By IANS,
The Congress manifesto, released Tuesday, has many promises:
*25 kg wheat or rice for Rs.3 a month
*Maximum possible security to each and every citizen
*Highest level of defence preparedness and also take further steps for the welfare of the defence forces and their families
*Acceleration in the process of police reforms
*To take the National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme forward
*Enactment of a National Food Security Act
*Health security for all
*Comprehensive social security to those at special risk
*Implementation of a nation-wide skill development programme
*Expand schemes for improving well-being of farmers and their families
*Democratised and professionalised functioning of cooperatives
*Greater impetus to the empowerment of weaker sections of society.
*Elected panchayat institutions to be made financially strong
*Connect all villages to a broadband network in three years time
*Give special focus to the small entrepreneur and to small and medium enterprises
*Maintain the path of high growth with fiscal prudence and low inflation
*Introduce the goods and services tax from April 1, 2010.
*A completely new look to urban governance
*A new deal to our youth to participate in governance
*Protection of India’s natural environment and steps to rejuvenate it
*A massive renewal of science and technology infrastructure
*To pursue judicial reforms to cut delays in courts
*To continue to be sensitive to regional aspirations
*Energy security for the country
*To pursue an independent, pro-India foreign policy
*To intensify the involvement of overseas Indians in development