India is set to begin voting for the Lok Sabha 2024 elections on April 19. In the lead-up to the elections, both the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Indian National Congress (INC) have released their manifestos presenting their visions and promises for the future of India. While the BJP released its manifesto titled ‘Sankalp Patra’, Congress unveiled its manifesto named ‘Nyay Patra’.
The BJP’s manifesto, titled “Modi Ki Guarantee,” has 14 promises emphasizing on party’s commitment to the four pillars of the nation’s development: women, youth, the underprivileged, and farmers.
On the other hand, the Congress party’s manifesto had Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra imprint on it. The manifesto focuses on five pillars of justice: Yuva Nyay, Naari Nyay, Kisan Nyay, Shramik Nyay, and Hissedari Nyay, with 25 guarantees under them.
Targeting Young Voters
Both parties have included separate sections for the young population of voters in their manifestos to address the concerns and aspirations of young voters, a significant demographic in the upcoming assembly elections. Around 1.8 crore new voters in the 18-19 age bracket are likely to vote for the first time in the upcoming elections.
The BJP manifesto, promises to make continued efforts to fill government vacancies in a time-bound manner and transparent manner.
· Implement the law against paper leaks.
· Initiatives to develop a conducive environment for entrepreneurship and make Bharat a preferred destination for startups.
· Continue to work towards making Bharat a global manufacturing hub and enhance employment in this crucial sector.
· Expand credit programmes like Mudra to support all aspiring entrepreneurs in starting. The Mudra loan limit will be doubled up to Rs 20 lakh.
On the other hand, Congress promises to implement the Yuva Nyay program to control unemployment.
· A new Right to Apprenticeship Act to provide a one-year apprenticeship with a private or a public sector company to every diploma holder or college graduate below the age of 25.
· Full around 30 lakh vacancies in sanctioned posts at various levels in the central government.
· Give a one-time relief to applicants who were unable to write the qualifying public examinations from 1 April 2020 to 30 June 2021 due to the pandemic.
Women Empowerment
Both parties have made promises to address concerns of the female voters as they hold significant sway in deciding the electoral outcomes. Among the 96.8 crore eligible voters in 2024, 49.7 crore are males and 47.1 crore are females.
BJP
· Will empower three crore rural women to become Lakhpati Didis.
· Will expand the existing health services focus on the prevention and reduction of Anaemia, Breast Cancer, Cervical Cancer, and Osteoporosis, ensuring a healthy life for women .
· Will empower women SHGs with the skills and tools in key service sectors like IT, healthcare, education, retail, and tourism.
Congress
· Will reserve 50 per cent of central government jobs for women starting in 2025.
· Will launch a Mahalakshmi scheme to provide Rs 1 lakh per year to every poor Indian family as an unconditional cash transfer.
Will double the number of working women hostels in the country.
Indian Economy
While the BJP has promised to make India the world’s third-largest economy, the Congress promises to double the country’s GDP in the next 10 years.
BJP
· The Bharatiya Janata Party promises that it will continue to demonstrate low inflation, high growth, and fiscal prudence and stay committed to expanding India’s economic prowess.
· The party is committed to increasing employment, self-employment, and the enhancement of livelihood opportunities for citizens.
· Will make Bharat a trusted Global Manufacturing Hub through a series of programmes.
Congress
· The party says it has set a target of doubling the GDP in the next ten years.
· Will make a law to specify and protect the rights of gig workers and unorganized workers and enhance their social security.
· Reorient the tax policies towards employment and wages as well as investments and profits.
· Will support free trade and rule-based international trade and commerce.
Healthcare
Post COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare has become an even more significant issue. In its manifesto, the BJP outlined how it managed the crisis, while the INC has promised insurance on the lines of its Rajasthan model.
BJP
· Will strengthen the network of AIIMS to provide quality healthcare across the country.
· Will expand PM-ABHIM for robust healthcare.
· Will revamp the Jan Aushadhi Kendra network to ensure high-quality low-cost medicines to citizens across the country.
Congress
· The Rajasthan Model of cashless insurance up to Rs 25 lakhs will be adopted for universal healthcare.
· Healthcare will be universal and free in public health centres such as hospitals, clinics, primary health centres, mobile healthcare units, dispensaries, and health camps.
· Will increase budget allocation for health every year to reach 4 per cent of total expenditure by 2028-29.
