral-ree credit, liberating them rom the multiplicity o laws and orms, and reeing throm the clutches o inspectors.

The Indian National Congress pledges a targeted cluster-based approach to the growth o SMEs. Therea very large number o such clusters already in dierent areas like textiles, ood processing, handloomshandicrats, consumer goods, khadi, coir and other traditional industries, and engineering. These clusmostly in small and medium towns, will be given access to nance, technology and marketing and wiprovided vastly improved inrastructure.

We will maintain the path of high growth with scal prudence and low ination

As the experience o 2004-09 demonstrates so vividly, rapid economic growth creates opportunitieincreased government expenditure in vital areas like education, health, agriculture, social security inrastructure. Average growth in the rst our years o the Congress-led UPA government was 9%year or the rst time in our history. We will strive to maintain this momentum with a relentless emphon growth that accelerates the generation o productive jobs or our youth. The Indian National Congis also rmly committed to maintaining high growth with low infation, particularly in relation to pro essential agricultural and industrial commodities.

The Indian National Congress reiterates its commitment to the path o scal responsibility so thatability o the Centre to invest in essential social and physical inrastructure is continuously enhancThis will require that all subsidies reach only the truly needy and poor sections o our society. The In

National Congress will continue its eorts to create and implement a national consensus on this issu

Both the public sector and private sector are essential or Indias continued high growth success sto

The Indian National Congress rejects the policy o blind privatization ollowed by the BJP-led Ngovernment, but believes that the Indian people have every right to own part o the shares o pubsector companies while the government retains majority shareholding. Public sector enterprises inmanuacturing sector (like energy, transport and telecom) and in the nancial sector (like banks insurance companies) will remain in the public sector and will be given all support to grow and beccompetitive.

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The manuacturing industry in India has seen a revival in recent years and this will be sustained anddeepened, particularly labour-intensive manuacturing. The emphasis in all oreign investment policieswill be maximization o local value-addition and export potential. The Indian National Congress willensure that the policies it has put in place or attracting private investment or oil exploration will also beollowed or other mineral resources, including coal and iron-ore.

The Indian National Congress remains committed to ensuring the highest standards o corporategovernance in private companies, especially to protect the interests o small shareholders and smallinvestors. Regulations will be made to ensure good corporate governance, ethical business practices andaccountability to all stakeholders.

We will introduce the goods and services tax from April 1, 2010.

The Congress-led UPA government successully implemented VAT throughout the country. This hasbrought abundant revenues to all States. The Indian National Congress now pledges to take the nextdecisive step and introduce a moderate goods and services tax (GST). Once GST is implemented, all other

central and state-level indirect taxes such as VAT, excise duty, service tax, entertainment tax, luxury tax,etc. will stand abolished and bring substantial relie to the aam admi. GST will create a seamless nationalcommon market or our armers, artisans and entrepreneurs and will boost employment. State nances,and more importantly the nances o panchayats and nagarpalikas, will be put on a sound oundation.

We will give a completely new look to urban governance

While the bulk o our population still lives and works in villages, India is rapidly urbanizing. But theprovision o basic inrastructure in towns and cities has not kept pace with its requirements. A massiveprogramme o low-cost social housing and sanitation is needed to make our urban areas more livable.Recognizing that our towns and cities are engines o creativity and innovation, the Indian NationalCongress pledges to create a new model o urban administration with nancially-viable sel-governmentinstitutions as the pivot.

We will offer a new deal to our youth to participate in governance

The Indian National Congress has always been the party that has reposed its condence in youth. It wasRajiv Gandhi who gave all 18 year-olds the right to vote and it was he who declared Swami Vivekanandasbirthday on January 12th as National Youth Day. The IT revolution that has spread in our country has

opened up whole new avenues or our youth.

The Indian National Congress will design and launch a voluntary national youth corps which wouldenable young men and women in the age group o 18-23 to serve up to two years in constructive nation-

building activities or which they will be suitably compensated.

The Indian National Congress will also make a beginning to induct youth into organs o government.As a beginning, it will reserve a proportion o seats in panchayats and nagarpalikas or men and womenbelow the age o 35 years without detriment to the existing reservations or scheduled castes, scheduledtribes, OBCs and women.

