congress manifesto 2014 indian elections sonia gandhi rahul gandhi manmohan singhfor_web

• Congress:TheOnlyChoice 2• CongressorBJP 4• TheUPAReportCard 6• LandmarkLegislation:2009-2014 8• OurPledge:A15PointAgendaforSocio-economicandPoliticalTransformation 10• TheDetailedActionPlan2014-2019 14

• AnAppeal

1. A New Future for the Hands that Build the Nation 142. Economic Growth 14 • AnEconomicRoadmapfor2014-2019 15 • TheIndianNationalCongress’s100DayAgendaforGrowth 16 • AcceleratingJobCreationandSkillDevelopment 173. ProtectingtheInterestsof Labour 194. RighttoHealth 205. EmpoweringScheduledCastes,ScheduledTribesandOtherBackwardClasses 216. Women’sEmpowermentandProtectionof Children 247. SafeguardingMinorities 268. YouthandStudentAgenda 27 • BuildingtheBestEducationSystemintheWorldforourStudents 28 • PromotingSports 29 • OtherYouthIssues 309. RuralDevelopmentandPanchayatiRaj 3110. AgricultureandFarmerWelfare 3211. AcceleratingIndustrialandManufacturingGrowth 3412. Infrastructure 36 • Transport 36 • Energy 3713. UrbanDevelopment 3814. Housing 3915. Environment 4016. Innovation,InformationandCommunicationTechnology 4117. FightingCorruption 4318. GovernanceReforms 43 • ElectoralReforms 44 • LegalandJudicialReforms 44 • PoliceReforms 4419. InternalSecurity 4620. DefenceandWelfareof Ex-Servicemen 4621. ForeignPolicy 47

Table of ConTenTsTheIndianNationalCongresshaspioneeredanentirelynewwayinwhichpoliticalpartyelectionmanifestosareprepared.Itisourfirmbelief thattheIndianNationalCongressManifestomustreflectthevoiceandaspirationsof

thepeopleandanewvisionforthecountry.

Therewereseveralconsultationsheldacrossthecountryoverafive-monthperiod(fromOctober,2013toMarch,2014)withdifferentstakeholders,togettheirinputsonIndia’sfuturegrowth,developmentandinclusionagenda.TheCongressVicePresidentShriRahulGandhiparticipatedinseveralof

theseinteractionsincludingthosewithrepresentativesfromScheduledCastes,ScheduledTribes,OtherBackwardClasses,minorities,womenorganisations,youth,labour,industry,Panchayatrepresentatives,ex-servicemen,railwayporters,rickshawpullers,salt-panworkersandfarmers.Inadditiontothisadedicatedwebsite(www.incmanifesto.in)wasestablishedtoinvitesuggestionsfromallcitizensfortheManifesto.Aseparatewebsiteforthe“NationalStudent

Manifesto”wasalsocreated.

Wereceivedtensof thousandsof suggestionsthroughtheseconsultations,onthewebsitesandsocialmediaplatforms,phones,emails,etc.Thesesuggestions

werecarefullyconsideredandhavebeenincluded,whereverfeasible.

WebelievethisuniqueexercisehasmadetheManifestoinclusiveandfullyreflectiveof thevoiceof thepeopleof India.

The open ManifesTo proCess: paThbreaking poliTiCal reforM

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The Indian National Congress has madeseminal contributions to India’s unity,integrity, secular polity and democraticfederalism. We have championed the rightsof theweakersections,createdconditionsforfaster economic growth and have been theprincipalinstrumentof socialandeconomicchange, the preferred political choice forcrores of women and men.

Ourcentralvaluesresonatethevery ideaof India,thathascometousoverthecenturies,an India that rejoices in and celebratesits many diversities, and builds on thesediversities to strengthen the bonds of unitythrough secularism,pluralism, inclusion andsocial justice.This is theIndia thatMahatma Gandhi envisaged. ThisistheIndiaforwhichourFreedomFighters gave their all. This is theIndia that the Indian NationalCongress has always dedicateditself to.OursistheonePartywitha history of a liberal philosophythat has enabled the country tobuildstrongpoliticalandeconomicinstitutions and transform itself.

In the 1950’s, the Indian NationalCongressput Indiaon thepathof industrialisation through the public sector,ensuring both rapid and balanced regionalgrowth across the face of our country.A massive infrastructure for science andtechnologywasalsoestablished.Inthe1960’s,theGreenRevolutionwaslaunchedtomakeIndiaself-sufficientinfoodgrainsandadirectassaultonpoverty.Inthe1970’s,furthergainsweremadethroughtheGreenRevolutionandaWhite Revolutionwas unleashed that wastomakeIndiatheworld’slargestproducerof milk. In the 1980’s, economic reformswerelaunched in response to new challenges, to

modernise the Indian economy and bringabout the information and conmunicationstechnologyrevolution.Inthe1990’s,radicaleconomicreformswere instituted leadingtoacceleratedeconomicgrowthandwidespreadeconomic and social transformation. At the turn of the millennium, we brought abouta “Regime of Rights” marking a paradigmshift in India’s politics and development.Beginning with the Right to Information,Right to Work (Mahatma Gandhi NationalRuralEmploymentGuaranteeAct),RighttoEducation and the Right to Food, we havelaunchedaradicalprogressiveeconomicandsocialdevelopmentdiscourse.

The depth and breadth of its political andadministrative experience makes the IndianNational Congress most intrinsically awareand closely associated with the beliefs, andprinciplesandneedof thepeopleof India.Weare theParty thathasalwaysbelieved inthe idealism and leadership abilities of theyouth. We have remained connected withtheir aspirations and have been inspired bytheirrestlessvibrancy.

Ourvisionisoneof inclusiveandsustainablegrowth fuelled by agricultural development,

regional balance, progress in backwardareas and a strong conviction that in orderto prosper every citizen must have theopportunity to evolve to the best of her orhisability.OursisaNationof incrediblebutoftenuntappedtalentthatneedsanddeservestobeunleashed.

We envision an India where power wouldhavebeendevolvedtothegrassrootsandtothemarginalizedsothattheycanshapetheirowndestiny.

We envision an India charting a new futurerather than rewriting its past; living inharmony, not in turmoil; thriving in peace

ratherthansufferinginconflict;imbuedwithhumility,notwitharrogance.

WeenvisionanIndiawherethegovernmentserves the people rather than where peopleservethegovernment.

Webelieveinasimpleuniversaltruth:equityandopportunityforall.

The Indian National Congress is the onlyPartythatbelievesthateconomicgrowthand

Cong ress The onl y ChoiCe

communal harmony, and economic growthandsocial justice,are twosidesof thesamecoinandmustalwaysgohand-in-hand.

The Indian National Congress is the onlyParty that combines experience and youth,wisdom and exuberance, achievement andambition.

TheIndianNationalCongressseeksarenewedmandate on the strength of its heritage, itsrecordof service,bothinandoutof power,anditsclearvisionforthefuture.

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Since it formation, 128 years ago,the Indian National Congress has

spoken for every section of IndiansocietyandhasmirroredIndia’s“unityindiversity”.

The Indian National Congress’ssecularandliberalethoshasaplaceforeachandeveryIndian.Oursisaninclusivevision.

The BJP’s narrow and communalperspectivedeniesequalitytoall.Theirsisanexclusionarydoctrine.

The Indian National Congress standsin sharp contrast to the divisive anddisruptive ideology of the BJP.We havealways been the secular and progressiveforce in thiscountryandstrived touniteallreligions,castesandcommunitiesintheideologicalbattleagainstthosewhowouldpolarizeanddivideoursociety.

Our democratic Constitution andinstitutionsarethecornerstoneof ModernIndia.Allof us,whowishtobuildabetterIndiaandridthecountryof povertyand

corruption,mustrespecttheseinstitutionsand work through them. They are thelegitimate instruments in our hands.No individual or authority can replacethe values and processes of democraticgovernance.

Peace cannotbe constructedonconflict.Societiescannotbebuiltoninjusticeandhatred.

Congre ss or bjp Secular Liberal Nationalism vs Narrow-minded Communalism

Inclusive Democracy vs Divisive Authoritarianism

Awareof thechallengesthrownupbytheundemocraticandexclusionarypoliticsof theBJP,particularlyintherecentpast,theIndian National Congress is committedto confronting these challenges withdetermination.

We do not respond by subvertingdemocratic institutions and blockingParliamentsessionaftersession,yearafteryear.Wedonotrespondbyturningpeopleagainsteachotherandlightingthefiresof communalhatred.Wedonotrespondby

proposing either that the structures of democracybehandedtoonesinglepersonorthattheybeviciouslyundermined.

The Indian National Congress respondsthrough legitimate peaceful, democraticandConstitutionalmeans. ThesearethepillarsonwhichourgreatNationstands.ItisforthisreasonthattheIndianNational

Congressistheonlynaturalchoiceforthepeopleof India.

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Itwasthetirelesscampaignandvisionof Sonia Gandhi, President of theIndianNationalCongress,thatbroughttogetherandgaveshapetotheUnitedProgressiveAlliance (UPA) headed byPrime Minister Dr. Manmohan SinghinMay2004.

The work of the Congress-led UPAgovernmentwasappreciatedand thepeopleof Indiagaveusa renewedmandate,withalargermajority,in2009.

Chairpersonof theUPA,SoniaGandhi,andPrime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, has

translatedintorealitythepledgeswemadeinMay2009.

The2009Mandatewasforsocially inclusiveeconomic growthwith a focus on jobs andlivelihoods,andsocialjustice.

Thishasbeenachievedinsubstantialmeasure.

The 2009Mandatewas to take forward thecommitment made by our government in2004promising“ANewDealforRuralIndia.”


The2009Mandatewastosafeguardandadvancethe interests of India’s farmers and create anenvironmentconducivetotheirprosperity.


The 2009 Mandate was for empoweringthe poor and the marginalized, especiallyScheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, OtherBackwardClasses,minoritiesandwomen.


The2009Mandatewastoopenthedoorsof education and skills, and provide access to

immenseopportunitiestheyholdoutforourbiggestasset,ouryouth.


The2009Mandatewasformaintainingpeaceand security and for fighting the challengesthrown up by undemocratic, divisive andexclusionarypoliticalandsocialinterests.


The upa reporT Card

• The Congress-led UPA has brought 14crore people out of poverty in the lastten years. The rate of poverty declinehas tripled as compared to the precedingdecade.Thisisthegreatestachievementof theUPAgovernments, andwe areproudof it.

• In the ten years of UPA-I and UPA-II,India achieved an average annual growthrateof 7.5%.DuringtheNDAtenuretheaverageannualgrowthratewas5.9%.

• Today,weproduce263million tonnesof foodgrains.Tenyears ago, at the endof theNDAtenureitswas213milliontonnesof foodgrains.

• Today, the installed power capacity is234,600 MW. Ten years ago, it was lessthanhalf at112,700MW.

• Today, thenumberof mobile subscribershascrossed95crore.Tenyearsago,itwasamere 3.36 crore subscribers.Telephonedensity in rural areas has increased 26times.

• Today, coal production is 554 milliontonnesperyear.Tenyearsago,itwas361milliontonnesperyear.

• Today,wehave389,578kmof ruralroadsunder the Pradhan Mantri Gram SadakYojana (PMGSY). This is more than 7times the 51,511 km of rural roads tenyearsago.

• Today,theCentalGovernment’sspendingonhealthcare isRs.36,322crore,5 times

We let the record speak for itself.

more than theRs. 7,248 crore it was tenyearsago.

• Today, minorities have 43,52,000 bankaccounts in 121 districts of the country.Thetotalvolumeof lendingstandsatRs.66,500crore.Tenyearsago,minoritieshad14,15,000bankaccounts.Thetotalvolumeof lendingwasjustRs.4,000crore.

• Today, 41,16,000 women Self-Help-Groupshavebeencredit linked tobanks.Tenyearsagoitwasonly9,71,182.

• Today,thetotalcredittosmallbusinessesstandsinexcessof Rs.5,27,000crore.Tenyearsago,credittosmallbusinessesstoodatbelowRs.80,000crore.

• Today, the Central Government’sexpenditure on education is Rs. 79,451crore. Ten years ago, it was Rs. 10,145crore.

