Punjab polls 2017: AAP Dalit manifesto

Aparna Banerji

Tribune News Service

Goraya (Phillaur), Nov 25

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal said today that the AAP would make a Dalit the Deputy CM of Punjab, if voted to power.

He made the announcement after releasing AAP’s Dalit manifesto at Dana Mandi here. “All parties promise the moon to voters, but none of them make Dalits part of the power matrix. AAP will provide Dalits with a share in power,” the AAP convener said.

“Out of compulsion, Dalits are fielded from reserved seats. Kanshi Ram and BR Ambedkar dreamed of Dalits having a share in power. Equal rights can only be ensured when Dalits will be part of the power structure. The AAP will ensure that.”

Out to woo the community of Doaba, Kejriwal started his speech with “Jai Bhim, Jai Bharat”. “AAP is the first party to release a manifesto for Dalits, It’s a historic day. Other parties try to lure them, but never find solutions through a separate manifesto,” he said.

The promises made in the manifesto, which bears Ambedkar’s sketch on its cover, include constitution of an SIT to look into atrocities against Dalits in the past five years and punishment to guilty in all such cases, better schools and a special cell to monitor implementation of post-matric scholarship scheme.

What Dalit manifesto promises

• Low-cost housing scheme for Dalits; pucca houses for all community members
• Village common land reserved for Dalits won’t be up for auction for persons of other castes
• Crop failure: Farm labourers to get compensation of Rs 10,000 for every month of loss of work
• Shagun scheme amount to be increased to Rs 51,000; old-age pension, widow pension and handicap pension to be increased from Rs 500 to Rs 2,000
• Free education for underprivileged Dalit girls up to Class XII
• Punjab Scheduled Caste Commission to be empowered
• Provision for reservation in state boards and corporations for Dalits on the pattern of government departments
• Special cell to monitor proper implementation of post-matric scholarship scheme
• Special SIT for atrocities and false cases registered against Dalits in past five years
• Committees in each department to identify and fill job vacancies for Dalits
• Social security scheme for all Dalits
• ollateral free loan of Rs 2 lakh for small businesses or village-based enterprises for poor
• Mandatory complaint office to deal with discrimination against Dalits in all educational institutions, offices and NGOs