After Congress took a dig at the recently released BJP manifesto, the party’s State media cell convener Sapralu Nyekha responded by throwing a challenge on the Congress for a debate on the manifestoes.
Addressing the media here at BJP office Thursday, Sapralu claimed Nagaland has witnessed massive development within a short span of time only under BJP rule (with regional party) and that the previous Congress regimes did not bring any development to the State.
“When Congress points its fingers at us and terms our manifesto and vision documents as devoid of any truth, I challenge the party to bring its manifesto for a debate with BJP,” she stated.
Highlighting the focus on welfare of women in BJP’s manifesto, she reiterated that the party would initiate Temsula Ao Empowerment Mission to encourage formation of more women SHGs and provide them with credit linkages, set up online portals and outlets across the State to provide linkages to women SHGs, FPOs and entrepreneurs, initiate women-run canteens at all district headquarters and important marketplaces to provide meals at subsidised rates, one-time grant of Rs. 50,000 to all women getting recruited under Agnipath Yojana and increase widow, single mother and old age women pension amount to Rs.1,000 per month, etc.
On safety of women, Sapralu assured that BJP would establish ‘Women Warrior Battalion’, State’s first all-women police battalion, and also a dedicated desk operated by women officials at every police station to tackle crimes against women.
For healthcare, she informed the media that the party would spend Rs 200 crore to establish dedicated department for mother and child care in all District Hospitals, ensure 100% institutional deliveries for expecting mothers by ensuring maternity wards in all PHCs and CHCs and District Hospitals, provide free sanitary napkins through vending machines installed in public places, government schools and colleges, and modernise all Anganwadis. She said BJP would spend Rs 32 crore to construct Pink Toilets at all public places for ensuring women’s hygiene and convenience.
Meanwhile, speaking on youth empowerment, BJYM State president Hosheto Awomi stated that BJP would establish Nagaland Entrepreneurship Development Authority for training and promoting entrepreneurship in every district, expand scope of Nagaland employment portal, provide free coaching to government, banking and Central job aspirants, spend Rs 500 crore to launch Nagaland Skill Development University to train youth and make them job-ready in the field of new-age technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Virtual Reality, Drones, Robotics, etc.
He mentioned that BJP would also spend Rs 10 crore to promote indigenous sports and organise State-wide competitions, introduce Dr Talimeren Ao Sports Scholarship and provide sportspersons with need-based financial assistance up to Rs 5 lakh.
He further assured that the party would fast-track the ongoing construction of multipurpose stadiums in seven districts and invest Rs 111 crore to set up mini-stadiums with gyms in all blocks of the State and Rs 50 crore to provide state-of-the-art sports facilities across government schools and colleges.
Awomi stated that BJP would launch Nagaland Student Credit Scheme with a corpus of Rs 500 crore to provide zero interest education loans of up to Rs,10 lakh to all needy students, besides spending Rs 70 crore to set up Naga men and women students’ hostels for those pursuing higher education in all metro cities of the country.
He also spoke on the expansion of scope of Mid-Day Meal Scheme till class 12, provide digital tablets to all meritorious students of classes 10th and 12, spending Rs 200 crore for promoting STEM education, etc.
He said the party would spend Rs 100 crore to improve physical infrastructure like availability of electricity, drinking water, proper sanitation, etc, facilities in all government schools, expedite “The Light House Project” to enhance systemic transformation in Nagaland’s teaching cadre, enhance governance and management of its schools, open new senior secondary schools as per requirement, renovate 100 government schools under PM SHRI, fast track construction and operationalisation of Eklavya Model Schools in the State, etc.
On the other hand, State BJP spokesperson Kashito Kiba spoke on the achievements of BJP-NDPP government in the State under the leadership of chief minister Neiphiu Rio.
BJP star campaigners: Meanwhile, Sapralu informed that senior BJP leaders including BJP general secretary BL Santosh and union ministers Kiren Rijiju and Sarbananda Sonowal will campaign for the party.
Rijiju will address rallies at Longwa, Phomching and Tizit. Sonowal along with deputy chief minister Y Patton will address public rallies at Wokha and Mon town while BL Santhosh will visit Tuensang, Mokokchung and Zunheboto.