• Today,thetotalvalueof India’sinternationaltradestandsatUS$800billion.Tenyearsago,itwasUS$142billion.

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The Indian National Congress-led UPAgovernmenthashadanunmatchedrecord

when itcomestothepassageof significant,historic and pathbreaking legislation. TheIndianNationalCongressisaPartythattakesits commitments to the people as sacred.The Party has worked to realise almost allthepromisesmadetothepeopleinitsearlierManifestosandcampaigns:

1. The Indian National Congress ledthe charge to enact a unique andunprecedented law to safeguard foodsecurity for the poorest. The NationalFoodSecurityActmarkedtherealisationof overadecadeof workandhasbeenhailed as a visionarylawbythepeople.

2. The seminal Right toFair Compensationand Transparency inLand Acquisition,Rehabilitation andResettlement Act,2013-akeycampaignpromise of theIndianNationalCongress in2009-wasenacted after two years of nationwideconsultations. This law was a historicvictory for our brothers and sistersworking in the agriculture sector. Thelawensuresthatlandcannotbeacquiredwithout the land owners consent,promisesuptofourtimestheprevailingmarketvalueascompensationandrepealstheLandAcquisitionActof 1894.

3. TheIndianNationalCongressledthewayin bringing about historic reform withregard to women’s rights in the form of theCriminalLaw(Amendment)Bill,2013and the salutary Protection of Women

fromSexualHarassmentatWorkplaceAct,2013. These lawsmade the systemmoresensitive to the challenges faced by ourwomen.Penaltieshave increasedandnewcrimeswereincludedtomakethedefinitionmorewomenfriendlysothatthelawbetterservestheinterestsof theaggrieved.

4. In a bid to bring greater clarity onthe subject, the Congress-led UPAGovernment enacted a new CompaniesAct, 2013.Thisnew law, resulting fromcomprehensive consultations with allstakeholdersbringsaboutradicalchangesthat will stimulate entrepreneurship,make it easier to start new businesses

and encourage Corporate SocialResponsibility.

5. Mindful that our Nation’s citizens, andparticularly our senior citizens, deservegreater security with regard to theirpension funds, the Congress-led UPAGovernment enacted the Pension FundRegulatory and Development AuthorityAct, 2013, to establish a regulator toensure these funds are protected fromunscrupulousindividuals.

6. TheIndianNationalCongresshasalwayslooked to the people for guidance inthe discharge of its duties. The Lokpal

and Lokayukta Act, 2013was born outof a determination to give the peoplea strong, independent authority to actas a watchdog against administrativecorruption.Thisauthorityempowersthepeople by giving them a high-poweredforum to tackle corruption in thebureaucracyandthepoliticalsystem.

7. Inoneearliestactionsonbeingre-elected,the Congress-led UPA governmentpassedtheRightof ChildrentoFreeandCompulsoryEducationActin2009.Thislaw, which guarantees free educationin primary schools, also puts in place

provisions for minimum standards fortheestablishmentof newneighbourhoodschools.

8. The Indian National Congress, whichhas been firmly dedicated to the causeof protecting our nation’s environmentand forests, enacted the National GreenTribunal Act, 2009 to establish a specialfasttrackcourttoheardisputesrelatedtothese issues.

9. TheIndianNationalCongresspilotedandpassedtheStreetVendors(Protectionof Livelihood&Regulation)Act,2014.This

Actwillprotectlivelihoodrightsof lakhsof streetvendors.

10. The Prohibition of Employmentas Manual Scavengers and theirRehabilitation Act, 2013 not onlyprescribes stringent punishment foremploying manual scavengers but alsohasprovisionsforrehabilitationof thesefamilies.Anage-oldblotonour societywillfinallybeerased.

landMark legislaTion: 2009 -2014

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1. We will endeavour to bring around two-thirdsof ourpopulation–theskilledhandsthat build India – into the middle class,through a package of basic rights for allworkers–formalandinformal,organizedandunorganized, regular andcontractual.Our aim will be to provide them andall low-income families with economicsecurityandaminimumstandardof livingto uplift their condition. The charter of minimum socio-economic rights we willputinplaceincludes:a. RighttoHealthb. RighttoPensionc. RighttoHomesteadorHousingd. RighttoSocialSecuritye. RighttoDignityand

humaneworkingconditions

f. Right to Entrepre-neurship that willprotect and assist allthose who seek to becomeentrepreneurs

These new rightswill supplement theother rights established under UPA-Iand UPA-II - Right to Food; Right toInformation;RighttoEducation;RighttoEmployment; Rights to fight corruption(Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act as well asWhistleblower Protection Act); Right toIdentity(Aadhaar)andtheRighttodirectreceipt of welfare benefits (Aapka Paisa,AapkeHaath–DirectBenefitsTransfers).Together, these rights will provide aneconomic platform for people below themiddle class to transform their lives andtotransformIndiaprimarilythroughtheirowneffort,not throughanyhandoutsof thegovernment.

2. To support the Right to Health, theIndian National Congress will increasehealth expenditure to 3% of GDP andprovide universal and quality health carefor all Indians (including freemedicines).To support the right to homestead/housing, we will ensure affordable andquality housing for all.The IndiraAwaasYojanaandtheRajivAwaasYojanawillbeexpandedtocoverallpoorruralandurbanhouseholds.

3. Continuingourrecordof deliveringIndia’shighestgrowthrates,wewillrestoreIndiato8%plusgrowthratewithin3years:

a. WewillensurethatIndiahasagloballycompetitive business and investment-friendlyenvironment.

b. We will continue to take firm actionto control inflation even in adifficultglobaleconomicscenario.

c. We will promote an open andcompetitive economy, open to globalanddomesticcompetition.

d. OurvisionisbuildingIndiaastheworldleaderinmanufacturing.Wewillensurea10%growthrateinthemanufacturingsectorwithaspecialemphasisonsmallandmediumenterprises.

e. Wewillcontinueonthepathof making

India a world leader in agriculturalproduction and agro-industry, takingadvantageof ournationalendowmentsand the genius of our farmers. Wewill focus on increasing agricultureproductivity and farmer incomes byincreasing investments in irrigation,agricultural value chains, cold storageandwarehousing,etc.

f. We will introduce the Goods andServices Tax Bills and a new DirectTaxCodeBillinParliamentandensuretheyareenactedwithinoneyear.

g. Wewill ensure that the unpredictableriskof retroactivetaxationisavoided.

h. We will invest more than 1 trillion

dollars over the next decade onupgrading India’s power, transportandotherdevelopment infrastructure.We will support more transparent,competitiveandbetter-regulatedPublicPrivatePartnershipsforbothhardandsoftinfrastructuredevelopment.

i. Wewillpromoteamoreflexiblelabourpolicy as needed for maintainingcompetitiveness,whilemovingtowardsinternational labour standards forourworkers.

j. We will promote greater integrationwiththeglobaleconomyandencourageForeign Direct Investment, especiallyinlabourintensivesectors.

k. Wewill ensure that growth is sociallyresponsible, and comes from genuinevalueaddition,notfromstrippingournaturalresourcesorfromunderpayingourlabour.

l. Wewill ensure that allour townsandGram Panchayats are connected withhigh-speed broadband connectivitywithin 18 months.

m. Serious and systematic efforts havebeenmade by the Congress-led UPAgovernmenttotrackdownandrecoverblack money. This determined effortwillcontinueunabated.WewillappointaSpecialEnvoytopursuethisagenda.

4. We will provide skills-training to10croreyouthand provide them withemploymentopportunitiesoverthenext5years.

5. Wewillensurethateverycitizenhasabankaccountwithinthenextfiveyears.

6. We will implement theNationalYouthPolicythatsetsanewvisionforleadershipdevelopmentamongstyouthandforthedevelopmentof sports.Wewillbringenhancedfocusoneducationforouryouthandourstudents.

a. We will expand higher educationopportunitieswithafocusonstudentsfromlow-incomefamilies.

b. Wewillscaleupskilldevelopmentandtrainingtoopenupnewopportunitiesforupwardeconomicmobilityforourpeople.

c. Wewillopenupourhighereducationsystem to investment from Indiaand from abroad and bring the best

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available knowledge and teaching toouryouth.

d. We will move our focus from ‘SarvaShikshaAbhiyan’to‘ShreshthShikshaAbhiyan’,making“quality” the centreof ouragenda

e. Wewillstrengthentheimplementationof the Right to Education, ensureuniversal enrolment in secondaryeducation, and reduce drop-out ratesinmiddleandsecondarylevels.

7. The protection of minorities is at thecore of the ethos of our country. TheCommunal Violence Bill, which wasdrafted and introduced by the IndianNational Congress,remains an importantcommitment. Wewill work towardsits enactment at the earliest.

8. We will continue ourfocusonempowermentof womenandfightfortheirsecurity(suraksha),self-respect and dignity (samman), andequality(samanata).

a. We will ensure the passage of theWomen’sReservationBill.

b. We will initiate immediate actionto formulate a Citizen’s Charter forWomen’sSafetyandSecurity.

c. WewillprovideuptoRs1lakhaslowinterestloanstowomenthroughSelf-Help-Groupsforlivelihoodactivities.

9. We will enhance legal protection andresource allocation for the ScheduledCastesandScheduledTribes.

a. We will enact central legislation on

the Scheduled Castes and ScheduledTribes Sub Plans to ensure focusedspendingof fundsonweakersections.

b. We will ensure the passage of theScheduled Castes and ScheduledTribes (Prevention of Atrocities)AmendmentBill,2013.

10. We will strongly protect the interestsof the Other Backward Classes,especially those amongst them that aremost deprived.We will establish a newcommissiontoinquireintotheconditionof themostbackwardandmarginalizedOtherBackwardClasscommunitieswhohavenotadequatelyreceivedthebenefits

of government programmes; and willrecommendcorrectivemeasures.

11. We will strengthen the legal andinstitutional framework to protect ourchildren. We will improve the workingconditions of Anganwadi and relatedworkersinwhosecareournationentrustsourmostprecious asset –our youngestcitizens.

12. We will give a major impetus toplanned urbanization, creating inclusivecities, revamping urban governance,empowering mayors, increasing low-

income housing and making largerinvestments in urban infrastructure,especiallyinmulti-modaltransport.

13. We will accelerate governance reformincluding legal, judicial and electoralreform, building on the momentum of the last few months.

a. We will enact the remaining anti-corruption and accountability billsthatwereblockedbytheopposition;

b. We will ensure the immediatepassage of The Right of Citizensfor Time BoundDelivery of Goodsand Services and Redressal of theirGrievances Bill, Prevention of

Bribery of Foreign Public OfficialsandOfficials of Public InternationalOrganisations Bill, Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Bill, ThePublic Procurement Bill, JudicialStandardsandAccountabilityBillandtheJudicialAppointmentsBill.

c. Wewillimplementastrategyforlegaland judicial reform thatwill enhancequality,responsivenessandtimelinessof thejudicialsystem.

d. We will ensure that therecommendations of the second AdministrativeReformsCommissionare implemented in letter and spirit

andmonitoredateverystep. e. Wewilldevelopaconsensusandbring

aboutlegislativeamendmentstowardseffective and meaningful electoralreforms.

14. Wearecommittedtoaseriesof specificlegislative, administrative and regulatorymeasures to protect our environment,an endowment entrusted to us for the benefitof futuregenerations.Wewillsetup aNational Environmental Appraisaland Monitoring Authority (NEAMA),a professional agency to conductenvironmentalappraisalsinatime-boundandtransparentmanner.

15. The Indian NationalCongress believesmodernisation of our defence forces is imperative. The IndianNational Congress shallensure that the processof procuring the finest,and most state-of-the-art equipment iscarried out efficiently

and transparently, while ensuring rapiddevelopment of our domestic defenceindustry. We will continue to protectandadvancetheinterestsof ourdefencepersonnel and ex-servicemen. We willcontinue to follow an unwavering pro-India foreign policy, enhance bilateralrelationships with our neighbours andfriendly nations, enhance commercialties and strive to mobilize support forpermanent membership in the UnitedNationsSecurityCouncil.

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1. a new future for the hands that build the nation

Itisbecauseof theIndianNationalCongressthat employees in theorganised sectorhavebeen fully protected through legislation andare entitled to social security in differentways. While organised sector employmentmust expand, the reality is that employmentintheunorganisedsectorcontributescloseto94%of India’slabourforce.

