Jharkhand Assembly polls: NDA ally AJSU manifesto focuses on jobs, women empowerment, schemes for farmers

All Jharkhand Students’ Union (AJSU) president Sudesh Mahto, along with other leaders, releases the party manifesto for the Jharkhand Assembly elections in Ranchi on November 8, 2024. Photo: X/@SudeshMahtoAJSU

All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU), an ally of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), has released its manifesto: Sankalp Patra – for Jharkhand Assembly election on Friday, November 8, 2024 in Ranchi. AJSU president and MLA Sudesh Mahto along with other AJSU leaders released the manifesto at the party office here.

The manifesto includes nine resolutions and 30 guarantees focusing on jobs, women’s empowerment and plans for farmers.

The BJP released its manifesto on November 3. As per the seat-sharing arrangement in the NDA, the BJP is contesting in 68 seats (out of the total 81). AJSU will contest on 10 seats, Janata Dal (United) on two seats and Chirag Paswan-led Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) on one seat. Parliamentary elections will be held in two stages on 13 and 20 November.

Young people gain priority

Emphasizing its focus on jobs, the AJSU manifesto begins with the following sentence: Abki Baar Rojgar Dene Wali Sarkar (This time there is a government providing employment).

“The government of the last five years has damaged the identity of Jharkhand and Jharkhandis. This government played with the future of young people the most. That’s why we prioritized them. This time, it will be the state that will provide employment. “In addition, women, farmers, social justice, sports, protection of water, forest and soil are also among our priorities,” he said.

Guaranteed income for all families

AJSU has promised that every family will be provided with a minimum income of ₹ 1.21 lakh per annum, while unemployed graduate and postgraduate students will receive ₹ 30,000 per annum under the Nirmal Mahato Yuva Nirman Yojana. Also included is a monthly internship allowance ranging from ₹6,000 to ₹25,000 for educated youth.

Eligible women will be given ₹2,500 per month under Nari Samman Yojana. Women will be given 33 percent reservation in government jobs. The manifesto promises to increase the pension amount under the social security scheme from ₹ 1,000 to ₹ 2,500 and provide two additional gas cylinders at ₹ 500 each.

To prevent land fraud, every farmer or land owner will be issued passbooks with all the details of his land. AJSU also promised to increase the number of seats in the Legislative Assembly, besides creating a Legislative Council.

The party promises good governance, improvement in farmer income, economic equality, improvement in education, health, tourism and sports sector. It also promises preservation of Jharkhandi language, culture and heritage, along with conservation of water, forest and soil.

However, the manifesto promises ₹10,000 per month for the state to families of those killed in the Jharkhand movement, ₹25,000 to landless farmers and ₹12,000 per year to families of poor farmers.

‘₹50,000 crore will be needed’

When asked where he would find the money to fulfill all the promises, Mr. Mahto said, “We need only ₹ 50,000 crore and this money will come from internal sources exploited by the current government of Hemant Soren.”

Other big promises include health insurance up to ₹25 lakh, life insurance up to ₹10 lakh, along with recognition of the Sarna Dharma Act (a separate religious code for tribals) and distribution of musical instruments to promote Jharkhandi art and music.

Mr. Maho said major information technology companies such as TCS, Infosys, Wipro, Microsoft and others will be encouraged to open their offices in Jharkhand so that youth can get jobs.

The manifesto stated that if voted to power, AJSU would establish a commission for the protection of women.

The manifesto, which encourages voters to question the government, ends with these words: Pucho Sawal Badlo Sarkar (Ask questions, change the government).