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Congress now pledges subsidised foodgrain to the poor

Congress pledged to provide rice at Rs 1/kg to the poor in Orissa.

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Congress on Saturday pledged to provide rice at Rs 1/kg to the poor in Orissa, joining other political contenders to promise subsidised grain ahead of the polls in the state.
     
The party also promised slashing farm loan interest to 2.5 per cent and provide jobs to all the unemployed youth in five years, if voted to power.

"Families living below the poverty line will get rice at Rs 1 per kg across the state if the Congress forms government in Orissa," senior party leader and Union minister Santosh Bagrodia and OPCC president KP Singhdeo said after releasing party's manifesto for assembly polls here.

All families in the undivided KBK districts (Kalahandi, Balangir and Koraput) would be given subsidised rice and the BPL list would be examined to identify the real poor.
 
The poor would be provided pulses, salt and onion at reasonable prices, Singhdeo said.
     
In the social sector, Congress promised to give old age pension to people above 60 years of age, while the facility would be available to women above 55 years.

Pledging to make Orissa self-reliant in agriculture by giving free power and improved irrigation to peasants, it said interest rate on farm loans would be reduced to 2.5 per cent, while minimum support price for paddy would be raised to Rs
1,000 per quintal.

"Not a single drop of water will be supplied from Hirakud and other dams to industries," it said.
      
The Congress manifesto also promised to review all Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) signed during the Naveen Patnaik government.

No mines would be leased out to individuals or private entities, it said adding steps would be taken to give mining lease only to Orissa Mining Corporation (OMC) or similar other government agencies.
      
People displaced by industrial projects would be properly compensated and rehabilitated, local industrialists encouraged to set up units and no minerals would be sold without adequate return, it said.
      
Promising protection to minority communities, it said a Minorities Commission and Minorities Finance Commission would be set up if Congress comes to power in Orissa.

The party also promised to set up multi facility hospitals for every 50,000 population alongwith filling the vacant posts in all government hospitals at the earliest.

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