In recent years, with the expansion of employment opportunities because of rapideconomicgrowth,thissegmenthasexpanded.In recognition of this, in 2008, theCongress-led UPAgovernmentpassedthe UnorganisedWorkers’ SocialSecurityAct,2008.

The IndianNational Congressbelieves that it is time to scale up theseprogrammes across the country so that allworkersderivebenefitsfrombothlegislationand programmes in the next five years. Toensure a basic rights and welfare packagefor all working people, the Indian NationalCongresswillensure:

1. Enforcementof MinimumWagelaws;

2. Provisionof Pensioncover;

3. Provision of life and disability cover,health and maternity benefits – freemedicine, old age protection, ProvidentFund, employment injury benefit,housing,educationschemesforchildren,andoldagehomes;

annum,compared to5.9%deliveredby theNDA,evenaspovertyhasdeclinedthreetimesfaster. The growth under the Congress-ledUPAhasbeenfasterandmoreinclusivethananyearlierperiodinIndia’shistory.Anditisnotjusttheaccelerationof growththatgivestheIndianNationalCongresssatisfaction.Inkeeping with the long-standing tradition of theIndianNationalCongress,wehavemadethe growth process more socially inclusivethanithaseverbeen.

TheUPAgovernments’recordongrowthisunparalleled.

However, given the economic slowdownin the last few years, driven by the globalfinancial crisis, bringing Indiabackon trackto achieve 8% inclusive growth will be anoverridingpriorityof thenextCongress-ledgovernment.

AnEconomicRoadmapfor2014-2019The Finance Minister in his budget speechearlierthisyearhaslaidoutaroadmapof tenimportanttaskstobeundertakenbythenextgovernment. The IndianNational Congressaffirms its commitment to this roadmapwhichisoutlinedbelow:

i. FiscalConsolidation:Wewillachievethetargetof fiscaldeficitof 3%of Gross

Domestic Product (GDP) by 2016-17,andremainbelowthatlevelalways.

ii. Current Account Deficit: Our CurrentAccountDeficitcanbefinancedonlybyforeigninvestment,whetheritisForeignDirect Investment (FDI) or ForeignInstitutional Investors (FII) orExternalCommercial Borrowing (ECB) or anyother kind of foreign inflow. Hence,there is no room for any aversion toforeigninvestment.

iii. Price Stability and Growth: In adevelopingeconomywemustacceptthatwhen our aim is high growth therewillbeamoderatelevelof inflation.ReserveBank of India must strike a balance

between pricestabilityandgrowthwhile formulatingmonetarypolicy.iv. Infrastructure:We will rebuildour infrastructure and add a hugequantity of newi n f r a s t r u c t u r e . Every proven

model must be adopted. The PublicPrivatePartnership(PPP)modelmustbemademore transparent andcompetitiveand more widely used. New financingstructureswill be created for long termfundsandpoolingof investments.

v. Manufacturing: We will focus onmanufacturing and especially onmanufacturing for export. We proposethat all taxes, Central and State, whichgo into an exported product shouldbe waived or rebated.We also proposethat there should be a minimum tariff protectionsothatthereisanincentivetomanufacture goods in India rather thanimportthemintoIndia.

4. Creationof aworkingenvironmentthatenables all such workers to carry outwork without harassment. We will alsoensurehumaneworkingconditions;

5. Strengtheningof collectivebargaining;

6. Programmes for upgrading skills andincome including use of improvedtechnology.

2. economic growthTheIndianNationalCongress iscommittedto achieving 8 % growth per year, within3 years, to be sustained over the next twodecades.

The Indian National Congress’s agenda isone of social and economic transformation. Growth is essential for this transformation tohappenandfor it tobetrulymeaningful.It is economic growth that creates jobs forour youth. It is economic growth that givesustheresourcestoinvestinoursocialwelfareprogrammesandinfrastructuredevelopment.Thenature andqualityof growth is equallyimportanttoensurethatthegainsof growthareequitablydistributed.

Overthelasttenyears,theCongress-ledUPAgovernments have pursued and deliveredrapid and inclusive economic growth. Wehavedeliveredeconomicgrowthof 7.5%per

The deTailed aCTion plan 2014 -2019

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vi. Financial Sector Reforms: Therecommendations of the Financial SectorLegislativeReformsCommissionthatrequirenochangeinlegislationmustbeimplementedimmediatelyand,fortheotherrecommendations,wemustdrawatimetableforpassinglegislation.

vii. Subsidies: Given the limited resources,and the many claims on the resources,we must choose the subsidies that areabsolutelynecessaryandgive themonlyto the absolutely deserving. We willalso consider introducing sensible usercharges because many more people arewillingtopayforbetterqualityservices,for example, uninterrupted power andbetter qualitytrain services.We will usethis moneysaved toexpand health,education and infrastructure.

viii.Urbanisation:Our citieswill becomeungovernable, and perhaps unlivable, if wedonotaddressthedecayinourcities.Cities have wealth, cities also createwealth.Thatwealthshouldbetappedforresourcestorebuildthecitieswithanewmodelof governance.

ix. Skill Development: Skill developmentmustrankalongsidesecondaryeducation,universityeducation,totalsanitationanduniversalhealthcare in theprioritiesof thegovernment.

x. Sharing responsibility between States andCentre:Stateshavethefiscalspacetobearareasonableproportionof thefinancialcostsof implementingflagshipprogrammesandmust willingly do so, so that the Central

government can allocate more resourcesfor subjects such as defence, railways,nationalhighwaysandtelecommunicationsthatareitsexclusiveresponsibility.

TheIndianNationalCongress’s100DayAgendaforGrowthWhile the above presents a medium-termagendaforreform,the immediatepriority istoensurethattheeconomygetsbackontracktothetargetof 8%growth.

While consolidating on the announcementsand progress made over the last year, wecommit to implementing the following

agendawithin100daysof formingthenextgovernment:

1. Introduce the Goods and Services Tax(GST)BillsinParliamentandensuretheyareenactedwithin1year.GSTislikelytoincreasetheaggregaterevenuewhichwillbeused to fund theextra investment ininfrastructure,healthandeducation.

2. EnsurethatweareontracktopassanewDirectTaxCodeBill inthefirstyearof thenewLokSabha.

3. Announce a detailed Jobs Agenda toensurethatwecreate10crorenewjobs

and entrepreneurship opportunities forouryouth.

4. Amend the Fiscal Responsibility andBudget Management (FRBM) Act tocodify a credible commitment of thegovernment to achieve fiscal deficitof 3 % of GDP by 2016-17, and staybelowthatalways.SetupanindependentNational Fiscal Responsibility Councilthat will submit an annual report totheParliamenton theprogressmade inachievingourfiscalcommitments.

5. Building on the success of the CabinetCommitteeonInvestmentandtheProject

Monitoring Group in clearing stalledinvestmentproposals, set up aNationalInvestment Facilitation Authority, apermanent body headed by the PrimeMinister, and supported by a full-timesecretariat,with theexplicitmandateof identifyingdelayedprojectsandresolvinginter-ministerialissuestoenablerapidandtransparent approvals to large projects,especiallyintheinfrastructuresector.

6. Bring a Bill to set up a NationalEnvironmentalAppraisalandMonitoringAuthoritytoconductrigorousandtime-bound environmental appraisals and

recommend environmental clearanceswhere appropriate in a time-bound andtransparentmanner.

7. SetupaRegulatoryReformTaskForcefor a review of all regulatory processesof central government ministries withthe intent of repealing unnecessaryprocesses, streamlining the regulatorystructures and improving easeof doingbusinessinIndia.

8. Putoutaclearpolicyontaxtreatmentof foreignfirmsandMerger&Acquisitions(M & A) transactions while ensuringthat taxes are paid by multinational/

foreign entities inthe jurisdiction inwhich the profitsare earned.

9. Lay out aclear roadmapfor dealing withimmediate issues of public sectorbanks, including

recapitalisation,Non-PerformingAssets(NPAs), operational autonomy, humanresource development and successionplanningineachbank.

10. Implement the recommendations of theFinancialSectorLegislativeReformsCommission that require no changein legislation and lay out a timeline forpassingrequiredlegislation.

AcceleratingJobCreationandSkillDevelopmentThe landmark ‘National ManufacturingPolicy’of theUPAgovernmentbroughtthe


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agendaof jobcreationandmanufacturingledgrowthon thepolicy landscape.Thispolicyincorporatestheagendaof creating10crorejobsinthemanufacturingsectoralonewithinone decade.

Today,two-thirdsof Indians,nearly80croreIndians, are below 35 years of age.Gettingwellpaying,decent jobsorentrepreneurshipopportunities as they enter working age, istheirnumberonepriority.Whileanumberof stepshavebeentakeninthisdirectioninthelastdecade,thisremainsanoverridingnationalpriority,requiringalotmoretobedone.TheIndian National Congress will announce aJobsAgendawithin100daysof formingthegovernment. Thisagendawill includethe followingelements:

1. The IndianN a t i o n a l Congress isc o m m i t t e d to creation of industrial c o r r i d o r s to catalyzeeconomic growth and give a focusedthrusttomanufacturinginthecountry.

2. Create 100 new urban clusters aroundexistingsmallandemergingcitiesandlinkthemwithpowerandtransportfacilitiestoscaleexistingeconomicactivities.

3. Increase India’s investment rate to 38 % to ensure more new investmentsaremadetocreatejobs.

4. Improving India’s ‘Ease of DoingBusiness’ ranking from the current 134to75within5years,bystreamliningtheprocess for starting a business, getting

various permits, easing access to credit,streamliningthetaxenforcementsystem,andvariousotherinterventions.

5. Create an enhanced framework topromote exports. Waive off all taxes,CentralandState, thatgo intoexportedproducts. Put a minimum tariff protectionsothatthereisanincentivetomanufacture goods in India rather thanimportthem.

6. The Congress-led UPA government,being fully aware of the importance of skilling to increase employability set uptheNationalSkillsDevelopmentAgency

to coordinate various disparate trainingeffortsof differentCentral governmentministries, State governments, industry,etc. We commit to increasing theresourcesat itsdisposalandenhanceitsmandate.

7. Reform the Apprentice Act, 1961, toencouragemorefirmstohireapprenticesintheirfirms,whichhasproventobeaveryeffectivewayof providing“on-the-jobtraining”tonewemployees.

8. The Standard Training Assessment andReward (STAR) Scheme set up by theUPA government will be better funded

and a robustmonitoring systemwill beputinplacetotrackthemannerinwhichskillsareimpartedandcertificationsgivenatthegroundlevelunderthisscheme.

9. Community colleges stand at thecrossroads of higher education and therealworld.Wehavebegunaprogrammeto convert 200 existing educationalinstitutions into community colleges.Thiswillbecompletedwithin5years.

10. TheIndianNationalCongressiscommittedto the creation of new and upgradingof existing Industrial Training Institutes(ITIs). Recognising the need to have

quality world-class training methods andinfrastructure,wewillintroduceincentivesforPublicPrivatePartnershipandengageworldclassexpertisetoensureouryouthare best equipped to take on demandingjobsintoday’sglobalizedworld.

3. protecting the interests of labour

The Indian National Congress will extendsocialsecuritytotheentirelabourclass,bothorganisedandunorganised.

The Indian National Congress has stoodfor the cause and rightsof labour.Wehave

enactedseverallawstoprotecttheirinterestsincluding the Unorganised Workers’ SocialSecurity Act. We will ensure the effectiveimplementationsof allsuchlaws.

1. TheIndianNationalCongresswillensurehealthinsuranceaswellaspensioncoverforthisgroup.

2. The Indian National Congress iscommittedtothestrictestimplementationof Contract Labour (Regulationand Abolition) Act of 1970, to endexploitationof workers and to improvetheirwelfareandworkingconditions.

3. We will focusspecially onlabour workingin hazardous industries.

4. Aadhaar is a powerful toolfor protectingthe interests of migrant labour,

aswell as ensuring the smooth flowof remittancestotheirfamilies.AllmigrantlabourwillbecoveredundertheAadhaarprogrammeinthenextoneyear,throughaspecialcampaign.

