Shillong ( Meghalaya), Jan 24 : Unveiling a revolutionary vision, the Meghalaya Trinamool Congress on Tuesday announced TMC’s 10 Pledges for Meghalaya for the holistic development of the state along with ensuring peace, progress, and prosperity.
Releasing TMC’s 10 Pledges For Meghalaya, AITC National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee said, “Our mission in Meghalaya is to turn this beautiful state into a model state across all sectors. The healthcare and education system will be revamped. The economy will be boosted for growth. The civic infrastructure will be made available for all. Indigenous rights will be protected at all costs. And no decisions will be taken without people’s consent.”
He further added: “When we make a pledge, we fight for its implementation till the last drop of our blood. We assure you that within 100 days of forming the government, our party will implement TMC’s 10 Pledges for Meghalaya.”
The launch at Shillong’s Pinewood Hotel was presided over by MP and Leader of AITC Parliamentary Party in Rajya Sabha Derek O’Brien, TMC State-In-Charge Manas Bhunia, Meghalaya TMC State President Charles Pyngrope, Trinamool Congress Legislature Party Leader Dr Mukul Sangma, Meghalaya TMC Vice-President George B Lyngdoh and several other Meghalaya TMC leaders including 28 candidates who will be contesting the upcoming Meghalaya Assembly elections from Khasi and Jaintia Hills.
The TMC’s 10 Pledges for Meghalaya focus on key areas ignored by the current dispensation such as Economy, Youth, Women Empowerment, Social Security, Farming And Agriculture, Healthcare, Education, Civic Amenities, Tourism, Sports, Music, and Culture.
Addressing the gathering, State President Charles Pyngrope said, “Meghalaya TMC has reached a juncture where we have become the only credible party that can take Meghalaya on the path of progress. We couldn’t have achieved this milestone without the love and support of the people.
Our strength has increased manifold as more and more people from across the state show support for our progressive vision. We seek your mandate to help us work towards holistic development in all sectors. Meghalaya TMC shall be the torchbearer for the transformational change in the state.”
Talking about the need and desire for change in Meghalaya, TMC Legislature Party Leader Dr. Mukul Sangma said, “People from all walks of life are gravitating towards Meghalaya TMC because we share the collective resolve to see a change. The manifesto and the 10 important pledges we made today are based on the inputs, issues, and challenges revolving around the lives of people across all sectors. This manifesto is completely realistic and the pledges are based on exhaustive due diligence and the commitment to address the existing issues.”
Along with promising double-digit economic growth in the next 5 years to double the GDP size, the Meghalaya TMC has also pledged to work on increasing the MSME units to four times its current annual growth and hit the 1.3 lakh figure. This will be achieved by adding 4,000 new MSMEs annually in the next 5 years. The party will also be working on a scientific and sustainable mining policy to ensure no individual’s livelihood is endangered.
In addition to creating 3 lakh jobs over the next 5 years, the party also said that the Meghalaya Youth Empowerment (MYE) scheme would provide financial assistance of ₹1,000 per month (₹12,000 annually) to unemployed youth between the ages of 21-40. Launched on January 5, the scheme has received resounding support from the public securing over 2 lakh registrations in less than a month.
TMC also pledged to provide 1 lakh laptops to all higher secondary and college-going students in the state to keep up with the current trend and facilitate digital education. “Under the Guarantee For A Brighter Future pledge, we will also engage and identify individuals in the tourism sector and their services will be formalised through Government-registered job cards with a monthly honorarium of ₹2,500. The plan would only require ₹75 crores annually,” AITC National General Secretary said.
Reaffirming the party’s commitment to the empowerment of women, TMC’s 10 Pledges for Meghalaya also include the Meghalaya Financial Inclusion for Women Empowerment (MFI-WE) scheme under which women in all households in the state will receive ₹1,000 per month (₹12,000 annually) as guaranteed income support.
The party has also promised that social welfare pensions will be increased to ₹1,000 per month (₹12,000 annually). This, essentially, doubles the financial assistance to people with disabilities, single mothers, widows, and senior citizens.
“The current pension is at around ₹500-550 per month. But keeping the skyrocketing fuel prices and rising inflation in mind, we have taken a decision that all social welfare pensions will be doubled,” AITC National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee said.
Meghalaya TMC has also envisaged a new social security scheme called Meghalaya UNITE (Meghalaya Unorganised Sector Training and Empowerment scheme) to train over 2.8 lakh unorganised sector workers and provide them with skill training, free healthcare, term life insurance, and provident fund benefits.
In addition to education, jobs, and social security, the party has also promised e-ration cards for all and resurvey in all districts to increase the number of PDS beneficiaries.
Dedicated interventions in the healthcare sector have also been planned including maternal and childcare centres in each block and the upgradation of existing PHCs and CHCs.
Meghalaya TMC has also announced a 25% increase in healthcare coverage for senior citizens under Meghalaya Health Insurance Scheme (MHIS).
To ensure the bright future of younger generation, Meghalaya TMC has given focussed attention towards rebuilding the education sector that has been left in shambles. If voted to power, the party will work towards building model schools in each block and doubling the number of seats for teacher training in the state.
To cover the cost of books and other necessities, the party has also promised Direct Benefit Transfers of ₹1,200 annually to the families of all school-going children registered in government schools.
Strengthening civic amenities is also among the top priorities of the party. In addition to promising piped drinking water connections to all households, TMC also pledged to strengthen infrastructure to facilitate uninterrupted power supply.
The party has pledged to ensure that all 6,459 villages in Meghalaya are connected with black-topped motorable roads and the major arterial roads are upgraded to all-weather roads.
The party has also envisioned identifying, training, and promoting sports talent at the block levels. TMC’s 10 Pledges for Meghalaya also include paying attention towards Sports by setting up the State’s first Sports University along with a corpus of ₹10 crores to assist the 22 registered State Sports Associations and all recognised sports clubs under them.
Meghalaya TMC has also assured to move a private member bill in the Union Parliament for the immediate recognition of the Khasi and Garo languages through their inclusion in the 8th Schedule of the Constitution. TMC’s 10 Pledges for Meghalaya also include the assurance to revoke the Border MoU signed with the Government of Assam and ensure police check-posts at all strategic border areas.
Meghalaya TMC’s commitment towards the state can be ascertained by the fact that thorough consultations were held with a diverse pool of stakeholders before finalising the TMC’s 10 Pledges for Meghalaya, which serve as a comprehensive roadmap for bringing back the glory of the state.
