Elections 2024: Battle of manifestos over employment, economy & health
Nyay Patra versus Modi ke Guarantee
Over the past few days, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the star campaigner for the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, has been talking much more of the manifesto of Indian National Congress than anything else.
In a series of speeches in several of the 88 Lok Sabha constituencies which went to polls today as part of the 2nd phase of the ongoing elections, Modi has lashed out the Congress party for the promises made in its manifesto, often twisting the manifesto or at least pushing the line on what exactly the manifesto of the principal opposition party says.
Modi’s various allegations, most of which were patently untrue, ranged from claims that the Congress would seize people’s gold ornaments to that it would introduce reservations for Muslims and other ‘illegal infiltrators’.
“I want to warn my countrymen. Congress and INDI alliance have their eyes on your earnings and your property. The ‘Shehzada’ of Congress says that if their government comes to power, they will investigate who earns how much, who has how many property. Our mothers and sisters have gold. It is ‘stree dhan’, it is considered sacred, the law also protects it. Now these people’s eyes are on the ‘Mangalsutra’ of women. Their intention is to steal the gold of mothers and sisters,” Modi had said at a ralley in Aligarh.
Almost at every rally, Modi has made it a point to target the INC. On 21 April, during a rally in Banswada in Rajasthan, Modi tore into the INC, saying “When they (INC) were in power, they said that Muslims had the first right to the properties of the state. This means that they would collect these properties and give them to the ones who have more kids (insinuating Muslims). They will give it to the ghusapethyon (infiltrators). Do you want to give away your hard-earned money to the intruders? This is what the Congress manifesto says and the amount of gold that mothers and daughters own will be measured, collected and distributed among them (Muslims),’’ he had said.
However, the Congress manifesto, that was released on April 5, does not mention any redistribution of wealth among the citizens of the country.
The document, Nyay Patra, focuses on five issues, youth, women, farmers, workers and equity.
The accusation that the Congress manifesto speaks of abolishing the Citizenship Amendment Act is unfounded. There is no mention of the CAA anywhere in the party’s manifesto.
Beyond the political rhetoric and allegations, the key issues for electorate and the country are employment, state of the economy, inequality, health, education and women empowerment.
Here is how the manifestoes of the two principal parties deal with these issues.
Employment
According to a survey by Lokniti-CSDS in 19 states, unemployment was the primary concern of 27 pc of the voters, price rise was the main concern for 23 pc. Nearly 62 pc of those surveyed said finding jobs had become more difficult in the last five years, Modi’s second term as Prime Minister.
The unemployment rate rose to 5.4 pc in 2022-23, from 4.9 pc in 2013-14 just before Modi swept to power, and nearly 16 pc of urban youth in the 15-29 years age group remained unemployed in 2022-23 due to poor skills and a lack of quality jobs, official data shows.
The Congress, in its Nyay Patra has promised the enactment of a Right to Apprenticeship Act to provide a one-year apprenticeship with a private or a public sector company to every diploma holder or college graduate under the age of 25 with a stipend of INR 100,000 a year. The party has also pledged to set up fast-track courts to adjudicate cases related to question paper leaks and provide monetary compensation to the victims.
Besides, the Congress has promised to fill the nearly 3 million vacancies in sanctioned posts at various levels in the central government, restructure the Fund of Funds Scheme for start-ups, and allocate 50 pc of the available funds among all districts, for providing funds to people below 40 years of age to start their businesses and generate employment and will also provide sports scholarships of INR 10,000 per month to talented and emerging sportspersons below the age of 21 years.
The party says it will abolish application fees for government examinations and posts and will also provide a one-time relief to those applicants who were unable to appear for government job examinations from April 1, 2020, to June 30, 2021, during the pandemic.
The INC has been fiercely critical of the BJP government’s record on job creation. Incidentally, the BJP had promised creation of 20 million jobs every year in its manifesto in 2014. However, that has failed to materialise and unemployment has only risen since Modi’s advent to power.
On its part, the Bharatiya Janata Party, that is positioning its manifesto Sankalp Patra as Modi’s personal guarantee or “Modi ki Guarantee”, has skipped any job-related promises. Its manifesto merely mentions that the government will create high-value jobs and recruit youth in government jobs.
BJP has promised to introduce a new common uniform civil code (UCC) and a law to enable “One Nation, One Election.” The UCC has been a pet project of the BJP, which has been aggressively courting the Hindu vote. The BJP claims that its UCC will bring in a common civil law for all communities to ostensibly enable “gender equality” by replacing the personal laws of different religious groups. But in reality, it is aimed at targetting the minority Muslim community. Evidence of this can be seen in the UCC enacted by the BJP-ruled Uttarakhand state government because Muslim’s identity is governed by religion. Religious identity is defined by religious laws and if BJP try to implement UCC then their religious laws, religious identity will get finished.
Women Empowerment
With women comprising approximately half of the eligible voter population, both the BJP and INC appear to be making concerted efforts to attract them with numerous assurances.
Women’s empowerment seems to be a top priority for both parties, but their approaches differ slightly. The BJP plans to offer loans to women and provide training to help them increase their earnings, while the INC is proposing direct financial assistance. The BJP’s Lakhpati Didi scheme aims to provide interest-free loans to women and equip them with skills to achieve an annual income of at least INR 100,000.
