No freebies; farm, edu loan waiver in DMK’s ‘please-all’ manifesto

Chennai

Apart from releasing a “no-freebie” manifesto, the nonagenarian who is eyeing his return to the power for the record sixth time, on Sunday ensured that it pleased all. For his favourite government employees, senior citizens, farmers, fishermen and students, the DMK manifesto lives up to its reputation of being the star of elections by covering all segments of voters. 

Opening with the promise of enforcing prohibition, which received thunderous applause in a packed Kalaignar Arangam at the party headquarters Anna Arivalayam, Karunanidhi took a dig at AIADMK general secretary’s “gradual prohibition enforcement” promise in his inimitable style and assured that a separate legislation would be enacted to enforce total prohibition in one go.

While guaranteeing the continuance of existing schemes like four sovereign-gold for thaali, the DMK president proposed Anna Canteen, named after DMK founder CN Annadurai, for the poor. 

Targeting middle class and young voters, the party seeks to introduce monthly EB bill payment, reduce milk price by Rs 7 per litre, and waive student education loans. 

To pin down AIADMK on the Chennai floods issue, Karunanidhi promised a flood management committee plus an exclusive ministry for water resources.

DMK MANIFESTO HIGHLIGHTS:

• Separate law for prohibition.
• TASMAC to be dissolved.
• Separate agri budget.
• Sethu Samudram project to be revived.
• Katchatheevu retrieval.
• Legislative council to be revived.
• Employment scheme for 2 lakh youth.
• Maternity leave increased to nine months.
• Tamil Nadu to get Lok Ayukta.
• Reduction in milk price by Rs 7 a litre.
• Incentives for govt employees with 25 years experience.
• Rs 500 to farmers, with free dhoti, saree for Pongal.
• EB bill payment monthly.
• Smart card for people without ration cards in 15 days.
• Anna canteens for poor.
• ST status for fishermen community.
• Silk park in Kancheepuram.
• 500 and 750 units of free power for weavers.
• All defamation cases to be withdrawn. (Cases against Koodankulam protestors too) 
• Dole for jobless graduates.
• Job priority for first generation graduate in govt.
• Write off education loans of students.
• Tamil as official language in Central government offices.
• Small and medium farmers’ loans to be waived.
• Rs 1 lakh for self employment.
• Additional 50 days to farm labourers under NREGA scheme.
• 750 units free electricity for farmers.
• Rs 10k subsidy for farmers to buy motors.
• Separate ministry for water resources.
• Flood prevention management committee.
• Job confirmation for govt staff with 10 years service.
• Rs 5,000 crore incentive to conservancy workers.
• Rs 10,000 subsidy to buy autos.
• Students to get free milk under noon meal scheme.
• 3 lakh vacancies to be filled in government.
• 54,233 teacher vacancies to be filled.
• Single window clearance for all industrial projects.

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