Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Sunday said women will be given an annual financial assistance of Rs 15,000 in the state, if the Congress returns to power in the state.
The announcement, which comes ahead of the second phase of Chhattisgarh elections scheduled on November 17, is being seen as a counter to the opposition BJP’s promise in its poll manifesto of giving Rs 12,000 per year to married women.
“Today, on the auspicious occasion of Diwali, with the blessings of Maa Lakshmi ji and Chhattisgarh Mahtari, an important decision has been taken for women empowerment,” Baghel told reporters in Raipur.
“After the Congress government is formed again in Chhattisgarh, women in the state will be provided an annual assistance of Rs 15,000 directly into their bank accounts under the ‘Chhattisgarh Gruha Lakshmi Yojana’,” he said.
He also extended Diwali greetings to people.
Elections in Chhattisgarh is taking place in two phases. The first phase of polling in 20 out of the total 90 assembly seats in the state was held on November 7. The remaining 70 seats will see voting on November 17.
In its party manifesto for the 2023 Chhattisgarh elections, the Congress has promised to conduct a caste census, loan waiver to farmers, Rs 500 subsidy on gas cylinders, free education to students from KG (kindergarten) to PG (post-graduation), free electricity upto 200 units, paddy procurement at Rs 3,200 per quintal under ‘Rajiv Gandhi Nyay Yojana’, among others, if the party is voted to power in the state again.
The party released its manifesto, titled ‘Bharose ka Ghoshna Patra 2023-28’, at six different places – Raipur, Rajnandgaon, Jagdalpur, Bilaspur, Ambikapur and Kawardha – two days before the first phase of the state polls.
