West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee released Trinamool Congress’ election manifesto for the upcoming state assembly polls on Wednesday. The polls for 294-member state assembly will be held in eight phases from March 27. The counting of the votes will be held on May 2.

Banerjee is fighting the election from Nandigram against BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari, who left TMC before the polls. Both the parties are using star campaigners to woo the voters. BJP has accused TMC of not developing the state and rising number of unemployment youth.

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She announced to bring down the unemployment by generating 5 lakh job opportunities in a year. According to the manifesto, ‘Duare Sarkar’ programme will be held four months a year and free ration will be provided at doorstep.

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She said, “We were supposed to release our manifesto earlier but due to my health condition, it took time. We are releasing our manifesto today by thanking Maa, Mati, Manush (mother, soil and people).” 

“For the first time, every family in Bengal will be extended a minimum basic income. Under this, 1.6 crore general category families will get Rs 500 a month, whereas SC/ST category families will get Rs 1,000. The money will be directly transferred to the woman head of a family,” Banerjee said.

A new student credit card scheme will be introduced with a credit limit of Rs 10 lakh and an interest rate of only 4 per cent will be charged, the West Bengal chief minister said.

“We will set up 10 lakh new MSMEs and 2000 new big industrial units in the next five years,” she said.

“We shall appoint a Special Task Force to examine and propose OBC status to all the communities which are not recognised as OBCs like Mahishya, Tili, Tamul and Sahas. We will also ask the Government of India to grant ST status to Mahatos,” the TMC chief said.

A Special Development Board would be set up for the development of Terai and Dooars region in north Bengal, she said.