5. The special needsof labourworking inplantations, particularly those relatingto housing, will be addressed throughongoingprogrammes.

6. The Unorganised Workers’ SocialSecurityAct,2008hasbeenenacted;thiswillbeimplementedinletterandspirit.


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7. WewillsetupaCommissiontoexplorethe possibility of bringing all LabourLawsunderonecomprehensiveLaw.

4. right to healthThe IndianNational Congress will increasehealth expenditure to 3% of GDP andprovideuniversalandqualityhealthcare forallIndians.

TheIndianNationalCongresshasendeavouredtoprovidequalitypublichealthservicestoallcitizens. Its forward-looking Schemes haveachievedgreatsuccess.Thisisreflectedinthedecline in the Maternal Mortality Ratio andInfant Mortality Rate. The Janani SurakshaYojana, a schemestartedtoencourageinstitutionaldeliveryhas achieved greatsuccessinincreasingthe number of beneficiaries from7.3lakhin2005-06,to nearly 113 lakhpregnantwomen in2010-11.

1. We were the first party to implementdevelopment policies as human rights.Tostrengthenthisframework,wenowpledgeto enact aRight toHealth to ensure thatall people obtain easily accessible, qualityhealth services, based on a combinationof public provision and social insurance.The new National Health Mission willemphasizebothruralandurbanhealthcare.

2. We will provide for 5 state of theart mobile health care vans in everydistrict, equipped with x-ray and otherequipment,toprovidehealthcarecheckups including, mammography, bloodtests,etc.

3. The Indian National Congress willexpand the Rashtriya Swasthya BimaYojana toenableaccess toa continuumof comprehensive primary, secondaryandtertiarycare.

4. The IndianNationalCongress commitsitself to increasing the InstitutionalDeliveryRate.Maternalandchildhealthcare will also continue to be a majorfocus. We aim to reduce the InfantMortality Rate and Maternal MortalityRatiodrastically.

5. Almost56%of adolescentgirlsinIndiaareanaemic.Anaemiaandmalnutritionamong

mothersendangerthemother’shealthandcausesgrowthretardationandvulnerabilityto diseases in children.This is not just asocio-economic challenge; it is a politicalchallenge to which the Indian NationalCongressreaffirmsitscommitment.

6. Almost 60% of open defecation in theworldtakesplaceinIndia.Poorsanitationis a serious health hazard. We willendeavour toprovidea functional toiletineveryschoolandeveryhousehold.

7. Therehasbeenareductionof newHIVinfections in the country by 57%. Weaim to reduce this further and provide

comprehensive care and support to allpersonslivingwithHIV/AIDS.

8. We will launch focused intervention toimprove the Child Sex Ratio, within anoverall “National Strategy for Care andProtectionof theGirlChild”frombirthto adolescence.

9. HealthandFamilyWelfareProgrammeswill be strengthened to achieve a TotalFertilityRate(TFR)of 2.1between2017and2020.Particularattentionwillbepaidto regions which still have a high TFR(above2.5).

10. India’s success in becoming polio-freethrough vaccination will be replicated.Ourgoalistoensureuniversalcoverageof routine immunization throughcampaigns and effective monitoring indistrictsthroughoutthecountry.

11. To ensure effective implementationof all health related initiatives, wewill work to strengthen the primaryhealth workforce including AccreditedSocial Health Activists (ASHAs),Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANMs),Male Multipurpose Workers (MMWs),

Anganwadi Workers (AWWs) andCommunity Health Officers etc. Wewill work to fill the current vacanciesand improve their competenciesthrough nationwide capacity buildingprogrammes linked to the NationalHealthMission.

12. We will create 6o lakh new jobs in the health sector by 2020 by trainingand expanding the current teachingprogrammesforhealthcareprofessionals,particularly in the public sectorinstitutions. We will start a three-yearDiplomaCourseinPublicHealth.

13. Primary healthcare infrastructure willbestrengthenedrightuptothepointof the communityhealth centre and continuity of carewouldbeassured.

5. empowering scheduled Castes, scheduled Tribes and other backward Classes

The IndianNationalCongresswill continueto work towards the empowerment of themarginalisedsectionsof society. Theprinciples of equity and inclusion havebeen weaved into the very fabric of theIndianNationalCongress.Itisbecauseof theinitiatives of the Indian National Congressthat theScheduledCastes, ScheduledTribesand Other Backward Classes have seen


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an improvement in key socio-economicindicators.Infacttheannualrateof declinefor poverty in the period between 2004–05and 2009–10 has been much higher thanbetween1993-94and2004-05forScheduledCastesandScheduledTribes.

The Indian National Congress has enactedseverallawsfortheweakersectionsincludingtheManualScavengersandtheirRehabilitationAct, 2013 to push for rehabilitation of these families. The Constitution (117thAmendment)Bill2012toprovidereservationin promotions for Scheduled Castes andScheduledTribeshasbeenpassedbytheRajyaSabha. We will continue to fight the deep-seated prejudices,t r a d i t i o n a l hierarchies and disparities facedby these sections,socially, politicallyandeconomically.

1. The IndianN a t i o n a l Congress iscommitted to finding a way forward for introducingreservationineducationandemploymentfor economically weaker sections of allcommunitieswithoutinanywayaffectingexisting reservations for ScheduledCastes, Scheduled Tribes and OtherBackwardClasses.

2. Wenowpledgetoenactcentrallegislationon the ScheduledCastes andScheduledTribesSubPlanssothatthedevelopmentof Scheduled Castes and ScheduledTribes can be accelerated to become atparwithotherCastes.

3. The Indian National Congress willensure the passage of the ScheduledCastesandScheduledTribes(Preventionof Atrocities)AmendmentBill,2013.

4. With a strong focus on education andvocational skills, we will endeavour toestablish one Navodaya Vidyalaya typeof schoolof high standards forweakersections,ineveryBlockof thecountry.

5. We will continue to provide assistanceto fund the cost of education in bothprivate and government institutions forScheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribestudents,withpriority to thosestudents

whoseparentalincomeislessthanRs.6lakhperannum.

6. AllScheduledCasteandScheduledTribestudents fulfilling the admission criteriawillbeprovidedwithuniversalaccesstothe RajivGandhi Research Fellowships.In addition, 1000 overseas scholarshipsfor eligible students will be providedannually.

7. Every Scheduled Caste or ScheduledTribe unemployed graduate or postgraduate will be provided with a SkillDevelopmentVoucherof Rs. 10,000 to

payfortheappropriateskilldevelopmentcourse.

8. TheIndianNationalCongresshasensuredthe reservation of 4% of procurementfromsmallandmediumScheduledCasteand Scheduled Tribe enterprises. Wewill push for strict implementation of this norm.

9. The Indian National Congress,recognizing that dalit women are moresociallyandeconomicallyvulnerable,hasendeavoredtoworkfortheirupliftmentand welfare and will continue to ensure dignity through economic and socialempowerment.

10. WewillencourageandsupportScheduledCasteandScheduledTribeentrepreneursby providing them easy access to creditand other incentives like tax rebates atthe initial stages of establishment of theirbusinessetc.

11. Wewill focusondevelopment activitiesfor creating social and economicopportunities for Scheduled Tribes. Wewillensurethestringentimplementationof PESA, 1996 and the Forest RightsAct, 2006 to ensure that ScheduledTribesareempoweredandbrought intothe mainstream.

12. The Indian National Congress iscommittedtocreatingnationalconsensuson affirmative action for ScheduledCastes and Scheduled Tribes in theprivatesector.

13. We will take steps to ensure that allreservedpostsarefilledandaspecialdrivewillbeundertakentofillall thebacklogvacanciesinreservedpostsingovernmentandPublicSectorUndertakings.

14. TheIndianNationalCongress isdeeplycommitted to developing a NationalAction Plan for the Development of ScheduledCastes, ScheduledTribes and

Other BackwardClasses.Thereshallbeaspecialsurvey,which will beundertaken onceevery five yearsto estimate, onselectdevelopmentindicators, the gapinthedevelopmentof thesegroups.

15. The Indian National Congress willensure that the existing Rajiv GandhiNationalFellowshipforScheduledCasteand ScheduledTribeCandidateswill beextendedtostudentsbelongingtoOtherBackwardClasses.

16. The Indian National Congress willestablish Special Commissions forScheduled Castes, Scheduled TribesandOtherBackwardClasses to identifycommunities within each group whichhavenotbenefitedfromreservationsandotheraffirmativeactionprogrammesandwhichneedtobegivenaspecialfocus.


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6. Women’s empowerment and protection of Children

The Indian National Congress will ensurethe safety and security of our women andchildren.Wewillprovidethemequalaccesstosocial,economicandpoliticalopportunities.

TheIndianNationalCongressisapartythathasgonebeyondtherhetoricandhyperbolerelied on bymost partieswhen it comes tothe empowerment of women and children. The Indian National Congress has enactedseveral women and child oriented Acts,including the Criminal Law (Amendment)Bill, 2013, theSexual Harassmentof Women atWorkplace(Prevention,Prohibition andRedressal)Act,2013,the Criminal Law(Amendment) Act,2013, Commissionfor Protection of Child Rights Act,2005, and the Protection of Children fromSexual Offences Act, 2012. We have alsoensured that gender equality and child carefacilities are mainstreamed in governmentschemes likeMGNREGA.Wewill continuetoworkforthedevelopmentourwomenandchildren.

1. TheIndianNationalCongresswillensurethat all laws for the welfare of children including theChildLabour (ProhibitionandRegulation)Act and the Protectionof Children from SexualOffencesAct,2012,willbestrictlyenforced.

2. We will further strengthen and expandthe scope of theNational CommissionforProtectionof ChildRights,setupin2007.

3. We will also ensure that the strongestpossibleaction is takentopreventchildtrafficking.

4. The quality of the Integrated ChildDevelopment Scheme (ICDS)programme will be vastly improvedand special incentives will be given toAnganwadiworkers.

5. The Indian National Congress iscommitted to the enactment of the Women’s Reservation Bill to reserve 33%of allseatsintheLokSabha,andinallStatelegislativeassembliesforwomen.

6. We will initiate immediate action toformulateaCitizensCharterforWomen’sSafetyandSecurity.

7. TheIndianNationalCongresshasplaceda high premium on the education of women.Wewillcontinuewiththisfocus,toachievegenderparityinliteracy.

8. Fast-Track Courts will be establishedwith ‘in-camera’ proceedings facilitiesin State headquarters and in regionalcentres. The purpose of these Courtswill be solely to address crimes againstwomen. Mandatory procedure for therapidconclusionof caseswherecustodyof children is involved shall be put inplace.

9. We will increase the number of girlshostels, particularly in tribal areas andhostelsforworkingwomen,withdaycare,to encourage women to become well-educatedandearntheirownlivelihood.

10. Wewillensurethatallmeasuresaretakentomakewomenfeelsafeandprotected.We will expedite such measures as thecreation of functional helplines in allmajortownsandcitiesandruralareasforprompt grievance redressal for women,exclusive24-hourtransportfacilitiesandgendersensitivityclassesforpolicemenand women, particularly in registeringand investigating complaints made bywomen.

11. TheIndianNationalCongresswillopen“OneStopCrisisCentres”forwomeninallhospitalstoprovidemedical,legaland

psycho-social aid in cases of rape anddomesticviolenceagainstwomen.

12. TheIndianNationalCongress,truetoitslong-standinghistory,willtakemeasuresto enable increased participation andreservationforwomenatalllevelswithinthe government.We will ensure that atleast25%of thetotalpoliceofficers,sub-inspectorsandconstablesateverypolicestation in the country will be women,over the next five years.Wewill ensurethenumberof womenpolicestationsinthecountrygoesupfrom500to2000inthenextfiveyears.

13. The IndianNational Congresswill earmark atleast 30% of allfunds flowinginto Panchayatsand Nagarpalikasfor developmentof women and children and focus on the special

needs of female agricultural labour andwomencultivators.

14. We will encourage the setting up of “Poorn Shakti Kendras” at block levelto provide a single windowmechanismfor awareness, information, access andutilisation of government schemes andprogrammes.

15. TheIndianNationalCongresswillprovideland rights for women especially singlewomen, women-headed households,land for women whose husbands havemigratedawayfromvillages.


