FOCUS OF ATTENTION: Chief Minister N. Dharam Singh (right), Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee President M. Mallikarjuna Kharge (left), and former Minister B.K. Chandrashekar having a look at the Congress manifesto for panchayat elections in Bangal ore on Wednesday . — Photo: Sampath Kumar G.P.

Bangalore: The Congress on Wednesday released an election manifesto for the coming panchayat elections which promises a host of schemes and facilities for people in rural areas.

The party also launched its election campaign. The first major campaign meeting will be held at Channapatna in Bangalore Rural district on Thursday and it will be attended by Chief Minister N. Dharam Singh and President of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee M. Mallikarjun Kharge.

The manifesto includes some of the important programmes for villages initiated by the United Progressive Alliance Government at the Centre and the Dharam Singh-led coalition Government in the State.

Speaking after releasing the election manifesto, Mr. Dharam Singh and Mr. Kharge exuded confidence that the Congress will do well, possibly much beyond expectations, in the panchayat elections. They gave a call to partymen to put up a united fight, which, they said, should pave the way for the strengthening of the party. Their speeches indicated that they see the panchayat elections as a trendsetter for the next Assembly elections.

Former Union Minister C.K. Jaffer Sharief, who arrived at the venue a short while before the programme concluded, told the Chief Minister that as the coalition Government is led by the Congress, he should not yield to the dictates of the Janata Dal (Secular).

"The Government cannot function like a Deve Gowda-led Government. It is for the Chief Minister to ascertain the developments and major decisions taken in all departments. Let there be a watchdog committee to monitor the developments in all departments," Mr. Sharief said.

The highlight of the election manifesto is the rural employment guarantee scheme announced by the UPA Government recently. The Congress has said that it will prove to be a revolutionary scheme for people in rural areas, particularly agricultural labourers, who do not have an income in summer. Efforts will be made to ensure that the people obtain the optimum benefit of the programme, which guarantees work for 100 days with a daily wage of Rs. 60.

The other features of the manifesto include a comprehensive plan to provide better infrastructure for rural areas; bestow panchayats with control over panchayat property, including government lands; provide food and shelter for all; focus on animal husbandry and sheep rearing; serve the interests of the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, minorities and the backward classes; promote communal harmony in rural areas; ensure compulsory education of children and better health care for women and children; and strengthen the Stree Shakti programme.

Union Minister of State for Surface Transport K.H. Muniyappa said the rural employment guarantee scheme will be implemented from March 2006, and Rs. 45,000 crores will be allocated in the budget. The features of the scheme have been finalised.

Tribute to Rajiv Gandhi

Former Minister B.K. Chandrashekhar said credit should go to the Congress, former Prime Minister late Rajiv Gandhi in particular, for decentralising administration including the 73rd and 74th amendments to the Constitution, which gave panchayats and municipalities adequate powers. "Although I was not a member of the Congress at that time, I was an invitee to a high-level meeting on panchayat raj chaired by the former Prime Minister," Prof. Chandrashekar said.

The others who spoke included KPCC Vice-President H. Hanumanthappa, Law Minister H.K. Patil, former Ministers D.B. Chandre Gowda, C. Motamma, D.K. Shivakumar, H.M. Revanna and A. Krishnappa. KPCC General Secretary Abdul Wahab welcomed the gathering.

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