YSR Congress promises building 'better' capital city than Hyderabad

Hyderabad: Building a capital city "better than Hyderabad" for Seemandhra, Rs 500 dole for school students, loan waiver for women self-help groups and hike in social security pensions were among promises made by YSR Congress Party in its manifesto today.

"We will build a capital city that is better than Hyderabad. We will make a garden city and create lung space. It will be a model city. The advantage for us is that we are starting from the scratch," party chief Jaganmohan Reddy told reporters while releasing the party manifesto here.

In a bid to keep various sections in good stead, the party also promised stabilisation and calamity relief fund for farmers. (Full coverage: Elections)

"The government of YSR Congress would launch a scheme named 'Ammavodi' (mother's lap) as per which Rs 500 per school-going child would be deposited in the mother's bank account," Mr Jagan said.

Besides ensuring education for children, the money would also provide financial assistance to the family, he said.

He said in contrast to the partial reimbursement of tuition fees which is the practice now, a government run by his party would fully reimburse tuition fees of students of professional courses. (Elections Candidates | Schedule)

Senior citizens would be provided pension of Rs 700 and loans given to women SHGs would be waived, he said.

Alleging that TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu has made a "false" promise of loan waiver for farmers to the tune of Rs 1,27,000 crore, Mr Jagan said if elected, he would set up stabilisation fund and calamity relief fund for the benefit of agriculturists.

The manifesto has also promised agriculture and veterinary universities and starting of a "colleges and mobile vans' service" to reach out to cultivators to guide them on different aspects of farming.

In an initiative to take administration to the villages, an office, being manned by 10 local women, would be set up which will work for safety of women and monitor different citizen's services, the manifesto said.

The office would also provide any card like PDS ration card within 24 hours, it said.

The popular 'Arogya Sri' health insurance scheme, which enables poor people to undergo treatment at corporate hospitals, would be implemented effectively and the beneficiaries would also be provided assistance after their treatment, it said.

The YSR Congress President said 50 lakh houses would be built in five years for poor people housing and an old age/orphanage home would be set up in every Assembly segment.

The state will be rid of power cuts by 2019 and SC colonies would be provided power at subsidised rates, he said.

Aiming to ensure transparency in administration, Mr Jagan said that if voted to power, his "government would approach CAG or the judiciary on important issues prior to their implementation so that no scope is given for allegations to surface in their implementation".

Elections to 17 Lok Sabha and 119 Assembly seats in Telangana are scheduled for April 30, while voters in 175 Assembly and 25 Lok Sabha constituencies in Seemandhra will exercise their mandate on May 7.