100 days work will be hiked to 200 if Oppn alliance is voted to power: Mamata

Kolkata: Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee proposed in the election manifesto of the party that if the Opposition alliance is voted to power, 100 days work under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA) will be increased to 200 days, along with doubling of the daily wages of those associated with this work.

"Many people earn their livelihood through 100 days work and they are extremely poor. We will propose to increase 100 days work to 200. At present, those associated with 100 days work get Rs 191 daily. We will propose to double it. We will also look into the matter to ensure that they get their payment in 15 days," Banerjee said, while releasing her party's election manifesto at Kalighat on Wednesday.

The TMC supremo further proposed to reinstate the Planning Commission, which she feels has been wrongly dismantled by the Narendra Modi government. "It has been a Tughlaqi decision by the Prime Minister to dismantle the Planning Commission overnight. The Niti Aayog that he has constituted is of no use and it hardly listens to the problems of the states. It will be a part of our common minimum programme to bring back the Planning Commission, so that it can play an important role in maintaining the federal structure of the country," she said.

The TMC has also identified 12 thrust areas in its manifesto, which include demand of a thorough investigation by an ex-Supreme Court Justice into demonetisation and review of GST with an open mind to make it people-friendly, consumer-friendly and small & medium enterprises-friendly.

The manifesto further proposes more focus on the social infrastructure of education and health, with enhanced and adequate resource allocation, special focus on enriching all cultures and encouraging sporting activities.

"We will be giving special emphasis to create more and more employment for the students and youth of the nation. Around 2 crore people have lost their jobs in the last few years, while Bengal has increased employment by 40 percent," Banerjee reiterated, adding that special emphasis will be given to fill up vacancies reserved for SC, ST, and OBC (which will include minorities).

"Our common minimum programme will give priority to providing economic security and livelihood for the farmers. We feel that farmers require a special package. 12,000 farmers have committed suicide in the country in the last few years," Banerjee maintained.

She asserted that there will be emphasis on women empowerment as well. It may be mentioned that TMC has nominated 41 percent women candidates for the Lok Sabha polls this year and also boasts of 50 percent women reservation in Panchayats and municipalities.

The TMC supremo announced that she will start her election campaign from April 4 and will continue it till May 17.