Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Focus on jobs, gig workers, legal guarantee for MSP in Congress' draft manifesto

The Congress party has promised a comprehensive social security cover for gig workers, an immediate recruitment on at least 30 lakh vacant Central government posts and 33 per cent reservation for women in government jobs in its manifesto, a draft of which was handed over to party Chief on March 6 by the members of the Congress Manifesto Committee.

According to the sources, the manifesto also proposes a legal status for Minimum Support Price, implementation of recommendations, a pan-India caste census, and increasing reservations for the OBC community.

The social security cover for gig workers, which may be offered as a right-based law, will likely encompass pension, disability and life insurance, according to a report inThe plan has been modelled on a law that former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot implemented in the state last year.

The party may also repackage the (NYAY) programme – which found few takers during the 2019 elections – and offer ₹ 72,000 annually to the eldest woman in the country’s 20% poorest families. The manifesto may also promise scrapping the military recruitment scheme ‘Agnipath’, suggested.

Manifesto Committee Chairperson and former Finance Minister, , along with panel members, presented the draft of the manifesto to Kharge on Wednesday. The manifesto will now be scrutinised by the party’s to give the final touches.

Former Deputy Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh, TS Singh Deo, is the Convenor. Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah, Jairam Ramesh, Shashi Tharoor and are other members of the panel.

Overall, the manifesto is likely to be based on the thrust areas of Rahul Gandhi’s (BJNY), which focuses on ‘Protecting the Constitution,’ emphasising economic, social, and political justice.

The party may