UDF manifesto promises ₹3,000 welfare pension, ₹700 daily wage for ASHA workers and support for agri sector

Ernakulam: Leader of the Opposition V D Satheesan on Thursday unveiled the United Democratic Front (UDF)’s election manifesto in Kochi, promising to raise welfare pensions to ₹3,000, fix a ₹35 per kg procurement price for paddy, and increase the daily wage of ASHA workers to ₹700. Revanth Reddy, Chief Minister of Telangana, attended the event as the chief guest.

Satheesan said the manifesto is anchored in five key guarantees announced by Rahul Gandhi during the concluding phase of the UDF's Puthu Yuga Yatra in Thiruvananthapuram. He announced that the UDF, if voted to power, would increase welfare pensions to ₹3,000 from the current ₹2,000. In addition, Satheesan also promised to create a separate government department aimed at the welfare of senior citizens.

Drawing a parallel with Telangana, Satheesan pointed to Revanth Reddy's implementation of poll promises within 100 days of assuming office, expressing confidence that the UDF would deliver on its commitments without any delay. 

The five guarantees include:

• Free travel on Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) buses to enhance mobility and participation in public life.
• Monthly assistance of ₹1,000 for college-going girl students.
• A ₹25 lakh health insurance scheme named after former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy.
• Increase welfare pensions to ₹3,000
• Interest-free loans for young entrepreneurs and the creation of a dedicated ministry for senior citizens.

The manifesto places strong emphasis on social security, labour welfare, and agricultural reforms. The UDF has promised to bring in legislation to ensure that all eligible beneficiaries receive social security pensions, while reiterating its commitment to raise welfare pensions to ₹3,000.

The front has also pledged to expand ‘Indira Canteen’ services as part of its goal of achieving a hunger-free Kerala. It has proposed free ration support for eligible groups in special circumstances and regions. For poverty alleviation, the UDF plans to roll out “Nava Aashraya”, the second phase of the Aashraya scheme, aimed at identifying and supporting the most vulnerable sections of society.

To address issues in campuses, the manifesto proposes the launch of the ‘Sidharthan – Student Distress App’ to curb ragging and support student welfare. Sidharthan was a student of the College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Pookode, Wayanad, whose death occurred following alleged ragging by activists of the Students’ Federation of India (SFI), the student wing of the CPM. The manifesto also proposes the enactment of a Sidharthan Anti-Ragging & Student Welfare Act to strengthen safeguards in educational institutions.

Focusing on youth empowerment, the UDF has promised to earmark 5 per cent of the plan outlay for young people under the “Yuva Shakti Naadin Sampath” initiative and introduce “Yuvashree” collectives modelled on Kudumbashree.

In the labour sector, the UDF has proposed raising the daily wage of ASHA workers to at least ₹700 and revising wages of scheme workers, including anganwadi staff and school cooks, while ensuring improved access to benefits.

Agriculture reforms

• Introduction of a separate agriculture budget and implementation of the M S Swaminathan Commission recommendations on minimum support prices.
• Assured support price of ₹300 for rubber and a proposal to set up a Rubber Company on the lines of the CIAL model.
• Paddy procurement price of ₹35 per kg, with a streamlined system to directly credit payments to farmers’ bank accounts.
• Increase in support prices for coconut and expansion of procurement centres for tender coconut.
• Pressure on the Centre to include cash crops under the list of agricultural produce.
• Time-bound resolution of issues faced by migrant farmers, including expediting long-pending land-related cases while protecting farmers’ interests.

To mitigate human-wildlife conflict, the manifesto proposes deploying modern technologies such as drones, artificial intelligence, and IoT-based monitoring systems to provide timely alerts on wildlife movement. It also promises a 50  per cent increase in compensation to families of those who lose their lives in wildlife attacks.