The Indian National Congress has periodically renewed itsel by inducting young men and women the Party and entrusting them with responsibilities. Under the leadership o Rahul Gandhi, the Ind

National Congress has launched a unique exercise to bring youth rom all sections o society and all wo lie into the political mainstream through the Indian Youth Congress (IYC) and the National StudUnion o India (NSUI). For the very rst time in any political party, there are hundreds o elected yo

leaders in Punjab and Uttarakhand. This exercise is now being conducted in Gujarat and Tamil Naduwill soon encompass other parts o the country. This is a practical demonstration o the deep commitmo the Indian National Congress to open new political space and opportunities to our youth.

We will protect Indias natural environment and take steps to rejuvenate it

The Indian National Congress has declared the sacred Ganga as a national river. The Ganga River BAuthority has been established with the Prime Minister at its head or ensuring that development nare met in an ecologically sustainable manner. This Authority will be accorded the highest priority. Wsecurity is o paramount concern to the Indian National Congress and steps will be taken to enhanmeasurably or local communities.

India has an enormously rich biodiversity that is under threat on account o various reasons. The InNational Congress commits itsel to strengthening peoples movements whose objective will be to proand preserve our bio-resources and ensure their sustainable use.

Climate change has now emerged as a serious challenge or the world community. India too has beto eel its impact in dierent ways. The Congress-led UPA government has already unveiled a NatiAction Plan or Climate Change. It is an acknowledgment o our responsibility to take credible actwithin the overall ramework o meeting the development aspirations o our people or higher econogrowth and a higher standard o living. This action plan will be implemented in letter and spirit.

We will carry out a massive renewal of our extensive science and technology infrastructure

One o the most outstanding legacies o Jawaharlal Nehru is the vast inrastructure or science technology that India possesses and which has made so many ar-reaching contributions to the counprogress in agriculture, nuclear energy, deence, space, industry, energy, telecom and IT. The In

National Congress is rmly commited to extend ull support to the modernization and expansion oscience and technology institutions and will ensure that they attract and retain the best talent rom In

and abroad.

We will pursue judicial reforms to cut delays in courts

Although delays in the Supreme Court have come down appreciably in recent years, delays in H

Courts and district courts are still unacceptably high. The Indian National Congress has always beethe view that justice delayed is justice denied and will thereore pursue judicial reorms to ensure timcompletion o the hearing and disposal o cases. As a refection o this priority, the Gram Nyayalaya Aa key promise o our 2004 Maniesto, was passed by Parliament last year. Setting up o Gram Nyayalat the headquarters o the intermediate panchayats and mobile courts in the rural areas will bring toaam admi speedy, aordable and substantial justice.

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We will continue to be sensitive to regional aspirations

The Indian National Congress is aware that in some large states the persistence o intra-regionalimbalances in development has given rise to the demand or separate states. While it has launched anumber o special programmes and schemes or such regions, recognising the legitimacy o these concernsand acknowledging that solution may vary rom one state to another, the Indian National Congress willnd pragmatic solutions to deal with these demands.

We will ensure energy security for our country

The last two years have seen a very sharp turnaround in the addition to power generating capacity. Thismomentum will be maintained and it will be ensured that the country adds at least 12,000-15,000 mw ocapacity every year through a mix o sourcescoal, hydel, nuclear and renewables. Rural electricationand reduction in distribution losses will be given the highest priority. The Indian National Congresspromises a very signicant increase in the share o nuclear power, both through domestic and importedtechnology which has now been made possible by the civil nuclear agreements. The pace o oil and gas

exploration will be intensied. Indias oil diplomacy will be pursued aggressively. The Indian NationalCongress will implement a scheme to supply energy to poor amilies at aordable prices.

We will take further steps to preserve and promote our heritage

India has an extraordinarily rich heritage going back centuries. The Indian National Congress will takeurther steps to protect, preserve and promote this heritage and ensure that its value is ully appreciated,especially by the younger generation particularly. A statutory National Commission for Heritage Siteswill be made ully operational. This will be an important instrument to strengthen the oundations o ourpluralistic culture and inheritances.

We will continue to pursue an independent, pro-India foreign policy

The Indian National Congress has always upheld Indias supreme national interests and has oten bravedcriticism and opposition both at home and abroad in deending the countrys interests. At the same time,the Indian National Congress has always believed that it is Indias historic destiny to be engaged andconnected with the rest o the world and, in particular, with the countries o Asia.

The oreign policy ollowed in the past ve years has yielded handsome results: the oremost example isthe agreements on civil nuclear cooperation signed with the USA, Russia, France and Kazakhstan.