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16. TheIndianNationalCongresswillstriveto clear all pending compensations towomenwithmissinghusbandsinareasof unrestandconflictandespeciallyborderareasincludingprovidingemploymenttowar widows and their families.

17. We will strengthen institutionalarrangementstoprovideaccesstocredit,trainingandmarketingforwomenintheunorganised sector in peri-urban andrural areas.

18. TheIndianNationalCongress isdeeplydistressed with the continued sexualexploitation of tribal girls at variousplaces, suchas hostels,and continued trafficking inyoung womenb e l o n g i n gto tribalcommunities. This matterwill receivethe highestpriorityandwillbetakenupwithallStategovernmentsandspecialSchemeswillbeintroduced, like through the NationalRural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) forsecuringtheirlivelihoods.

19. TheIndianNationalCongresswillworkwithwomen’s Self-Help-Groups for thedistributionof freesanitarynapkins foradolescentgirls.

20. The Indian National Congress believesthatsocietyshouldbemoresensitive totherightsof thetransgendercommunity.This issue will receive separate andcontinued attention.

21. Through the NRLM we will providelowinterestloans,of uptoRs.1lakh,towomenforlivelihoodactivities.

7. safeguarding MinoritiesTheIndianNationalCongresswill focusonaccelerating concrete, sustainable and long-term plans for the welfare of the Nation’sminorities.

The Indian National Congress has alwaysbeenat theforefront inpromotingSchemesforthewelfareof minorities.Aseparateanddedicated Ministry of Minority Affairs wasestablished under the Congress-led UPA-I

government. Since then many far-reachingprogrammes in various sectors have beenimplementedwithsignificantresults.

1. Numerous scholarships have beendistributed to children belonging to theminority community. TheCorpus of theMaulanaAzadEducationFoundationhasbeenmorethantripledtooverRs700crorein an attempt to encourage candidatesfromtheminoritycommunitiestopursueopportunities in higher education. Thiswork will be continued so as to ensurethatnochildwhoappliesforeducationalsupportisdenieditatanylevel.

2. ‘Priority Sector Lending’ disbursementforminoritieshassteadilyincreased.Wewill continue to ensure that membersof theminority communities have easyaccess to credit and other incentiveslike tax rebates etc., to encourageentrepreneurship.

3. For the effectivemanagement of Waqf propertiesandinrealisationof thespecificpromise made in 2009, the Congress-led UPA government became the firstgovernmenttopassalawprovidingclearguidelinestopreventtheusurpationandmismanagement of Waqf properties.TheIndianNationalCongresspledgestocontinuewiththisprogramme.

4. The Prevention of Communal andTargeted Violence (Access to Justiceand Reparations) Bill, 2013, which wasdrafted and introduced by the IndianNational Congress will be passed as amatterof priority.

5. TheCongress-ledUPAgovernmenthastaken steps to address the conditionsof backward minorities by aiming toprovide them reservation in educationalinstitutions and in governmentemployment.Wewillpursue thismatterclosely in Court and ensure that thepolicy is implemented through properlegislation.

6. We will work to create a ready corpus,along the lines of the MaulanaAzad Educational Fund for youngentrepreneurs. Skills developmentprogrammes for minorities which havebeen carried out successfully in variousdistricts,willbeimplementedacrossthecountry.

7. While much work has been done toimplement therecommendationsof theSachar Committee, the Indian NationalCongress will work tirelessly to ensurethat every single recommendation isreviewed and efforts aremade for theirimplementation.

8. youth and student agendaTheIndianNationalCongress willcontinue to focus on youth capacitybuilding, education,leadership and

development.Openingupthepoliticalsystemand giving a voice to each and every youngIndianwillcontinuetobeapriorityarea.

The Indian National Congress believes ouryouth isourbiggestasset. In thepastdecadenot only have we actively encouraged youngleadership and political opportunities for allbut also remained committed to creating anenabling and rewarding environment tobuildthecapacityof ouryouthtotakeonrolesmoreactivelyinourcountry’sfuture.WespendmorethanRs. 90,000 crore across various schemesfortheyouth,andwewillonlyincreasethis.


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BuildingtheBestEducationSystemintheWorldforourStudentsThe Indian National Congress has beenunequivocal in itsemphasisandsupport forproviding affordable and quality education.We will continue to keep education on theverytopof ourdevelopmentagenda.

Education is the backbone of humandevelopment and is vital to ensuring equalsocial, political and economic opportunitiesfor all citizens. We enacted the Right toEducation Act 2009, which provides forfree and compulsory education for childrenbetween the ages of 6 and 14 years. As aresult, enrolmentof children at the primary educationstage has nowreached near universal levels.1.98 lakh primaryschools and 1.1 lakhupperprimaryschools have beenconstructed. Under UPA-I and UPA-II, the per capita public expenditure oneducationincreasedfromRs.888in2004–05toRs.2,985in2011–12.Ourfocuswillnowbeonimprovingthequalityof education-wewillmove from“SarvaShikshaAbhiyan” to“ShreshthShikshaAbhiyan.”

1. The Indian National Congress willstrengthen the implementation of the Right to Education Act to ensurequality learning outcomes, adequateinfrastructure and facilities in schools,regular teacher training and an optimalPupilTeacherRatio.Wewillalsoensurequality in teacher training by making

suitableinvestmentsandamendmentstoregulations,whereverrequired.

2. We will enhance focus and resourceson the implementationof theRashtriyaMadhyamikShikshaAbhiyan,toimprovequality of secondary education.Wewillachieve near universal enrolment insecondaryeducation.

3. TheIndianNationalCongresswillplacea special emphasis on reducing thedrop-out rateparticularly inmiddle andsecondarylevels.

4. We will establish an independentregulatory mechanism to overseeState and private institutions to ensurestandardisationandqualityof education.

5. We will support regional and contextspecific curricula as well focus ondevelopinglifeskillsincludingleadershipbuilding.

6. Wearecommittedtothecauseof specialeducation. We will strengthen facilitiesfor children with special needs anddisabilities.Wewillalsoawardprioritytodevelopinginfrastructurefordifferently-abledpersons.

7. The IndianNationalCongresswill takesystematicstepstoaddressissuesrelatingto discrimination against students fromtheNorthEastandJammuandKashmir.

8. Wewillcontinuetoplaceaspecialfocuson ensuring educational access to civilstrife affected areas and the North East region.

9. To focus on higher education, welaunchedtheRashtriyaUchhatarShikshaAbhiyan (RUSA) to provide strategicfundingtoimprovecollegeanduniversityinfrastructure.RUSAwillhelpcreate70newuniversities,provideinfrastructurein

currentuniversities,upgradeautonomouscollegestoUniversities,andcreateanewmodel of general degree colleges andprofessionalinstitutions.

10. TheIndianNationalCongresswillsetupa“NationalCommissionforStudents”,abodywhichwillprotectandpromotetheinterests of students. This Commissionwill review Constitutional and legalsafeguards for students, recommendremedial legislative measures, facilitateredressal of grievances and advisethe government on all policy mattersconcerningstudents.

11. The Indian National Congress willcontinue to expand its support toproviding interest-free educations loanstostudentsatall levelsespecially to theweakersectionsof society.

12. The Indian National Congress is commited to exploring the possiblepartnerships with the private sector inthe delivery of education. New PublicPrivate Partnership models will beexplored and appropriate regulatorysystems, accreditation procedures,policiesandincentiveswillbedeveloped,to enable private education providersto take on the challenge of expandingand improving secondary education, in

particular.

13. Indian NationalCongress willestablisha“NationalYouthCommission”,which will be aprofessional anddedicated focal point for youthdevelopment in allaspects.

14. We will establish a centralised studentsexchange programme to encourageNationalunity.

PromotingSportsThe Indian National Congress remainscommitted to ensuring that sportsopportunities are expanded andmademoreavailableandaccessibletotheyouth.

WewillstrivetobeaNationwheresport inallitsformsispromotedandencouraged.

1. DuetotheUPA-II’srecentefforts,Indiahasbeenreinstatedasamemberof the


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International Olympic Committee. TheIndian National Congress will continueto clean up sports administration. Wewillensureactiveinvolvementof formersportspersonsinsportsadministration.

2. TheRajivGandhiKhelAbhiyanlaunchedby the Congress-led UPA governmentwill be implemented to ensure highquality sporting facilities in every blockof thecountry.

3. A“NationalSportsEducationUniversity”will be set up to educate students of exceptionaltalent.Therewouldbeateamof experts who would be continuouslyscouting fortalent in everysport acrossthe country inthe age-groupof 8-15 years.It will haveworld class coaches and facilities.

OtherYouthIssuesThe IndianNationalCongresswill promotesocial inclusiveness, employability andentrepreneurship development among theyouth.

1. The Indian National Congress willprovide a special youth developmentpackage(entrepreneurship/employment)for Left-Wing Extremism affectedareaswith special focus onwomen andScheduledCastesandScheduledTribes.

2. Wewillstartaspecialdriveforrecruitmentof North East and Jammu & Kashmir

youthinRailways,IndianArmyandotherCentralgovernmentdepartments.

3. The Indian National Congress remainscommittedtoeradicatingtheproblemof drugabuse.Anation-wideassessmentof the prevalence of this problem will beundertaken. Funding will be adequatelyprovided for drug-rehabilitation centreswhichwillbesetupineachdistrict.

4. TheNational Service Scheme, launchedby the Congress-led UPA governmentforgraduates,aimstoenhanceITliteracy,financialliteracy,englishcommunicationandother soft skills; tomake theyouth

more employable. The Indian NationalCongress is committed to increasingfundingandreachof thisSchemewhileprioritisingitsimplementation.

5. We will seek to ensure priority todifferently-abled youth with respect toeducationandemploymentopportunities.

6. We will set up government runemployment exchange/ facilitationcenters for youth seeking foreignemployment opportunities. These willhelp curtail middlemen/fraudulentrecruiting agencies. The Ministry of OverseasIndianAffairswillbethenodalagencyforthis.

9. rural development and panchayati raj

The IndianNationalCongresswill continuetoworkprogressivelytoensuretheprosperityof ruralIndia.

Inthetenyearsof UPA-IandUPA-II,theruralareasof thecountryhaveseenunprecedentedeconomicdevelopmentand improvement inqualityof life.Forthefirsttimeinovertwodecades,theincreaseinruralconsumption,at18%,hasoutpacedurbanconsumption.Ruralpoverty declined at 0.7 percentage pointsper year between 1993-94 and 2004-05. Itdeclined more than three times faster at 2.3

percentagepointsperyearintheUPAperiodbetween2004-05and2011-12.

Farm wages in real terms increasedimpressively after 2004 to reach Rs.184.7per day in 2012-13. Our flagship andhistoric programme, the Mahatma GandhiNational Rural Employment GuaranteeAct (MGNREGA) has been a significantcontributor inthis;onanaverage1 inevery4 rural households has sought work underMGNREGAeveryyear.

1. All development functionaries at thevillage level who perform vital nation-building tasks like Anganwadi workers,Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANMs),

Accredited Social Health Activist(ASHA) workers and various others,musthavetheircontributionsrecognisedin a meaningful manner. The IndianNationalCongresswill ensure that theyare compensated adequately for theirservices andhave access tohighqualitytraininganddecentworkingconditions.

2. TheIndianNationalCongressfulfilleditspromise and implemented the NationalFoodSecurityAct,astatutoryguaranteeto ensure adequate quantity and qualityof food at affordable prices to peopletolivetheirlifewithdignity.TheIndianNational Congress will attempt to

expand the focusof the current food security Schemes toinclude subsidisedpulses and cookingoil for beneficiariesof AntyodayaAnnaYojana.

3. The IndianNational Congress will implement aUniversalPensionScheme,fortheelderly,destitute, widows and other similargroups(basedoncertainexclusions).

4. We will expand the current PradhanMantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY)to ensure that an all-weather road willconnectallhabitationswithapopulationof 125personsandabove.

5. To promote effective access to cleandrinking water and water for irrigation,we will set up a legal and institutionalframework, in discussion and withconsensus of States, for water.We will


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also ensure 100% coverage of ruralhabitationsfordrinkingwaterinthenextfiveyears.

