Targeting the younger generation, the DMK manifesto released on Sunday promised waiver of education loans, tablets or laptops bundled with 3G/4G internet connection and 10GB per month download option for 16 lakh students and smart phones for poor families.
Total prohibition figured prominently in the manifesto released by the party president, M. Karunanidhi.
The party promised establishment of the Lok Ayukta, enactment of the Right to Service Act, a separate budget for agriculture, a ministry for irrigation, waiver of crop loans for small and micro farmers, reduction in price of Aavin milk by up to Rs. 7 per litre, steps to include fishermen in the scheduled tribes list as ‘marine tribes’ and introduction of milk in the Nutritious Meal Scheme.
The manifesto said, if elected, the DMK government would formulate schemes to offset the loss of revenue caused by prohibition and create a Tamil Nadu Integrated Regulated Marketing Corporation in the place of Tasmac to ensure its workers do not lose their service seniority. To treat alcoholics, a new organisation under the Health Department will be created. De-addiction centres will come up in all districts where treatment and psychotherapy will be offered.
Alleging that the construction industry had suffered heavily during the AIADMK regime, the manifesto said a single window system will be put in place to grant permission within 60 days for construction of houses, factories, offices, multi-storied residential buildings and commercial buildings, and for rationalisation of fee for approval.
Stamp charges for transfer of property between blood relatives will be reduced.
The manifesto said the metro rail project would be extended up to Mamallapuram and another line up to Sriperumbudur through Irunkattukottai and Oragadam industrial towns would be rolled out. Explaining the reason behind providing smart phones, the manifesto said only through the gadgets people could download the application to know about the various welfare schemes and apply for them.
The DMK government would make arrangements to teach English, French, German, Spanish, Arabic, Mandarin, Japanese and Russian in colleges and universities as per the choice of students to enhance employment opportunities abroad. The ‘Samacheer Kalvi’ scheme would be reviewed and upgraded every year.
Highlights:
- Separate Agricultural Budget.
- TASMAC employees to be given alternative employment.
- Free Internet for students.
- Training in organic farming under scheme to be launched in the name of Nammazhvar.
- Sethu Samudram Canal Project to be revived.
- Minimum support price for paddy to be increased.
- Law to implement Prohibition.
- Tamil will be introduced as official language in Central Government offices too.
- Maternity leave to be increased to nine months.
- Aavin milk price to be reduced by Rs 7.
- Lok Ayukta to be established in TN.
- Rs. 1 lakh funding for entrepreneurs.
- All lakes/water bodies to be desilted at Rs 10,000 crore.
- Employment camps in all districts.
- Powerloom to get 750 units of power free.
- Leather park to be established in Chennai, Dindigul and Vellore.
- Smart card to be issued within 15 days for those who do not have a ration card.
- Anna Unavagam to be established.
- Separate ministry for irrigation.
- 200 checkdams to be constructed to prevent flooding at a cost of RS.2,000 crore
- First generation graduates to get first preference for government jobs
- New pension scheme will be scrapped for government employees and teachers
- Free milk in noon meal scheme
- All Defamation cases to be withdrawn
- Cases against Kudankulam protestors to be withdrawn
- Steps to be taken to revive Legislative Council
- Uninterrupted electricity to be provided
- Electricity production to be enhanced
- Single window clearance in 100 days for establishing industries
- Monthly EB pill payment scheme to be unveiled
- Education loan of college students to be written off.
- One lakh new jobs to be created every year
- New industries in South Tamil Nadu
- All vacant posts in schools to be filled
- 20 kg free rice per month scheme
- New medical colleges in all districts
- 4th police Commission to be set up
- Schemes to convert sea water to drinking water in coastal areas
- Slums free Tamil Nadu
- Efforts to revive Jallikattu
- Rs 3 lakh subsidy for construction of concrete houses for low income groups
- Cell phones at subsidised rates
