In Odisha manifesto, BJP promises to buy paddy at Rs 3,100 per quintal | Bhubaneswar News
BHUBANESWAR: The BJP in its manifesto for Odisha promised to buy paddy at Rs 3,100 per quintal, 42% more than the current minimum support price (MSP) of Rs 2,183, if it comes to power in the state, drawing a sharp response from BJD leader V K Pandian, who questioned the saffron party’s intention.
The BJP move is seen as the party’s big push to woo farmers as nearly 76% of the population in Odisha is involved in farming and paddy is the dominant crop.
Releasing the manifesto on Sunday, party president J P Nadda said, “BJP is fighting the election not to sit in opposition, but to form the govt in Odisha.”
The party also promised to introduce cash incentive programmes specifically targeting women and tribal communities. Additionally, the BJP outlined plans for region-specific development packages to address the diverse needs of the state.
In its Odisha manifesto, christened ‘Modi Nka Guarantee for Odisha 2024,’ the party promised to launch a new policy, ‘Samrudh Krushak Niti’, offering Rs 3,100 per quintal for paddy within 48 hours of purchase.
It must be mentioned that the Congress had promised paddy MSP at Rs 3,000 in its manifesto.
The BJP’s national manifesto had mentioned that it would increase MSP from time to time. Though the Centre takes the decision on MSP, states can add an additional amount as bonus. The BJP also promised irrigation coverage to entire cultivable land within five years.
Trying to woo women voters, considered loyal to the BJD, the BJP promised Rs 50,000 cash voucher to every woman under a new scheme, ‘Subhadra Jojana’, and increase the monthly remuneration of anganwadi workers to Rs 12,000 from the existing Rs 10,000. A girl child will be given Rs 2 lakh assurance at birth, which she will be able to encash upon attaining the age of 21, the manifesto said.
Targeting the tribals, BJP promised to give Rs 5,000 pocket money annually to all tribal students to check dropouts.
The party said it will establish an Odisha Adivasi Swabhiman University to promote tribal art, culture and language. Five of the 21 Lok Sabha seats and 33 of the 147 assembly seats in the state are reserved for scheduled tribes.
To “bring back” Odia asmita, a key poll issue, the BJP said it will launch ‘ChitraAI’ to help translate Odia language into 22 major languages, collaborate with international universities to establish Odia chairs and build statues of noted Odia personalities in various parts of the state.
To bring regional parity in healthcare, BJP has also promised to establish 600-bed hospitals in Keonjhar (north), Jeypore (south), Sundargarh (west) besides a second AIIMS in Sambalpur and appoint 3,000 new doctors.
Responding to BJP’s manifesto, Pandian said the BJP had tried to fool people through its promises. Speaking at an election rally at Odagaon in Nayagarh assembly segment, Pandian said the BJP promised to hike MSP of paddy when election is round the corner. “Where was it sleeping in the past 10 years?” Pandian said, pointing out that the Centre could have increased the MSP.
On BJP’s promise to raise pension for widows and elderly to Rs 3,000, Pandian said this is an election stunt as BJP-ruled states were giving only Rs 300/month while Odisha has been paying Rs 1,000.
The BJP move is seen as the party’s big push to woo farmers as nearly 76% of the population in Odisha is involved in farming and paddy is the dominant crop.
Releasing the manifesto on Sunday, party president J P Nadda said, “BJP is fighting the election not to sit in opposition, but to form the govt in Odisha.”
The party also promised to introduce cash incentive programmes specifically targeting women and tribal communities. Additionally, the BJP outlined plans for region-specific development packages to address the diverse needs of the state.
In its Odisha manifesto, christened ‘Modi Nka Guarantee for Odisha 2024,’ the party promised to launch a new policy, ‘Samrudh Krushak Niti’, offering Rs 3,100 per quintal for paddy within 48 hours of purchase.
It must be mentioned that the Congress had promised paddy MSP at Rs 3,000 in its manifesto.
The BJP’s national manifesto had mentioned that it would increase MSP from time to time. Though the Centre takes the decision on MSP, states can add an additional amount as bonus. The BJP also promised irrigation coverage to entire cultivable land within five years.
Trying to woo women voters, considered loyal to the BJD, the BJP promised Rs 50,000 cash voucher to every woman under a new scheme, ‘Subhadra Jojana’, and increase the monthly remuneration of anganwadi workers to Rs 12,000 from the existing Rs 10,000. A girl child will be given Rs 2 lakh assurance at birth, which she will be able to encash upon attaining the age of 21, the manifesto said.
Targeting the tribals, BJP promised to give Rs 5,000 pocket money annually to all tribal students to check dropouts.
The party said it will establish an Odisha Adivasi Swabhiman University to promote tribal art, culture and language. Five of the 21 Lok Sabha seats and 33 of the 147 assembly seats in the state are reserved for scheduled tribes.
To “bring back” Odia asmita, a key poll issue, the BJP said it will launch ‘ChitraAI’ to help translate Odia language into 22 major languages, collaborate with international universities to establish Odia chairs and build statues of noted Odia personalities in various parts of the state.
To bring regional parity in healthcare, BJP has also promised to establish 600-bed hospitals in Keonjhar (north), Jeypore (south), Sundargarh (west) besides a second AIIMS in Sambalpur and appoint 3,000 new doctors.
Responding to BJP’s manifesto, Pandian said the BJP had tried to fool people through its promises. Speaking at an election rally at Odagaon in Nayagarh assembly segment, Pandian said the BJP promised to hike MSP of paddy when election is round the corner. “Where was it sleeping in the past 10 years?” Pandian said, pointing out that the Centre could have increased the MSP.
On BJP’s promise to raise pension for widows and elderly to Rs 3,000, Pandian said this is an election stunt as BJP-ruled states were giving only Rs 300/month while Odisha has been paying Rs 1,000.
