— Photo: T. Singaravelou

WE PROMISE: Pondicherry PCC president P. Shanmugham (second from left), Chief Minister N. Rangasamy (third from left) and other leaders jointly releasing the manifesto in Pondicherry on Monday.

Pondicherry: The manifesto of the Pondicherry Congress committee released here on Monday has promised that there would be full fledged efforts to protect interests of minorities in education and employment opportunities in the Union Territory.

The Pondicherry PCC leader P Shanmugham and Chief Minister N Rangasamy released jointly the 14 page manifesto at the party office and the first copy was received by the General Secretary of the AICC B K Hariprasad. Among those present included the Secretary of the AICC P Sudhakar Reddy and the General Secretary V Narayanasamy MP, the former Chief Minister S Ramassamy, the former Health Minister V Pethaperumal and Jeanne Couppusamy, the chairperson of the Mahila Congress committee.

The manifesto promised that the party if elected to power would take steps would encourage rainwater harvesting schemes and also programmes to recharge sub soil water.

(Congress is contesting as part of the DPA after sharing the remaining fourteen seats with the DMK, the PMK and the CPI).

Industry and Commerce

On "Industry and Commerce" the manifesto made it clear that eco friendly industries would be encouraged to improve economy and to generate employment. Priority would be given by the government to empower women through various programmes and also encourage self-help groups involving rural services.

Other assurances contained in the manifesto related to development of better and swift disaster management facilities, improvement of law and order situation, development of sports and construction of indoor stadium and other basic facilities, making available clean drinking water, construction of new premises for the Assembly in Pondicherry, enhancement of the living conditions of the Scheduled Castes and steps to procure special category status for Pondicherry to improve administrative works and also faster implementation of welfare and development programmes.

Jobs would be procured for the youth in the private and public sectors while steps would be taken to ensure Pondicherry became a "hutless Union Territory" and special impetus would be given for rural and urban housing programmes.

Steps would also be taken at the level of the Centre to recognise the Scheduled Tribes (STs). A reservation of one per cent would also be introduced in jobs and educational opportunities to benefit the STs. Weavers welfare programmes would also be continued without break.

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