More rights, more middle class

• Cong promises to lift 800 million people into middle class
• Vows to put economy on track and create 100 million jobs

New Delhi: Raising the pitch on the legal entitlements-based rights paradigm unveiled by Congress President Sonia Gandhi, the Congress Election Manifesto for 2014 promises Right to Health, Right to Housing and Right to Pension, giving thrust to the social sector, championed by Rahul Gandhi. It promises to bring the people who are above poverty line but below middle class into the middle class fold. Already, it claims that 14 crore people have been pulled above poverty line.

The manifesto vows to put the economy back on 8 per cent growth trajectory, focusing on fiscal consolidation, price stability and growth. It will announce Jobs Agenda, with a focus on attracting new investments for job creation for 10 crore youth. It commits itself to the industrial corridors to catalyze economic growth and gives focused thrust to manufacturing in the country.

Within one year of new Lok Sabha, it plans the enactment of both the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and Direct Tax Code (DTC) Bills. It seeks to attract $ 1 trillion in the development of infrastructure.

The favours a Central Legislation on Scheduled Caste Sub-Plan, so that their development can be accelerated and brought on a par with other castes. It may be recalled that the undivided AP had passed such a legislation, which the Congress pledges to replicate at the Centre, as well. It promises to create national consensus on affirmative action for the SC, ST reservations in the private sector.

"Your Voice, Our Pledge" is the title of the Congress Election Manifesto for 2014, which was unveiled by Congress President Sonia Gandhi, in the presence of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi and Congress Election Manifesto Committee Chairman A K Antony. A 6-minutes film, "Story of the Manifesto," was screened at the outset, showcasing the novel methods adopted by Rahul Gandhi to reach out to a cross-section of people for their suggestions for inclusion in the Election Manifesto. Nearly 10,000 participants across 27 locations, including far-flung areas, took part, pouring in hundreds of ideas, spread over five months, to produce this single manifesto.

The Congress Election Manifesto focuses on corruption, which has marred the image of the Congress-led UPA Government. Promising to continue the systematic efforts to track down and recover black money, it says, "We will appoint a Special Envoy to pursue this agenda." It promises on a priority basis to pass the pending anti-corruption Bills in Parliament.

The manifesto intends to raise the spending on health sector to 3 per cent of the GDP, provide universal and quality healthcare and to provide for free medicines. The Indira Awaas Yojana (housing in rural areas) and Rajiv Awaas Yojana (housing in urban areas) will be expanded to cover the poor across the board. It promises low interest loans to women up to Rs 1 lakh for livelihood activities.

On minorities, it promised to pass on priority the Prevention of Communal and Targeted Violence (Access to Justice and Reparations) Bill, 2013, which was drafted by the Congress. It seeks to ensure implementation of every recommendation of the Sachar Committee Report.

On panchayats, it says100 per cent digitization of land records will be achieved to ensure transparency in land title. It plans to connect all panchayats with broadband internet connectivity within 18 months. It has unveiled Youth and Student Agenda, promising to build the best education system in the world for them. It promised to set up a National Commission for Students to protect and promote students interests.