BJP promises new RP, cut in petrol prices, Lokayukta

PANAJI: The Goa BJP on Sunday released its election manifesto promising to appoint a Lokayukta within 100 days of coming to power, reducing petrol prices by 11 per litre by removing VAT with effect from April 2012 and assuring an allowance of 1,000 per month to housewives to fight price rise.
The 11-page manifesto, titled "BJP Goa vision document 2012-2017" and covering 25 sectors, was released at the hands of Ravi Shankar Prasad, former Union minister and general secretary of the BJP in the presence of opposition leader Manohar Parrikar, state BJP president Laximikant Parsenkar, BJP north Goa MP Shripad Naik, manifesto chairman and Mapusa MLA Francis D'Souza and others.
Releasing the "vision document", Prasad said that it reflects the BJP's "commitment for change and good governance in Goa." Prasad said the BJP will govern the state on the motto of "development, trust, amity and commitment."
On the contentious medium-of-instruction issue, the BJP "assures an amicable solution," which will consider the "sentiments of certain sections of the population." The BJP has also assured that the "regional plan 2021 to be scrapped. A new RP to be made, keeping in mind Goa's identity and clean, green and eco-friendly Goa."
In "housing and taxes", the BJP has promised "total abolition of house tax on all dwelling houses of personal use in Panchayat areas. In case of municipal areas, this will be applicable only to dwellings which belong to those who are below poverty line. Panchayat and civic bodies will be compensated accordingly."
In "health", the existing Suvarna Jayanti Bima Yojana will be modified to ensure better coverage in private hospitals along with a benefit increased to 2 lakh from the existing 60,000." Under "woman, child and social welfare", the BJP has promised to deposit 1 lakh into the bank account of a girl child on completion of 18 years towards marriage expenses under the "Ladli Laxmi Yojana scheme."
While every housewife will get an allowance of 1000 per month to combat price rise, the BJP government will also ensure a fixed price on gas cylinders for five years. DSSS pensions will also be raised to 2000 per month. Differently-abled and senior citizens with chronic illnesses will be entitled to an additional allowance of 500 per month.
Under "information technology", the cyberage scheme will be modified so that students in class XI and above procure laptops directly from dealers of their choice. In mining, 60% of the royalty received by the government on mining will be used for infrastructure, developmental projects, agricultural and environmental revitalization in the areas affected by mining. Under "urban and rural development", the BJP promises to make Goa "plastic free within a period of three years" and "garbage management for the entire state within 18 months in consultation with all stakeholders."
Parrikar said that the manifesto or vision document is the sum total of his interaction with the people of Goa during his recent 16-day Jan Sampark Abhiyan.
Goa Assembly Elections 2012
Assembly elections news 2012