Indias well-thought out oreign policy and its patient but orceul diplomacy has obliged Pakistan toadmit that its citizens were responsible or carrying out the dastardly attacks in Mumbai in November2008. The Indian National Congress has striven or an enduring peace and or close economic relations

with Pakistan. The Indian National Congress has also encouraged extensive people-to-people contactsbetween the two countries, particularly amongst the younger generation. But the Mumbai attacks havecast a long shadow on the on-going dialogue and engagement process. It is now entirely upto Pakistan tobreak the impasse by taking credible action against those responsible or the carnage in Mumbai. I it doesso and dismantles the terrorist networks that operate rom its soil, a Congress-led government will not beound wanting in its response.

The long-held policy o the Indian National Congress is that the Government o Sri Lanka shouldan honourable solution to the strie in that country and ensure that all communities, especially the Taspeaking people, are guaranteed and enjoy equal rights within the ramework o a united Sri Lanka. Indian National Congress oers to help the parties reach an agreement as envisaged in the IndiaLanka Peace Accord o 1987 which remains the only basis or a politically negotiated settlement.

The Indian National Congress welcomes the return o multi-party democracy to Bangladesh and NeIt will work with both countries to deepen bilateral ties across a wide spectrum o areas or demonstrmutual benet. The Indian National Congress also believes that the two countries must take noteIndias security concerns in a more meaningul manner.

The Indian National Congress has always championed the legitimate and peaceul aspirations o the losuering Palestinian people and urges that a viable Palestinian state be established at the earliest.

Indias relationships with countries like the USA, Russia, China and Japan and with countries o Euhave been transormed by sustained diplomatic eorts since 2004. These relationships will be urt

deepened. India has begun a whole new process o engagement with the countries o Arica where thegreat appreciation o what India has to oer to them. This engagement will be expanded.

The Indian National Congress will intensify the involvement of overseas Indiansdevelopment

The Indian National Congress takes great pride, as does the entire country, in the outstandaccomplishments o overseas Indians in dierent elds. The Indian National Congress also acknowlethe vital role remittances by overseas Indians play in bolstering the countrys nances. The Minio Overseas Indian Aairs was created in May 2004 to refect the priority that the Indian NatiCongress places on maximizing the contributions o the overseas Indian community to our couneconomic, scientic and technological progress. A number o measures have been taken to protectinterests o lakhs o Indian workers in the Middle East. This will continue to be a matter o priority. Nopportunities will be created or overseas Indians to play their rightul role in the renewal o instituto higher learning and in starting new ventures and businesses. Four new universities will be establiwith 50% o the seats reserved or PIO/NRI students.

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V. An Appeal

The Indian National Congress has been central to the public life of our country for almost 125 years.

It embodies the very idea of India like no other party.

Throughout its long history, the priorities, policies and programmes of the Indian National Congress have

been anchored in a vision of an economically prosperous, socially just, politically united and culturally

harmonious India.

Steadfastness to basic principles has never impeded responsiveness to new and emerging challenges.

The people of our country have, time and again, placed their trust and condence in the Indian National

Congress.

It has been the relentless endeavour of the Indian National Congress to fulll the expectations of our

people.

Much has been accomplished in the past six decades. But much more remains to be done.

The Indian National Congress comes before the people of India with utmost humility, proud of its

achievements but always conscious of the tasks awaiting us as a nation.

The Indian National Congress appeals to the people of India to vote for it on the strength of its

contributions, its convictions, its concerns and its charter.

Through this manifesto, the Indian National Congress renews its resolve to remain the foremost

instrument of socio-economic transformation based on conviction, commitment, competence and

compassion .

Through this manifesto, the Indian National Congress rededicates itself to the politics of service and the

politics of strengthening the foundations of the modern Indian nation-state.

Through this manifesto, the Indian National Congress pledges to the people of our country its

determination to implement its promises with a single-minded sense of purpose.

Vote for the Idea of India: Vote Indian National Congress

Vote for Unity through Diversity: Vote Indian National Congress

Vote for Economic Growth with Communal Harmony: Vote Indian National Congress

Vote for Economic Growth with Social Justice: Vote Indian National Congress.

Vote for Security, Stability, Continuity and Integrity: Vote Indian National Congress

A Vote for the Congress is a Vote For Your Future and the Future of Your Children.

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Congress- Elections 2009 Manifesto

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Transcript of Congress- Elections 2009 Manifesto