6. We will continue to support Self-Help-Groups (SHGs) and assist the poorto set up small businesses. We will setup more branches of the BharatiyaMahilaBank andwomenonly branchesof other public sector banks. Ourtarget is to ensure the formation of 7croreSHGsby2019.

7. TheIndianNationalCongresswillensure100%modernisationanddigitisationof land records to ensure transparency inland titles.

8. The IndianN a t i o n a l Congress wills u b s t a n t i a l l yi n c r e a s e P a n c h a y a tf u n d i n g ,especially of untiedfunds.Wewill also encourage Panchayats to raisetheir own resources so that Panchayatrepresentatives,inconsultationwithGramandWard Sabhas, can themselves decidehowandonwhattospendtheirmoney.

9. We will set up a “National PanchayatiRajCommission”,withbranchesineachStateandUnionTerritory,sothat:a. Probity and transparency is ensuredin the functioningof Panchayatsandtheirelectedrepresentatives;

b.Panchayati Raj functions in linewiththeConstitution and the laws of theland,especiallyintribalareascoveredbyPanchayatExtensiontoScheduledAreasAct(PESA);

c.Gram Sabhas are strengthened andlegallymandatedtosecureresponsibleandresponsivelocalgovernment;

d.Theindividualcitizenisempoweredtosecure, through the local Panchayat,hisorherrightsandentitlementsandother benefits provided for in theConstitution.

10. agriculture and farmer Welfare

The IndianNationalCongresswill continuetoprovideanimpetustoagriculturalgrowth,productivity and incomes.We will also stayfocusedonprovidingallpossiblesupportfor

our farmers, in particular women and smallandmarginalfarmers.

TheIndianNationalCongresshasinstitutedschemes like the Rashtriya Krishi VikasYojana. As a result of these measures, theagricultureGDPgrowthwentupfrom2.6%(under theNDA)to3.1%underUPA-Iandfurtherto4%underUPA-II.

1. The historic decision by the Congress-led UPA government to allow ForeignDirect Investment in multibrand retailwill transform the agrarian economy asitwillcreateabeneficialvaluechainfromfarm-to-fork,creatingruralinfrastructureforsorting,grading,packing,coldstorage

facilitiesandwarehousing.Itwillensurethatthefarmergetsamuchhighervalueforherorhisproduce.

2. We will continue to nurture PublicPrivate Partnerships for increasinginvestmentsinvalue-chains,coldstoragefacilities, grading and standardisation,qualitycertificationandwarehouses.Thiswill greatly aid in increasing agricultureproductivityandexports.

3. Wewilladd1crorehectarestoirrigatedarea by completing the radical WaterReformsAgendaof the12thPlan,whichis based on Irrigation Management

TransfertoWaterUsersAssociationsof farmers.ThiswillensureGrossIrrigatedAreacrosses10crorehectaresinIndia.

4. The current water use efficiency inirrigation is 40%. The Indian NationalCongress will actively support moreefficientwaterusetechnologiesincludingreuse and recycling of water. We willcomplete the historic aquifer-mappingand the groundwater managementprogramme launched by UPA-II overthenextfiveyears,toensuresustainableutilisation of groundwater to securethe livelihoodsof lakhsof ourfarmers,

particularlyinregionswheregroundwaterdepletionhastakenplace.

5. Small and marginal farmers own morethan half the country’s total cattle andbuffalo.However,only12%of thetotalexpenditureonagricultureisonlivestockdevelopment. The Indian NationalCongresswillplaceaspecialemphasisonlivestock,fisheries,openingof veterinaryschoolsandcentres,fodderdevelopmentthrough animal husbandry programmesand schemes like MGNREGA.MGNREGA will also be harnessed tosupport the construction of poultrysheltersandwaterbodiesforfisheries.

6. The IndianNational Congresswillincreasespendingto ensure access and quality in agricultureeducation, includingincreasing theamount for and number of post-matric scholarships

and research fellowships for veterinarystudents.

7. The Indian National Congress willincrease coverage of crop insuranceschemes, particularly among the smalland marginal farmers and non-loaneefarmers. Settlement of claims on time,bettercropyieldestimationtodeterminepremiums etc., and involvement of privatesectorwillbeotherareasof focus.

8. The Indian National Congress willallocate special funds for agriculturalresearch to develop new technologies


34 35

for disease management of crops andlivestock, high-yielding-varieties of crops,etc.

9. The Indian National Congress willpromote resource conservationtechnologies and agriculture practiceslike integrated farming,organic farmingand develop wastelands for dry landfarming.

10. We will cover 250 lakh hectares aswatersheds, as part of the dramaticallyreformed Integrated WatershedManagement Programme launched byUPA-II.

11. There arelakhs of families in our coastal beltsthat dependon fishingfor their livelihood. Toenhance their welfare, a newMinistryof Fisherieswillbeestablishedand all steps will be taken to furtherenhancetheirlivelihoodsecurity.

12. The Indian National Congress,honouringthecommitmentmadeinthe2009 Manifesto, enacted the Right toFair Compensation and Transparencyin Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation andResettlement Act, 2013. The IndianNational Congress will ensure fast andfair implementation of the Act suchthat farmers, landowners and livelihoodlosers get adequate compensation fortheiracquiredland.

13. TheIndianNationalCongresshasmorethan doubled the Minimum SupportPrices (MSP)for farmers forwheatandpaddyfrom2004-05to2013-14.TheMSPforothercerealsincreasedthree-fold.Wewill continue our endeavour to providehigher MSP to increase profitability of agricultureforourfarmers.

14. The Indian National Congress willprovide concessional loans to groups/collectivesof smallandmarginalfarmersand women farmers upto Rs. 5 lakh toenable them to gain better access toinputsandservices.

15. TheIndianNationalCongresswillstriveto lower interest rates for farmers to ensure theyareable toaccessextensionservicesandagricultureinputslikeseeds,water,fertilizersetc.

11. accelerating industrial and Manufacturing growh

The Indian National Congress commits to10%growthinmanufacturingandanincreasein contribution of manufacturing sector’sshare to25%of GDP.Wewillalsosupportrapidaccelerationinexports.

We are aware that the deceleration ininvestment in manufacturing has been aserious concern.We propose to take strongmeasures to promote the manufacturingindustry.

1. Utmost priority will be given to theimplementation of the NationalManufacturing Policy to enhance theshareof manufacturinginGDPto25%by2022,whichwillbeachievedbyanannualgrowthrateforthesectorintherangeof 12-14%. We are committed to creatingNational Investment ManufacturingZonesasgreenfieldintegratedindustrialtownshipstomakeIndiaamanufacturinghub of the world. 16 new world-class

cities have already been notified acrossthecountry.

2. The Indian National Congress iscommitted to the creation of industrial corridorstocatalyseeconomicgrowthandgiveafocusedthrusttomanufacturinginthecountry.TheDelhi-MumbaiIndustrialCorridor has decisively moved into theimplementation phase. Conceptualplanning of the Bengaluru-MumbaiEconomicCorridor,Chennai-BengaluruIndustrialCorridorandAmritsar-KolkataIndustrial Corridor has been completedand work for implementation of theseCorridorswillstartsoon.

3. Special emphasis will be given forenhancing the competitiveness of manufacturing. We will encourage theallotment of land from existing landbanks forpriority sectors toprovide animpetustomanufacturing.

4. ApatentpoolwillbecreatedwhichwillensurethattheIndiansmallandmediumenterprisesareabletoaccessworld-classtechnologyataffordablecost.

5. The Indian National Congress willintroduce the Goods and Services TaxBillsandanewDirectTaxCodeBill inParliament and ensure they are enacted

withinone year.Wewill also announce a JobsAgenda,withafocus on attractingnew investmentsfor job creation,within 100 daysof governmentformation.

6. Wewillendeavourto create a stable and predictablebusiness environment. We will ensurethat the interface between governmentandindustry issimplifiedandwillusherin comprehensive regulatory changes inthis regard.Thiswill includeoptimisingthe use of electronic platforms andminimising human interface whereverpossible. Redundant procedures will beweededoutandtheE-bizProjectwillbeimplemented across the country, whichwill ensure ‘single window electronicclearances’ platform for all investors,embracing in its fold all regulatoryapprovals of the Central and Stategovernments.


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7. The Indian National Congress willcontinue to pay special attention toindustriesintheNorthEast.Itwillalsowork to establish better connectivity,collectioncentresandmarketlinkagesfortheseareasandprovidespecialincentivesforentrepreneursfromtheregion.

8. The Indian National Congress willcome out with a transparent policy fordevelopment of natural resources andhave a special purpose vehicle for this,which will be responsible for judiciousallocation, striking a balance betweenpresentrequirementsandfuturedemands.It will also ensure that an independentr e g u l a t o rmonitors the process of such allocation.

9. The IndianN a t i o n a l C o n g r e s sr e c o g n i z e sthe need for creatingflexibilities in the labour market,especiallyintheexport-orientedindustry,giventhecyclicalnatureof demand.TheIndianNational Congress is committedto protecting the interests of labourthroughmoreprogressivelabourlaws.

10. ThepoliciestoencourageforeigndirectinvestmentpursuedbytheCongress-ledUPA Government ensured that Indiaremainedamongst the top3 investmentdestinations globally. Over the last 4years, India received foreign investmentof US$175billion.TheIndianNationalCongress is committed to sustaining aninvestment climate which is welcoming

and supportive of Foreign DirectInvestment.

11. The Indian National Congress willstrengthenmultilateraltradesystemsandinvestment flows for future prosperity.TheCongress-ledUPAgovernmenthasembarkedonapathof greatereconomicintegration. The trade in goods andserviceshasexceededUS$1trillionandwe will ensure that this gets doubledwithinaperiodof 5years.

12. infrastructureThe Indian National Congress is of the

firm belief that infrastructure will serve asthe backbone of India’s growth.We pledgeto spend $1 trillion on upgrading India’sinfrastructureinthecomingdecade.

TransportIndia is growing very rapidly and transportis a foundational pillar of that growth.TheIndian Railways is the world’s largest railnetwork and currently carries 822.4 crorepeopleayear.DuringtheUPAgovernment,thetotalgoodscarriedbytherailwaysdoubledto 1 billion tonnes. The Congress-led UPAgovernments have built or upgraded 17,394km of highways. There has been a ten-foldincrease in investment in road construction

in rural areas. We will continue to investin creating an extensive and world-classtransportation network which will connectpeopleacrossthecountry.

1. TheIndianNationalCongresswilllauncha “National Road Transport SafetyProgramme”. Road Accidents will behalvedwithinfiveyearsbystrongwilledpoliticalcommitmenttothisProgramme.TheProgrammewillmakeeverypossibleeffort to change the road safety culturewhileestablishingclearroadsafetynorms.

2. TheIndianNationalCongressrecognizesthattheIndianRailwaysisthelifelineof theNation and is committed to railway

modernisation.We will ensure effectiveimplementationof therecommendationsof theSamPitrodaCommittee.

3. TheIndianNationalCongresswillensurethatallmillion-pluscitiesarecoveredbyHighSpeedRail.

4. WehavebegunworkontheWesternandEastern Dedicated Freight Corridors,whichwillrevolutionisefreight,transportin India, making it more efficient. TheIndianNational Congress is committedtoensuringtheseprojectsarecompletedinatime-boundmanner.

5. We have over the last decade, used thePublicPrivatePartnershipmodeltounveilworld-class airports in Delhi, Mumbai,Hyderabad and Bangalore and theAirportsAuthorityof Indiahasupgradedseveral others. As the demand for airtravel is increasing tremendously,wewillupgradeandcreatenewinfrastructureforairtravelacrossthecountry.

6. TheIndianNationalCongresswillensureadequatefundingandtimelydevelopmentof Regional Rapid Transit Systems.The work of preparation of FeasibilityStudiesof RegionalRapidTransitSystem(RRTS)corridorsforthethreeprioritized

corridors: Delhi-Son ipa t -Pan ipa t ,D e l h i -Gu r g a o n -Rewari-Alwar,Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerutisalready being done.Wewill ensure thesearefast-tracked.

7. Wearecommittedto investing inand upgrading the

logistics,infrastructureanddevelopmentof the port sector in India. We willcontinuetoworkinthisdirection.

