Chennai: The AIADMK promised today a slew of measures in its manifesto, including a national poverty eradication initiative that will be named after former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa.
Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, who are also the AIADMK’s co-coordinator and coordinator, released the election manifesto in the presence of senior party leaders in the party head office here at Royapettah.
Releasing the manifesto for the 2019 general elections at a press conference here, Panneerselvam said the party would “vigorously pursue” the Amma National Poverty Eradication Initiative (ANPEI).
“Based on the experience already gained by the AIADMK government in this regard, a direct transfer of Rs 1,500 per month to the targeted population of the poor and the deprived (people below poverty line, destitute women, widows without income, differently-abled, landless agricultural labourers, rural and urban manual labourers, destitute senior citizens, etc) should not be difficult to implement,” the party said.
Jayalalithaa, addressed as ‘Amma’ (mother) by supporters and the ruling AIADMK, is already implementing a series of welfare measures under the Brand Amma initiative, including the popular Amma subsidised canteens.
Among others, the party promised to press for the release of the seven convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case and strive for the scrapping of the National Entrance-cum-Eligibility Test (NEET) for medical admissions.
The manifesto stated that the AIADMK will demand the Centre link Godavari and Cauvery rivers and also plans to divert water to drought-hit areas. It stated that there are plans to boost groundwater table.
AT A GLANCE
* Transferring Education to the State List
* Reservation in private jobs
* Rs 1,500 per month to needy families under Amma National Poverty Eradication Initiative
* Linking of rivers and diverting water to drought-hit areas
* Call for international probe into the alleged war crimes during the civil war in Sri Lanka
* Centre to link Godavari and Cauvery rivers and also divert water to drought-hit areas
* Special water management schemes
* Waiver of educational loans
* Declare Cauvery delta as a protected agricultural zone
* MGR National Skill Upgradation Scheme to enhance Indian youth’s capabilities for new employment avenues locally and globally