Bhubaneswar, Mar 15 : The Odisha Congress on Friday promised minimum support price for paddy at Rs.3000 per quintal, unemployment allowance, pension to the farmers, LPG cylinder at Rs.500, free electricity up to 200 units and Rs.15 lakh health insurance coverage to the people of the state.

The party released its manifesto for the 2024 Assembly elections, promising nine guarantees to the people and as many as 90 promises which would be fulfilled within 100 days of coming to power in the state.

The manifesto was released at the party office here, a day before the scheduled announcement of dates of both Lok Sabha and Assembly elections, by AICC in charge of Odisha affairs Ajaya Kumar, OPCC President Sarat Pattnayak, and Manifesto committee Chairman Panchanan Kanungo in the presence of senior party leaders.

The manifesto promised to hike the minimum support price for paddy in the state to Rs.3000 per quintal, waive off agricultural loans, and a monthly pension of Rs.2000 to the farmers in Odisha which will go to the poll for both the Assembly and Lok Sabha.

The manifesto promised free electricity for up to 200 units, employment opportunities to five lakh youths in the state, unemployment allowance of Rs.3000 per month for three years.

It said all elderly persons, widows, and persons with disabilities besides women heads of families will be paid Rs.2000 every month under Gruha Lakshmi Yojana.

The Congress manifesto also promised a guarantee to provide LPG cooking gas at Rs.500 and free health services up to Rs 15 lakh in both government and private hospitals.

The manifesto said the Congress will also waive the loan provided to the Women Self Help Groups in the state.

On reservation,the Congress party has promised 27 percent reservation for backward classes in educational institutions and also in the service sector.

The manifesto promised to undertake the social and economic survey in the state after coming to power and give guarantees to provide 35 kg of rice, one kg of salt, one kg of oil, one kg of pulses, and 250 gm of turmeric to the needy people in the state.

UNI