8. The Indian National Congress willemphasisedevelopmentof India’s inlandwaterways,whichtotalsabout14,500kmsin length, along with coastal shipping.Wewillworktosetupterminalsatmajorportsandprovidingadequateroadandrailconnectivity to inland water and coastalterminalsandnon-majorcoastalports.

EnergyIndia’spowergenerationcapacitymorethandoubled to 2.34 lakh MW over the past


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decade. To promote equitable and inclusiveaccess to energy,wehave recently increasedthe number of subsidised cooking gascylindersperhousehold to12per year.TheIndian National Congress will continue toenable the provision of clean, efficient andaffordableenergyforall.

1. The Indian National Congress iscommitted to the establishment of aclearlydefinedpolicyforfair,transparentequitable and time bound developmentof naturalresources.TheIndianNationalCongresswillimmediatelyputinplaceaSpecialPurposeVehicleforthiswhichwillberesponsibleforajudiciousallocation,of resources on the basis of usage andnot arbitrarily,while strikinga balanceb e t w e e np r e s e n trequirementsand future d e m a n d s . We will alsoensure that an i ndependen tregulatormonitorstheprocessof naturalresourceallocation,inamannerthatbestservestheinterestsof theNation.

2. We will effectively implement theNationalMissiononEnergyEfficiencytoimproveenergyefficiencyinallareasof theeconomyincludingpower,transport,urban housing, consumer goods and inruralhousing.

3. Wewillworktoensuregreateraccesstoelectricity; 100% access in urban fromcurrent 94% and 90% access in ruralareasfromcurrent67.3%undertheRajiv

Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana(RGGVY).

4. We are mindful of the fact that whilewe have worked to increase access toelectricity, its availability remains anarea of concern. The Indian NationalCongresswillworktoimprovethequalityand unit consumption of electricity inrural areas.

5. Women being the main energy usersand primary energy suppliers are worstaffectedbyrestrictedLPGsupply.Therestill exists a strong disparity betweenurbanand rural areas.Weneed towork

effectively to increase household accessto LPG and kerosene, especially theavailabilitytoruralhouseholds.

6. We will give a new thrust to new andrenewable energy, including hydel, solarandnuclearenergy.

7. Wewill ensure accelerated implementedof the JawaharlalNehruNational SolarMission and launch a “National WindEnergyMission”.

13. urban developmentThe Indian National Congress affirms its

commitment to creating inclusive cities,revamping urban governance, increasinglow-income housing, and making largeinvestmentsininfrastructure.

With the 74th Amendment to India’sConstitution devolving power to urbanlocal bodies, and through the JawaharlalNehru National Urban Renewal Mission(JNNURM),wehavegivenamajor impetustourbandevelopmentinIndia.

30crore Indianscurrently live in townsandcities.Within 20-25 years, another 30 crorepeoplewillgetaddedtothis.Recognisingthechallengesof urbanisationahead,theIndian

NationalCongressiscommittedtoadoptingaproactiveapproachtoaddressthem.

1. TheIndianNationalCongresswillensurethatMayorsandMunicipalChairpersonshavefullyfunctionalpowers,sothattheycanoperateasChief ExecutivesOfficersof cities with executive powers andresponsibilities and not just ceremonialpositions.Wewillalsoincreasethetenureof Mayors.

2. Urbanconstituenciesarerapidlygrowinginpopulationand thedisparitybetweenconstituencies is increasing. Thisundermines theprincipleof equalityof

vote and also results in under-franchiseof urbanareas.Wewillensurethisissueisrevisitedsothatconstituenciescanbeadjustedtoreflectpopulationchanges.

3. JNNURM was a landmark initiativeundertaken by the Congress-ledgovernment; it put the urban agendacentrestage with major investments inurban infrastructure. We also launcheda revamped JNNURM-II with morefunding and more powers to localgovernments. JNNURM-II is givingprioritytothestrengtheningof humanandinstitutional capabilities, local planning

and improvementin governance. Wewill continue to implement thiswithvigour and focus toensurebettersewagefacilities, roads andmulti-modal publictransport.

14. housingThe IndianNationalCongresswill continueto work towards providing affordable andqualityhousingforallsections

1. TheIndiraAwaasYojanawillbeexpandedto cover all poor rural households.Financial assistance for this will include money to not only construct a puccahousebutalsoindividualsanitarytoiletsanddrinkingwaterconnections.

2. Forurbanareas,theRajivAwaasYojanawillbeexpandedtocoverallpoorurbanhouseholds. The Scheme is expected to


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cover250citiesbytheendof the2017.Funds have already been released to162 cities for undertaking preparatoryactivitiesunderSlumFreeCityPlanningScheme.Ourprioritywillbetime-boundimplementationof thisinitiative.

3. Wewill endeavour to ensure aRight toHomesteadforallpoorhouseholds.

4. WewillendeavourtoensureTitleDeedsaregiventothosewhohavebeen livingon lands for more than two decades.

15. environmentThe IndianNational Congressis committed to sustainabledevelopment in itstrue spirit. We willcontinue to accord the highest priorityto environmentalprotection andto ensure that all people in India have the right to a cleanenvironment, which secures their health,livelihoodandnutritionalwell-being.The Indian National Congress has alwaysprioritised conservation of our nationalenvironment. It was Smt. Indira Gandhiwho raised the importance of this agendaastheonlyvisitingHeadof StateattheUNConference on Human Environment, 1972.The Indian National Congress has enactedvarious laws for environmental protection,including the National Green Tribunal Act,2010.

1. TheIndianNationalCongresswillbringaBilltosetupaNationalEnvironmentalAppraisal and Monitoring Authority

(NEAMA) - a professional agencyto conduct rigorous and time-bound environmental appraisals andrecommend environmental clearances,whereappropriate, ina time-boundandtransparentmanner.

2. Wewillputwaterconservationattheheartof ourprogrammesforagriculture,ruralandurbandevelopment.Thiswillbedoneby focusing all current programmes onaugmentingwater throughdecentralizedsystems, conserving water through allmeansandpromotingrecyclingandreuseof water inallsectors.Water isapublicright, but also a public responsibility.

We believe that while pricing of watermust ensure that users internalise ethics of conservation, it is also imperativethat it be sustainable and affordable.We will promote these principles in allour programmes for water and wastemanagement.

3. The IndianNationalCongresswill take

up the cleaning of rivers on a largescale. The National Ganga River BasinAuthority has begun the ambitious taskof cleaningtheGangaRiver.Wewillusesimilar models of creating empowered,well-funded agencies to clean othermajorriversinthecountry.

4. An overwhelming number of women,especiallyinruralIndiastillusepollutingbiomass for cooking, which puts anunbearablehealthburdenon them.TheIndianNational Congress is committedto providing clean cooking fuel acrossthecountry inanacceleratedmanner inorder to address this.

5. We will launch “Green NationalAccounts” by 2016-17, to ensure thatthe costs of environmental degradationare clearly reflected in India’s nationalaccounts.Wewillalsodevelopindicatorsthatwillprovidedatatothepubliconthestate of our natural resources.

6. Wewillengagetribalandforest-dwellingcommunities more centrally in forestmanagement, and ensure they getbenefits from forest produce, includingbamboo and other non-timber forestproduce. We will ensure that revenuesfrom forest-based activities, includingfrom wildlife tourism, are shared withlocal communities. This will serve as abedrock formaking forest conservationmoredurableandeffective.

7. Wewillcontinuetoimplementthevariousmissions under the National Action Plan on Climate Change with purpose anddetermination.

8. TheCongress-ledgovernment launchedthe Jawaharlal Nehru National SolarMissionunderwhichwesettheambitioustarget of deploying 20,000 MW of grid connected solar power by 2022.We will ensure this target is met well inadvance.

9. Wewillalsolaunchamajornew“National

Mission on Wind Energy” to harnessthe power of this clean and renewablesourceof energy,whichhastremendousuntappedpotentialinIndia.

10. India is one of the world’s mega

biodiverse countries. We will continueto give the highestprioritytoprotectingthisbiodiversity. 11. We will continue to strongly advance and protect India’sinterests in inter-national climate and other environmentalnegotiations.

16. innovation, information and Communication Technology

The Indian National Congress will give arenewed thrust to use of Information andCommunicationTechnology(ICT).

Under the Indian National Congress’sleadership, the country is moving towardstransformationthrough‘Democratisationof Information’. Efforts are underway to useICT tools to herald transparency, efficiency,


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accountabilityandaccessibilitytocreatemoreinclusive and responsive structures, whichare in tune with the needs of 21st centuryIndia. In fields such as agriculture, financialservices, commerce, education and health,thisICT-ledDemocratisationof Informationis revolutionising service delivery, citizeninterface and accountability throughinnovative practices. New tools under thiswillbethebiggestgamechangerforbringingaboutlargersystemsreform.

1. TheIndianNationalCongresswillensurethat all Indian residents have a uniqueAaadhar number. This will serve as aproof of identityandproof of residence.Itwillalsoenableaccesstoservices(likeopeningabankaccount) for avast majorityof Indians.

2. The IndianN a t i o n a l Congress isc o m m i t t e d to using theAapka PaisaAapkaHaathplatformforallgovernmentprogrammes.DirectBenefitTransferwillensure time-bound delivery of benefitsat the individual’sdoorstep,andremovecorruptionandleakages.

3. The Indian National Congress willincrease the annual expenditure onscience and technology to at least 2%of GDP. This has to come from bothgovernment and industry. Steps will betakentoencouragethecorporatesectortoinvestinResearchandDevelopment.

4. The Indian National Congress willconnect all 2.5 lakh Gram Panchayatswithhigh-speedbroadbandconnectivitywithin 18 months, with a view of

improving public delivery mechanism.The vision is to transform governanceand service delivery in areas such ashealth, education and agriculture, andunleashlocalinnovationcapacity.

5. We will ensure the passage of theElectronicDeliveryof ServiceBill2011.Wewill,inaccordancewiththeBill,workto effectively deliver all public services(like passports, ration cards and drivinglicenses)electronically.

6. We will work to establish a RapidlyDeployable Multi-Protocol WirelessCommunication system; interoperable

acrossalltheservicesengagedindisastermanagement.

7. Wewillensureeffective implementationof the India Inclusive InnovationFundso that innovative enterprises canprofitably, scalably, and competitivelyengage citizens at the bottom of theeconomic pyramid. We recognize theneed for grassroots innovation andwillensurethisinitiativeiswellfunded.

8. We currently import popular brandedhardware in the IT sector.Wewill givespecial tax incentives for setting upmanufacturing for such products inIndia.

17. fighting CorruptionTheIndianNationalCongressre-emphasizesit’scommitmenttobetterdeliveryof serviceswhileeliminatingcorruptionandleakages.

The Indian National Congress gave thepeople of India the Right To Information(RTI).TheRTIhasbeenourmostpowerfulweapon in thefightagainstcorruption.Fewgovernments havehad the courage to enactlegislation that rendered their processesmore transparent and open to scrutiny. Inrecognition of awidespread public concernover the issue of corruptionwe passed theLokpalandLokayuktasAct,2013.

Withthepassageof theRighttoInformationAct, 2005 the Indian National Congressempoweredthepeoplewiththebiggesttoolto fight corruption and ensure transparencyof publicservicedeliverysystems.Therecentlandmark Whistleblowers Protection Act,2014 isanotherstep inourefforts tocreatea society free of corruption. The IndianNationalCongresswillgivethehighestprioritytothepassageof thefollowingBills:

1. TheRight of Citizens for TimeBoundDelivery of Goods and Services andRedressalof theirGrievancesBill,2011has thepotential tobe the secondRTI.We will ensure its passage. Redressalof public grievances at the grassroots

levelwithinaspecifiedperiodof timeisnecessarytoensuregoodgovernance.

2. Prevention of Bribery of ForeignPublicOfficials andOfficials of PublicInternational Organizations Bill 2011to criminalise bribes offered by foreignofficialsandorganisations.

3. The Prevention of Corruption(Amendment) Bill, which enlarges thedefinitionof takingabribeandcoveringcommercialorganizations.

4. The Public Procurement Bill, 2012regulates public procurement by all

Ministries andDepartmentsof theCentralgovernment,CentralPublicSectorEnterprises andbodies controlledby the Centralgovernment toensuretransparency,and fair and

equitable treatment of bidders. Thiswill promote competition and enhanceefficiencyinprocurementprocesses.

