Rs 18,000 Yearly For Women, 3-times Old Age Pension, More Jobs: BJP's 25 Promises For J-K

New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah today released the Bharatiya Janata Party's manifesto for the upcoming Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir and promised a flurry of people-friendly schemes if the party was voted to power. The BJP manifesto promised Rs 18000 yearly for one elderly woman per household. The manifesto also promised to generate 5 lakh jobs if the BJP is noted to power in the upcoming elections. BJP leader from the state, Ravinder Raina was among several other party leaders at the launch. The elections in J&K is set to take place in three phases - September 18, September 25 and October 1.  

Releasing the manifesto, Amit Shah said, "Since Independence, Jammu & Kashmir has been important for our party. We have always tried to keep this land intact with India... Our party believes that J&K has always been part of India and it will remain so. Till 2014, J&K always remain in the shadow of separatism and terrorism. Different state and non-state actors kept the state unstable. All the govt dealt with the state with a policy of appeasement. Whenever the history of J&K will be written, these ten years after 2014 will be marked as a golden period for the state."

BJP 's 25 Big Promises for Jammu-Kashmir

1. Implementing ‘Maa Samman Yojana’ to provide Rs 18,000 per year to the senior most woman in every household in Jammu & Kashmir.

2) Providing assistance through the state government for Women SHGs on the issue of interest on bank loans.

• Providing 2 free LPG cylinders every year to the Pradhan Mantri Ujjawala Yojana beneficiaries.

3) Creating 5 lakh employment opportunities through Pandit Prem Nath Dogra Rozgar Yojana (PPNDRY).

4) Providing Rs 3,000 yearly through DBT as travel allowance to college students under the ‘Pragati Shiksha Yojana’.

5) Enable the youth of Jammu & Kashmir preparing for competitive exams like JKPSC and UPSC by:

• Ensuring fair and just recruitment processes, with timely interviews
• Providing a reimbursement of coaching fees to the tune of ₹ 10,000 for 2 years
• Reimbursing the travel costs to examination centres and one-time application fee.

6) Providing tablets/laptops to students studying in higher secondary classes in remote areas.

7) Promote and develop the economy in Jammu-Kashmir, with specific emphasis on:

• Setting up three regional development boards to monitor saturation of government schemes and craft programmes to meet the aspirations of the Jammu region.
• Tourism industry development at Doda, Kishtwar, Ramban, Rajouri, Poonch and upper reaches of Udhampur, Kathua.
• Developing Dal Lake in Srinagar city as a world-class tourist destination and promoting water sports.
• Setting up an Amusement Park in Tattoo Ground in Srinagar.
• Setting up an IT hub as a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) at Jammu city.
• Develop Gulmarg and Pahalgam in the Kashmir Valley as modern tourist towns and enhance the necessary infrastructure
• Establishing pharmaceutical park in Udhampur and an AYUSH Herbal park in Kishtwar
• Developing the Tawi Riverfront similar to the Sabarmati Riverfront in Ahmedabad, Gujarat .
• Creating a separate lake development authority for Ranjit Sagar Dam thereby promoting tourism.

8) Supporting existing businesses and small traders through:

• A new policy will be drafted to address the issues facing 7,000 existing MSME units in Jammu and Kashmir so that access to land and public
• utilities will be addressed.
• Issues around regularisation of lease deeds of small traders and shopkeepers that are currently operating in existing markets and commercial spaces will be done in a time-bound manner.
• Initiate steps to resolve the problems of MSME units and workers.

9) Free-allotment of 5 Marlas for landless beneficiaries through Atal Awas Yojana.

10) Govt will address utilities and other public services in Jammu Kashmir by providing:

• A scheme for relief from outstanding bills of electricity and water for all consumers. 
• Drinking water through ‘Har Ghar Nal Se Jal’.
• Free electricity through PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, with an additional subsidy of ₹10,000 to households for solar instrument installation.

11) BJP has proposed to triple the old age, widow and disability pensions from Rs 1,000 to Rs 3,000, guaranteeing a life of dignity for the vulnerable groups.

12) It will ensure affordable healthcare for all by increasing the coverage of Ayushman Bharat Sehat Scheme by an additional Rs 2 lakhs from Rs 5 lakhs.

13) BJP has proposed to add 1,000 new seats to existing and upcoming government medical.

14) Govt proposes to provide Rs 10,000 under PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, comprising the existing Rs 6,000 along with an additional Rs 4,000, thereby ensuring the wellbeing of farmers in Jammu & Kashmir.

15) Implementing reduced electricity tariffs, lowered by up to 50 per cent, for agricultural activities, making it more affordable for farmers to operate irrigation pumps and other machinery.

16) BJP has proposed to implement reforms for government employees which will:

• Ensure reservation in promotion for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes within government services
• Create a transfer policy for all the employees specifically for Scheduled Caste and other employees working in Kashmir Valley.

17) Govt will give a 20 per cent quota to Agniveers in J&K government jobs and police recruitment, and will follow the Jammu-Kashmir reservation policy without affecting the general quota.

18) We will address the grievances of long-serving adhoc/contractual/daily wage employees. Additionally, we will provide targeted additional support to address the grievances of crucial community workers such as Anganwadi Workers, ASHAs, NHM workers, Rehbar-e-Khel employees (ReK), Community Information Centre (CIC) operators, Home Guards and National Youth Corps (NYCs).

19) Manifesto promises to build 10,000 km of new rural roads to ensure that no village is left behind. Further, we will complete projects like Sadhna Pass Tunnel, Katra-Banihal Railway Tunnel under the ‘Har Tunnel Tez Pahal’ Yojana for seamless connectivity in Jammu & Kashmir.

20) BJP has promised to expedite the metro services in Jammu and Srinagar to improve urban connectivity and enhance mobility.

21) BJP says it will undertake the reconstruction of Hindu temples and shrines under Rishi Kashyapa Pilgrimage Rejuvenation Drive. It will restore 100 ruined temples and further develop existing temples, including the Shankaracharya Temple (Jyeshteshwara Temple), Raghunath Temple, and Marthanda Sun Temple, with the active participation of religious and spiritual organisations.

22) We will undertake a concerted drive to address illegal Rohingya and Bangladeshi settlements in Jammu & Kashmir.

23) BJP has ensured the safe return and rehabilitation of the Kashmiri Pandit community saying it will launch the Tika Lal Taploo Visthapit Samaj Punarvas Yojana (TLTVSPY). It has also promised to expedite the rehabilitation of West Pakistan refugees, POJK refugees and internally neglected communities like Valmiki and Gorkhas. It has ensured that the displaced persons of Jammu division get all the due benefits, security and protection that the displaced persons from Kashmir are given.

24) BJP has promised to publish a white paper and ensure accountability for all victims of terrorism through: 

• Fast track cases
• Bring justice 

25) BJP has proposed to conduct a free and fair census, unlike yesteryears, thereby ensuring proper decision making, focusing on inclusive development, with targeted interventions for marginalised communities.