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This is an archive article published on March 20, 2021

Kerala: LDF hops on to homemaker bandwagon, promises pension

The 900-page manifesto also assures raising the social security pension in various categories from the existing Rs 1,600 to Rs 2,500, in phases, and to increase farmers’ income by 50%.

Senior LDF leaders at the release of the manifesto in Thiruvananthapuram on Friday. (PTI Photo)Senior LDF leaders at the release of the manifesto in Thiruvananthapuram on Friday. (PTI Photo)

The ruling LDF Friday unveiled its election manifesto with a guarantee of pension for homemakers, along with a promise of 40 lakh job opportunities, 15,000 start-up units, special cover for PSUs, and a drive to channelise private investment worth Rs 10,000 crore.

The 900-page manifesto also assures raising the social security pension in various categories from the existing Rs 1,600 to Rs 2,500, in phases, and to increase farmers’ income by 50%.

The pension for homemakers, “acknowledging the value of their work”, makes the LDF the latest party after the AIADMK, DMK and Kamal Haasan’s MNM in Tamil Nadu, and the Trinamool Congress in West Bengal, to woo women with such a promise. On Friday, while on a tour to Assam, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also announced a monetary guarantee for homemakers.

However, the LDF document gives no details regarding its pension scheme for women or the criteria for it.

The manifesto was released by a galaxy of LDF leaders, barring Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan who is campaigning in Palakkad district, as the CPM-led front sought a second consecutive term.

Calling “corruption-free governance” one of the biggest successes of the Vijayan government, the LDF said it would tell the electorate about its “historic achievement” of “having fulfilled 580 of its 600 promises”. The manifesto said the LDF government had taken the Kerala model to new heights, combining social welfare with infrastructure development. It said Kerala would remain “an island against neo-liberal policies”.

The manifesto promises 15,000 km of road improvement, removal of power shortages, strengthening of the cooperative banking sector, a phased increase in wages of all grassroot-level government workers, “crime mapping” to check violence against women, and dwelling units for tribals and SC communities. It also promised an annual social auditing of the manifesto every year.

With PTI inputs

Shaju Philip is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, where he leads the publication's coverage from Kerala. With over 25 years of experience in mainstream journalism, he is one of the most authoritative voices on the socio-political, religious, and developmental landscape of South India. Expertise, Experience, and Authority Decades of Regional Specialization: Shaju has spent more than two decades documenting the "Kerala Model" of development, its complex communal dynamics, and its high-stakes political environment. Key Coverage Beats: His extensive reporting portfolio includes: Political & Governance Analysis: In-depth tracking of the LDF and UDF coalitions, the growth of the BJP in the state, and the intricate workings of the Kerala administration. Crime & Investigative Journalism: Noted for his coverage of high-profile cases such as the gold smuggling probe, political killings, and the state’s counter-terrorism efforts regarding radicalization modules. Crisis Management: He has led ground-level reporting during major regional crises, including the devastating 2018 floods, the Nipah virus outbreaks, and the Covid-19 pandemic response. ... Read More

 

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