18. governance reformsThe IndianNational Congress will give thehighestpriority to ensuring accessibility andtransparencyingovernancesystems.

The Indian National Congress will ensurethat the recommendations of the second Administrative Reforms Commission areimplementedinletterandspiritandmonitoredateverystep.


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ElectoralReformsWewillensureappropriateelectoralreformstomakethepoliticalprocessmoretransparentandaccountable.

The Indian National Congress has alwaysdemonstrated its steadfast commitment to electoralreforms.Thisincludesstrengtheningthe legal and judicial framework fordisqualifying those convicted of specifiedcrimes, disqualifying persons convicted of crimes against women and weaker sectionsand disqualifying those who subvert theintegrityof theelectoralprocess.

1. The Indian National Congress is fullyin favourof a specialm o n i t o r i n gsystemfortimelydisposal of allcases involvingelections, fori n t r o d u c i n gt r a n s p a r e n c yin financing of politicalactivitiesandinexpandingstatefundingforelections.

2. The Indian National Congress willcontinueitseffortstoenacttheWomen’sReservation Bill to ensure one-thirdreservationforwomeninParliamentandStatelegislatures.

PoliceReformsThe IndianNationalCongresswill continuetheprocessof policemodernisation.Wewillensureourpoliceforcesarewell-trainedandsensitivetotheneedsof thecitizens.

The IndianNational Congress believes thatpolice administration must become more

progressive and sensitive to the needs of people,particularlythepoorandtheweakersections of society.Many recommendationshave been made from time to time. TheJudiciaryhasalsomadesuggestions.Wewillaccordthehighestprioritytoinstitutingthesereforms.

LegalandJudicialReformsWewillbringinanewwaveof farreachinglegaland judicial reforms aimed at transformingthecurrentlegalsystem.

The IndianNational Congress considers anindependentjudicialsystemasacornerstoneof our Constitutional democracy and the

guardian of the rights and liberties of ourpeople and the values of our Constitution.Asoundjudicialsystemisalsocentraltooureconomicgrowthandsocialtransformation.

Inthelasttenyears,UPA-IandUPA-IIhavedelivered the largest and fastest expansionof our legal and judicial system ever in ourhistory.ThegovernmenthasproducedaclearroadmapforjudicialreformandestablishedaNationalMissionforJusticeSystemDeliveryand a National Court Management SystemsCommitteehousedintheSupremeCourtandoperatingunder itsauspices.Thefundingof the judicial system, including through fundsmade available by the Finance Commission,haswitnessedaquantumincrease.Thenumber

of judgesincreasedbyalmost50%.Fast-trackcourts have been continued and supported.There has been significant investment inimprovingtheinfrastructureandtheworkingconditions of judges. Judicial and legaleducationhasbeensubstantiallyexpanded.

For the first time in decades, pendency of caseshasbeguntocomedownevenasnewfilingshavebeengoingup.Inthe2014-2019period, the Indian National Congress willbringinanewwaveof farreachinglegalandjudicial reforms aimed at transforming thecurrentlegalsystem.

Protectionof HumanRights1. The Indian National Congress remains

committed to the resolute defence of humanrightsinIndiaconsistentwithourConstitution and with the internationallawandcovenants.

2. TheIndianNationalCongresswillenacta law to ensure that consensual sexualrelationsbetweenadultsof thesame-sex,are not criminalised.

JudicialAppointments3. The Indian National Congress has

introduced a JudicialAppointmentsBillinParliamentestablishinganewmethod

of appointing judges through a JudicialCommission. The Bill will be enactedafterconsultationandconsensusbuildingover the mechanisms proposed in theBill.

4. We will support all initiatives to makethe higher and lower judiciaries trulyrepresentative of the diversity of oursociety,especiallywithrespecttogender,caste, religion and region. This will bedone in consultation with and with the guidanceof theChief Justiceof Indiaandhis/her companion judges and withoutderogation from the independence of thejudiciary.

Judicial Accountability5. TheCongress-ledUPA governmenti n t r o d u c e d the JudicialAccountability Billtobring aboutmoretransparency in theappointment of judges.Weshallmake

everyeffortfortheenactmentof thisbillat the earliest.

Reducing Delays6. The Indian National Congress

government will support all measurestaken by the judiciary to improve courtmanagement so as to ensure quick andtimelydisposalof cases.Astrategywillbedevelopedfordisposingof longdelayedcases.Dueconsiderationwillbegiventoexpandinguseof fast-trackcourts.

Access to Justice7. The Indian National Congress will

continue and strengthen legal aid for


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the indigent. Additionally, we will alsoestablish a cadre of public defenderswho will assist indigent litigants fromdifferentsocialbackgrounds.

8. We will continue to promote andstrengthenGramNyayalayas across thecountry.

19. internal securityThe IndianNationalCongresswill continuetodealfirmlywithinternalsecuritythreats.

TheIndianNationalCongresshasalwaysgiventhehighestprioritytointernalsecurity.Overthelastfewyears,spendinghasbeenincreased,intelligence hasbeen strengthenedandmorepersonnelhavebeenrecruitedin police andparamilitaryforces.As a result, overallincidence of crime has reduced. Wewill continue to pursue our internal security agenda withdetermination.

1. TheIndianNationalCongressrecognisesthe fundamental need to give a senseof security to every Indian. It vows tomobilize all the resources of the Stateto maintain law and order and providemaximumpossiblesecuritytoallIndians,againstbothexternalandinternalthreats.

2. Wewillensurethatourpoliceforcesarefullyequippedwiththemodernweaponsandtechnology.Deploymentof specialistbattalionsandrecruitmentof additionalpersonnelwillalsobepursued.

3. Wewillcontinuetoaddressthechallengeof LeftWingExtremismwithafirmhand.Wewillstrengthenthenumbers,equipmentand infrastructure for our security forcespostedintheseareas,evenaswecontinuetopursueadevelopmentagendatoempowerthepeopleintheseareas.

20. defence and Welfare of ex-servicemen

TheIndianNationalCongress is committedto rapid modernisation of our defenceforces. India’s security preparedness will bebased on a comprehensive security doctrinethat combines conventional and strategicmeasures.

1. The continued and rapidmodernisationof ourDefenceForcesisimperative.TheIndian National Congress shall ensurethatthisprocessof procuringthefineststate-of-the-artequipment iscarriedoutin an atmosphere of efficiency and fulltransparency.

2. Indiahasemergedasoneof theworld’slargestimportersof defenceequipment;it is thus imperative to encourageindigenous manufacturing in everyway. This will also generate substatialemployment. To this end, we shallwork towards giving a fresh impetus toupgrading our existing manufacturingcapabilities while creating new avenuesforexpandingmilitarycapability.

3. TheIndianNationalCongresshasalwaysgiventhehighestprioritytothewelfareof Ex-Servicemenandtheirfamilies.Oneof thefirstachievementsof thefirstIndianNationalCongress-ledUPAgovernmentwas the creation of theDepartment of Ex-Servicemen’s Welfare. In pursuanceof ourcontinuedcommitment,theIndianNational Congress ledUPA-II has nowfulfilled the long-standing demand of OneRank-OnePension,akeycampaignpromiseof theIndianNationalCongressin2009.Thiswillbringtremendousrelief tothefamiliesof Ex-Servicemen.

4. A “National Commission for Ex-Servicemen” will be established to

provideafurtherimpetustoprogrammesdesignedforthewelfareof theirfamiliesand expand opportunities for them inNation building and other productiveactivities.

5. OnthestrategicfrontIndiawillmaintaina credible deterrence and second strikecapability.Weshallcontinuethemissileprogramme tomeet potential threats intheregion.

21. foreign policyTheIndianNationalCongress iscommittedto the articulation and implementation of arobustanddynamicforeignpolicy.

The Indian National Congress remainscommitted to building peaceful, stable andmutually beneficial relations with all majorpowersandallourAsianneighbours.

1. Indiawillcontinuetobenefitfromglobalopportunities and contribute to world-wide efforts in creating and managinginstitutions to deal with challengeslike climate change and sustainabledevelopment, non-proliferation,international trade and cross-borderterrorism.

2. TheIndianNationalCongresswillstrivetomobilizesupportforIndia’spermanentmembershipintheUNSecurityCouncil.

3. GlobalTerrorismmust be combattedwith determination and cooperation.We will be engagedin creating a robustframework of intelligence sharing,cutting out finacialflows to terrorist

outfits, and stoppingmoney laundering,to address the issue of terrorism.

4. India has emerged as a critical bridgebetween the developed world and thedeveloping world, along with Brazil,ChinaandSouthAfrica.Atthesametimewe have our own unique position thatcombinesthecumulativeheritageof Non-Aligned-Movement and its advocacy of freedomforAfricancountriesandsteadysupport for Palestine. We will continueto support the goodwill nurtured fordecadesamongstsocialistcountries.


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5. We will work to strengthen the SouthAsian Association for RegionalCooperation (SAARC) framework andendeavourtomeaningfullyrealiseaSouthAsianeconomiccommunity,aseconomicengagementiscriticaltorealisingthetruepotentialof thisregion.

6. We expect to proceed with our mutualefforts with China to work throughestablished instruments towards aresolution of differences of perceptionabouttheborderandtheLineof ActualControl (LAC), even as our economiccooperationandmulti-lateralcooperationcontinuetogrow.

7. OnPakistanwewill encourage thenewgovernment’sstatedpositiontoimproverelations with India but calibrate thedialogue consistent with delivery onaccountability for 26/11 as well asdismantling of the infrastructure of terrorismonPakistanisoil.

8. On Sri Lanka, we will engage withthat country to ensure that the Tamil-speaking people and other minoritieshavefullequalityandequalrightsunderthe law. We will continue to press theGovernmentof SriLankatoimplementthe 13th Amendment and create autonomous provinces, especially theprovinces of the North and the East.

We will continue to extend all possiblehumanitariananddevelopmentassistancetoenabletheTamil-speakingpeopleandotherminoritiestorebuildtheirlivesinadignifiedmanner.Wewillworkwithothercountries, to prevail upon Sri Lanka toensureacredible,objective, time-boundinquiry intoallegationsof humanrightsviolationsandexcessescommittedbytheSriLankanforcesduringtheconcludingphases of the operations against theLTTE.

9. ForAfghanistan,webelievetherealthreatis not within but from terrorism frombeyonditsborders.If thepeaceprocessremains Afghan owned and Afghandriven,wewillworktosupportit.

10. Protecting Indians overseas fromexploitation or threats will remaina paramount concern of the IndianNationalCongress.

FortheIndianNationalCongress,aManifestoismorethanacatalogue of promisesandpledgestobeforgottenafterelectionsareover.

Itisanagendaforgovernancetobefolloweddiligentlyandmeticulously.

Itisanagendaforgoodgovernanceonwhichprogressmustbereported

tothepeopleof thecountry,regularly,inatransparentmanner.

ItisinthisspiritthattheCongress-ledUPAgovernmenthasbeenreleasing a“ReporttothePeople”everyyear.Thiswillcontinue.

The2014LokSabhaelectionswillofferstarkchoices.

OntheonesideistheIndianNationalCongresswithitslongtrackrecordof achievementsandaccomplishments,withitsvisionandvaluesbequeathedtoit

byamostremarkablegenerationof IndiansledbyMahatmaGandhi.

Ontheothersideisanideologyof hate,bigotryandprejudice,anideologythatnegatestheveryideaof Indiathathasbeencherishedbyusforcenturies.

OntheonesideistheIndianNationalCongress,whichcelebratesandrejoicesinthemultitudeof diversitiesof India.

Ontheothersideisanideologythatseekstoimposeuniformity

inthenameof unity.

AvotefortheIndianNationalCongressisavoteforfulfillingtheaspirationsof theyouthof ournation,forensuringthatwomenleadalifeof dignity.

Economicgrowth,socialharmony,empowermentof weakersectionsandstrengtheningof democraticinstitutionshavetoallgohand-in-hand.

ItisonlytheIndianNationalCongressthatwill,byitsverycharacter,

ensurethatthishappens.

The deTailed aCTion plan 2014-2019 an appeal

congress manifesto 2014 indian elections sonia gandhi rahul gandhi manmohan singhfor_web

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