The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday released its election manifesto for the forthcoming Panchayat polls.
The manifesto contains a 22-point charter which the saffron party promises to deliver if its’ candidates emerge victorious in the three tier Panchayat polls in Odisha.
The BJP promises to abolish the alleged PC (Percentage) culture that has been synonymous with the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) government since years. As per the manifesto, the BJP will not allow corrupt officials and leaders to extort bribe from the beneficiaries under the PMAY and Swachh Bharat schemes.
The party also promises to create Men Self Help Group (MSHG) community which will be constituted in line with the Women Self Help Groups (WSHGs), and equal facilities will be provided to the unemployed men as well.
Moreover, the WSHGs will be empowered by providing vocational training to more and more women in the group. Presently, only five percent of women in the WSHGs are given training and producing home essentials to sell, the manifesto stated.
Mentioning the plight of farmers who are struggling to sale their paddy in mandis, the BJP made it a point to put an end to the ‘Dalal Raj’ in Odisha mandis and promises to curtail the monopoly of millers in the interest of farmers.
Speaking about the manifesto, State BJP President, Sameer Mohanty said, “We will act as the custodian of the funds which the Centre sends to Odisha and will not allow it to fall in corrupt hands.”
The three-tier Panchayat elections in Odisha will be held in five phases starting from February 16, 2022. Voting will be held on February 16, 18, 20, 22 and February 24, 2022. The polling will begin at 7 am and continue till 1 pm.
The elections will be held for a total of 853 Zilla Parishad seats, 91,916 Wards and 6,794 Panchayats. Candidates will be able to contest the elections with party symbols.