Hours before the Lok Sabha poll schedule was announced, Congress unveiled a series of promises aimed at addressing key socio-economic challenges and disparities across urban and rural India on Saturday. AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge, who was in Bengaluru, outlined Congress’s commitment to implementing a comprehensive urban employment guarantee scheme.
Additionally, the party pledges to raise daily wages under the rural employment guarantee scheme to Rs 400 per day, aiming to uplift millions of workers across the country. Congress has also proposed conducting a nationwide caste census, termed “Ginati Karo”, to assess the socio-economic and political status of all communities. This census would serve as the basis for ensuring proportional representation and for distribution of government benefits. “A comprehensive caste census survey will be conducted, and a constitutional amendment will be made to raise the 50% cap on reservations for SCs, STs, and OBCs. Through this the population, socio-economic condition of all castes and communities, their share in national wealth, and their representation in institutions related to governance will be surveyed,” Kharge said, adding that this would bring about a revolutionary change.
Kharge highlighted two significant guarantees: “Shramik Nyay”, focusing on the welfare of labour classes, and “Hissedaryi Nyay”, which aims to extend benefits to communities based on their populations. The latter includes lifting the 50% cap on reservations to accommodate more communities and protecting the rights of adivasis over natural resources.
Under “Shramik Nyay”, the party vows to increase daily wages and introduce an urban employment guarantee scheme, while also advocating stricter enforcement of pro-labour laws and a review of anti-labour legislation enacted by the current government. Kharge emphasised the urgency of addressing widening economic disparities under the Modi administration, asserting the Congress’s commitment to fulfilling these promises in a timely manner.
He urged voters to carefully consider the party’s guarantees and support them in the elections. The announcement reflects Congress’s concerted efforts to prioritise the welfare of marginalised communities and the working class, positioning itself as a champion of social justice and inclusive development.
