Targeting the younger generation, the DMK manifesto released on Sunday promised waiver of education loans, tablets or laptops with 3G/4G internet facility with 10 GB per month download facility for 16 lakh students and smart phones for poor families.
Total prohibition also figured prominently in the manifesto released by the party president, M. Karunanidhi.
The party also 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 of 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 and multi-storied residential buildings. Stamp charges for transfer of property between blood relatives will be reduced.
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.
