Jharkhand elections: JMM manifesto promises 33% job quota for women

Free education to students from kindergarten to PhD, interest-free agricultural loans, loan waiver for small and medium-level traders, reinstating the powers of Gram Sabha by withdrawing the amendments made to the Forest Conservation Act, and 33% reservation for women in state government jobs. These are among the major promises made by the JMM in its manifesto released two days ahead of the first phase of Jharkhand elections.

The manifesto was released by JMM co-founder Shibu Soren on Monday evening. The manifesto also attacked policies of the BJP government (2014-2019) and promised to repeal the Land Acquisition Act (Jharkhand) Amendment 2017 and Land Bank Policy. The manifesto also promised a fight for the “investors of the state who suffered…” until every single investor of the state gets their due.

“The families of Sahara victims of Jharkhand who lost their lives or were forced to kill themselves… will be provided financial assistance at the government level,” the manifesto said.

The party also said that it will fight to get Jharkhand’s dues from the Centre to the tune of `1.36 lakh crore, besides getting the Centre’s approval on the 1932-Khatiyan (land records) based domicile policy. The manifesto states the JMM, if it forms the government, will support the MNREGA labourers of the state from its own funds so that they can get a minimum wage of `350 per day.