JP Nadda releasing the BJP manifesto with other party leaders in Kohima on Tuesday. (EM Images)
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) promised big in its election manifesto for the Nagaland Assembly poll, touching upon several sectors from healthcare to education, road, infrastructure to tourism, and free scooty for meritorious college-going female students. The BJP National President JP Nadda, who launched the party’s manifesto at state BJP office in Kohima on Tuesday, said that Nagaland is back to the path of peace, development and prosperity after decades of unrest and other issues.
Maintaining that Nagaland has been a story of development in the last eight years, he said insurgency has reduced by 80% in the state and the AFSPA area reduced by about 66%.
Reiterating the vision document the party had launched in 2018, he highlighted various achievements of the government over the past few years like sanctions for national highways, railway connectivity, and others.
Nadda also informed that the talk between the ENPO with the Union Minister Amit Shah is ongoing and all commitment that Shah has given to the people of Eastern Nagaland stands committed will fulfill it. However, owing to the code of conduct, it will not be expressed at present.
He said the commitment will however be implemented in letter and in spirit.
Further he asserted that the BJP with its alliance partner NDPP is committed to bring the change in the state of Nagaland and will fasten the pace of development.
Speeches were also delivered by Temjen Imna Along, state president and minister and Y Patton BLP Leader and DY CM.
Highlights of BJP manifesto for Nagaland election 2023:
To establish a dedicated Nagaland Cultural Research Fund with an investment of INR 1,000 crore to promote research, protection and conservation of languages and culture of all communities.
To establish Saramati Cultural University in Kiphire with an investment of INR 500 crore, focusing on imparting knowledge and research on the historic Naga culture, language, agriculture, folk music and dance, food, and habitation practices.
To invest INR100 crore on promoting and expanding the scope of all major tribal festivals.
To ensure 100% DBT (Direct Benefit Transfer) coverage for all government schemes to avoid any leakages.
To introduce Nagaland Tourism Skill Mission in order to provide training and employment opportunities to 50,000 local youth.
To increase financial assistance under the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Scheme from the current INR 6,000 to INR 8,000 per annum.
To launch agri-infrastructure mission with an investment of INR 500 crore to develop a holistic agri-infrastructure of collection and primary processing.
To initiate Nagaland Horticulture Mission with an investment of INR 100 crore to ensure cold storage facilities at the block.
To introduce the Neidonuo Angami Women Welfare Scheme under which a bond of INR 50,000 will be provided on the birth of a girl child.
To provide free-of-cost, quality education to all female students from LKG to PG.
To initiate the Temsula Ao Empowerment Mission to encourage formation of more women SHGs and provide them with credit linkages.
To provide two free-of-cost LPG cylinders to all Ujjwala beneficiaries every year.
To launch the CM Free Scooty Scheme to provide free scooty to meritorious college-going female students.
To invest INR 200 crore to establish a dedicated department for mother and child care in all district hospitals.
To provide two lakh self employment opportunities in the next five years through the establishment of Software Technology Parks, Agro Processing ,Textiles, MSMEs, Tourism, etc.
To introduce the Dr. Talimeren Ao Sports Scholarship under which it promises to recognize aspiring sportspersons from the state and provide them with need-based financial assistance of up to INR 5 lakh.
To provide digital tablets to all the meritorious students of classes 10 and 12.
To work in conjunction with the Union Ministry of Education to set up premier institutes like IIT, IIM and IISER in Nagaland.
To establish Dr. Imkongliba Ao State University to improve access and quality of higher education.
To double the per-family annual insurance cap from INR 5 lakh to INR10 lakh under Ayushman Bharat.
To ensure timely completion and commencement of the Kohima and Mon medical colleges.
To invest INR 500 crore to double the number of beds across all government hospitals and expand daycare clinics in the state.
To introduce Nagaland State Cancer Prevention and Treatment Policy and invest INR 400 crore for setting up a super specialty cancer hospital and research centre in Zunheboto.
To expedite the operationalisation of Special Economic Zones in Dimapur.
To invest an amount of INR 500 crore to provide collateral-free loans of up to INR10 lakh to MSMEs.
To introduce the ‘One Tribe One Product’ scheme by handholding farmers/craftsmen from the production to the marketing of their product.
To continue building all-weather roads and connecting all villages with State and National Highways. More than INR 10,000 crore worth of projects would be executed on this in the upcoming years.
To connect Kohima with railway network by 2024.
To establish an Eastern Nagaland Development Board for the holistic development of the region.
To provide a special package for the development of Eastern Nagaland. It also promises to work towards provisioning the budget in proportion to the population of eastern Nagaland region.
To provide free rice and wheat monthly and 5 kg of black chickpeas and 1 litre of mustard oil per family quarterly, at a subsidised rate to all PDS beneficiaries.