New Delhi: The Congress party released its manifesto for the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections on Friday, with a focus on key areas such as conducting a national caste census, job creation, infrastructure development, and women empowerment. The manifesto was unveiled at the All India Congress Committee (AICC) headquarters in Delhi.
Congress Manifesto: Minorities
- The Congress manifesto promises to conduct a nation-wide Socio-Economic and Caste Census, intended to provide an accurate enumeration of castes and sub-castes along with their socio-economic conditions.
- The Congress party has committed to passing a constitutional amendment to raise the 50 per cent cap on reservations for Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Other Backward Classes (OBC).
- Additionally, the party pledges to implement a 10 per cent reservation in jobs and educational institutions for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) across all castes and communities, without discrimination.
- Furthermore, the party aims to enhance institutional credit for SC and ST individuals, facilitating endeavors such as home-building and starting businesses.
- The Congress plans double the funds for scholarships for Dalit, SC, and ST students, especially for higher education pursuits and Ph.D. programs. Additionally, a network of residential schools tailored for the poor, particularly SC and ST students, will be established and extended to every block.
- The party’s manifesto, unveiled ahead of the upcoming elections, highlights a commitment to safeguarding the fundamental right to practice one’s faith, as enshrined in Articles 15, 16, 25, 26, 28, 29, and 30 of the Constitution. Additionally, the rights of linguistic minorities, protected under Articles 15, 16, 29, and 30, will be upheld.
- Education and economic empowerment stand at the forefront of Congress’s agenda for minority communities. The party pledges to encourage and support minority students and youth to seize opportunities across various fields, including education, employment, business, and sports.
- Restoration of the Maulana Azad Scholarships for study abroad and an increase in the number of scholarships for minorities.
- Furthermore, the party vows to eliminate discrimination in various sectors, including education, healthcare, public employment, and skill development, ensuring that minorities receive their fair share of opportunities.
- The Congress manifesto promises to safeguard personal freedoms, such as the freedom of choice in dress, food, language, and adherence to personal laws.
- In a nod to linguistic diversity, Congress pledges to address longstanding demands for the inclusion of additional languages in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.
