In manifesto, SP too pitches Caste Census, firms up ‘Pichde, Dalit, Alpasankhyak’ outreach

The 20-page manifesto starts off with a resolution calling for a people’s movement for the rights for the communities under the “PDA” — Pichde (Backward), Dalit, Alpasankhyak (minorities) and Aadhi Aabadi (women) — bracket. The grouping has been central to the SP’s pitch this election season and the manifesto says that the resolution would provide equal opportunities for these communities and focus on “inclusive development for the weak and poor in society”.

Speaking at a press conference while releasing the manifesto, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav said the fight in these polls will be to “safeguard” the Constitution and democracy.

“If the Constitution is there, we have rights. If there is democracy, we have rights… I appeal to the people to give each and every vote against the BJP. If democracy is saved, our Constitution will be saved and our freedom will be safeguarded,” Yadav said.

What the manifesto says

In its “Constitutional Rights’ section, the party promises the right to save the Constitution, the right to protect democracy, the right to a free press, the right to free democratic institutions, and the right to justice, and equality.

The manifesto promises a caste census by 2025 — incidentally the Congress, its ally in the INDIA bloc, has been speaking of the same — and fair share and justice to all by 2029 based on the findings of the survey. It also promises to fill up all vacant posts for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and OBCs by 2025. It also promises “to give a share to all communities” in the private sector.

The SP has also dedicated a section to farmer’s welfare, promising MSP for all crops, and has said that MSP would be calculated on the basis of the Swaminathan report —- a demand that has been central to the recent farmers’ protests. It also promises a legal guarantee for an MSP for farmers and says that all farm-related loans will be waived off in 2024.

Reaching out to the youth and addressing employment issues, the SP has promised that the wage under the MGNREGA scheme will be increased to Rs 450, with the man days or the days that individuals can avail work under the scheme, going up to 150.

Crucially, it promises to extend a scheme such as the MNREGA to urban areas.

“A scheme similar to MGNREGA named Urban Employment Guarantee Ordinance 2024 for urban areas will be implemented in the first Parliament session. All vacant government jobs will be filled. Laptop distribution will be done across India,” it says.

The SP said it will bring an end to the Agniveer scheme; the party has been critical of it since it was announced.

“There will be a focus on defense material being built in India and the sector will go through modernisation,” the manifesto added.

The manifesto promises social justice, right to bread (roti), the right to get rid of inflation and poverty, the right to a protected environment, the right to freedom from stray animals destroying crops and lives and even the right to a life without casteist remarks as part of its social and economic rights pitches.

The document also promises free wheat flour to families holding a ration card as well as mobile data worth Rs 500 to them.

The manifesto further says that it will ensure free education and will increase allocation of GDP for education from 3 to 6%. It says that quality healthcare and treatment will be a legal right for all.

In the manifesto, the party has also underlined that there will be “zero tolerance” for crimes against women. It has also promised to implement the 33% reservation guaranteed under the Women’s Reservation Bill last year within two years.