Thiruvananthapuram, Tuesday, March 15, 2011: The manifesto of the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) for the upcoming Assembly elections was released here on Tuesday.

The manifesto, the main pitch of which is continuity in governance, also promises a massive job-generation plan, the target that the LDF sets for itself being 25 lakh jobs over five years. Of these, 10 lakh jobs will be in the unorganised sector and five lakh in the information technology and tourism sectors.

The manifesto says that if elected to power, it will provide rice at Rs 2 per kg for all the APL, BPL consumers in the State. It stresses on infrastructure development and to extend the social security measures already initiated by the V S Achuthanandan Government to more people in the State.

The manifesto promises steps to raise all pensions for the aged to Rs.1,000, implement welfare schemes for domestic workers and staff of unaided educational schools, better maternity benefits for women in the unorganised sector and ‘cradle-to-grave’ social-security coverage for every child born to BPL families.

Provision of a subsidy of Rs.20 for every litre of kerosene sold to fisher folk and a Rs.5,000-crore special package for the coastal areas.

The other highlights of the manifesto are as follows:

1. Free books, food and uniform for school children

2. Reservation for the backwards in the upper class section

3. Homes to be provided for all

4. Supply of water to all homes in the state within five years

5. ‘Haritha Shree’ project for paddy cultivation

6. Pension for employees in un-aided sector

7. Increase in aid for the disabled

8. Implementation of the Sabarimala master plan

9. Comprehensive road package worth 40,000 crore

10. Investment in higher education sector to be raised

11. Power in all homes within six months

12. Janamaithri police system to be extended to all police stations in the state

13. Putting brakes to the function of lottery mafia in the state by protecting the state lotteries.

14. Public education sector to be strengthened.

15. More posting of women police personnel

16. Ending all debts of KSRTC