The INC, on the other hand, says it will launch a Mahalakshmi scheme to provide INR 100,000 per year to every poor Indian family as an unconditional cash transfer. The poor will be identified among the families at the bottom of the income pyramid. The scheme will be rolled out in stages and reviewed every year to assess the number of beneficiary families and its impact on alleviating poverty.
As far as improving women’s participation in the workforce, the INC manifesto appears to have more concrete plans. Data from the Periodic Labour Force Survey or PLFS (2022-23) shows that the women’s labour force participation rate in India is at a mere 37 pc. BJP’s solution to address this is to develop infrastructure such as working women’s hostels and creches.
The INC, on the other hand, promises 50 pc reservation of Central Government jobs for women from 2025. While the number looks generous, it may be difficult to implement immediately, with the paucity of enough qualified women to fill the posts. But over the long term, it can help women. INC’s promise of equal wages, safety, and maternity benefits for all women, however, appears sound. The PLFS also shows that more than half of India’s workforce has no access to social security measures, which include maternity benefits.
The Women’s Reservation Act which aims to allocate 33 pc of seats in Lok Sabha and State legislative assemblies for women, is yet to be implemented. The BJP promises a ‘systematic implementation’ of this, while the INC calls the Act a ‘betrayal’, as it will be implemented only in 2029, after a census and delimitation.
The BJP’s manifesto also promises to eliminate deaths due to diseases like breast and cervical cancer, increase women’s participation in sports and double women’s pay. While the INC is silent on these points, the party talks about doubling the pay of women frontline workers and appointing an Adhikar Maitri in every panchayat to serve as a paralegal to educate women and assist them in the enforcement of their legal rights.
Healthcare
Both the BJP and the INC have outlined comprehensive healthcare strategies in their manifestos, particularly in response to the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic. The BJP emphasises the strengthening of the AIIMS network to ensure quality healthcare delivery across the nation. Additionally, they propose the expansion of the PM-ABHIM scheme to bolster healthcare infrastructure and the Jan Aushadhi Kendra network to provide affordable medicines.
Notably, the BJP pledges to extend Ayushman coverage to include the transgender community, demonstrating a commitment to inclusivity in healthcare access.
The INC promises to adopt the Rajasthan model of cashless insurance, offering coverage up to INR 2.5 million for universal healthcare, a significant step towards ensuring financial protection for all citizens. Furthermore, they advocate for free universal healthcare in public health centres, encompassing examination, treatment, medicines, and rehabilitation services.
The INC also aims to gradually increase the healthcare budget to reach 4 pc of the total expenditure by 2028-29, signalling a long-term commitment to strengthening the healthcare infrastructure and services in the country.
Education
Education stands as a pivotal focus in the manifestos of both the BJP and the INC underlining its significance in shaping the future of the nation. The BJP commits to the continuous enhancement of existing educational institutions, signalling a dedication to improving the quality and infrastructure of the education sector. Furthermore, they advocate for the adoption of a dynamic learning curriculum that aligns with the National Education Policy, emphasising adaptability and relevance in education.
Additionally, the BJP aims to integrate industry-aligned curriculum and skill development initiatives in higher education, fostering a symbiotic relationship between academia and industry to equip students with practical skills and knowledge essential for the modern workforce.
In contrast, the INC presents a vision for education centred on accessibility and inclusivity. They propose to amend the Right to Education Act to mandate free and compulsory education from Class I to XII in public schools, ensuring that education is not only accessible but also a fundamental right for all children.
Moreover, the Congress pledges to revise and amend the National Education Policy in collaboration with state governments, aiming to create a comprehensive framework that addresses the diverse educational needs and challenges across the country.
Additionally, it emphasises the importance of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) subjects in school and college curriculums, recognising the critical role of these disciplines in driving innovation and economic growth in the 21st century.
Senior Citizens
Both the BJP and the INC have incorporated schemes and initiatives in their manifestoes aimed at addressing the needs and concerns of senior citizens, particularly regarding health. The BJP pledges to expand the Ayushman Bharat Yojana to cover senior citizens above 70 years of age and collaborate with state governments to facilitate convenient facilities for seniors undertaking sacred pilgrimages. Conversely.
INC has promised to strictly enforce the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, and increase pension contributions for seniors, widows, and persons with disabilities under the National Social Assistance Programme to INR 1,000 per month. Additionally, the Congress aims to restore travel concessions in public transport for senior citizens. Both parties’ initiatives demonstrate a commitment to improving the welfare and well-being of the elderly population in India.
Additionally, both parties have placed a spotlight on farmers in their manifestos, recognising the agricultural community as a pivotal vote bank. The BJP pledges to strengthen the PM Fasal Bima Yojana by integrating technological interventions and ensuring the continuity of increasing Minimum Support Prices (MSP) over time.
On the other hand, the Congress promises a legal guarantee of MSP annually, aligning with the recommendations of the Swaminathan Commission and also the demand of farmers who have been protesting across the country for the same.
Additionally, the INC plans to establish a Permanent Commission on Agricultural Finance to evaluate agricultural credit needs and offer loan forbearance.
