Context :
EC:
Parties must declare what ‘freebies’ will cost .. TOI … 22 Mar 2024
Extract :
Supreme Court, during past hearings on a clutch of PILs including the
lead one by Ashwini Upadhyay, stressed that it can’t stop political
parties from announcing welfare measures for citizens but agreed to distinguish them from irrational
freebies like loan waivers, free TVs, among others, which strain budget of
states, many of them facing financial constraints.
Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar
has devised two data-hungry
forms which EC proposes be filled by each political party, explaining
financial implications of each freebie announced ahead of polls.
Most parties have not responded to EC’s missive while major parties like
Congress, AAP and CPM have opposed any fetter on their decision to announce
sops.
Form A - intends to mandate each party to :
> list out freebies,
> number of target group people,
> expenditure per person on availing the benefit, and
> estimated total expenditure for each freebie.
The promised schemes may include :
Ø schemes/welfare measures such as distribution of free laptops for students,
consumer durables, gadgets,
Ø loan waiver for farmers,
Ø free water, electricity, and transport.
Form B :
Breakup of financial implications, as proposed
to be sought in Form B, could cause consternation among political parties.
A party would also have to put in writing :
Ø the estimated amount required for implementing
its electoral promises and
Ø specify the measures, including TAXATION, to be
taken to , for generating the requisite finances , over and above the BE / RE
If EC proposal is found workable, political
parties will have to engage economists to answer queries about :
> impact
of financing funding of freebies on fiscal health of state/country,
> its effect on debt servicing, and
> whether the party, on coming to power,
will resort to additional borrowings.
Dear Shri Rajiv Kumarji ,
( Chief Election
Commissioner / cec@eci.gov.in ) :
At the outset,
congratulations for your initiative in bringing transparency in respect of
implications of promises being made in Election Manifestos
I have no idea as to the
exact “ data-fields
“ of the Forms A and B
But going through an
Election Manifesto of any political party, requires determination /
perseverance !
Just try going through 45 pages of “ Election
Manifesto – 2019 “ of BJP
For enabling general
public to grasp its “ essence “ quickly and easily, I re-arranged it as shown
in my following blog / email
I urge you to PERSUADE all
political parties to adopt this SIMPLIFIED FORMAT (
of course , after incorporating the requirement of your Form A / Form B
With regards,
Hemen Parekh
www.HemenParekh.ai / 23 March 2024
Ø Simple
Summary of Sankalp ………………….. 10 Apr 2019
SIMPLE SUMMARY of SANKALP PATRA ( BJP MANIFESTO / 2019 )
|
What does the Item Description denote ? |
|
Serial No |
Item Description |
OUTPUT ( target ) |
METHOD / MEANS ( for achieving target ) |
INPUT (Resource ) |
|
Nation 08 |
Smart Fencing
on all borders |
✓ |
||
|
Farmers |
Double
Farmers’ Income |
✓ |
||
|
01 |
Expand
coverage of PM-KSNY to all farmers |
✓ |
||
|
02 |
Pension
Scheme for small-marginal Farmers |
✓ |
||
|
03 |
Rs 25 akh*cr investment in Agri-rural sector |
✓ |
||
|
04 |
Interest free
Kisan Credit Card Loans |
✓ |
||
|
08 |
Launch Oil Seeds
Mission |
✓ |
||
|
09 |
Warehouse
Network across the country |
✓ |
||
|
10 / 1 |
Organic
Farming in addi 20 lakh hectare |
✓ |
||
|
10 / 2 |
Launch
dedicated e-com portal |
✓ |
||
|
11 |
Will double
the honey production from 11500 tons |
✓ |
||
|
12 |
Realize 100 %
irrigation potential of the country |
✓ |
||
|
13 |
1 crore
hectare agri land under micro-irrigation |
✓ |
||
|
15 |
Create 10000
new Farmer Produce Organizations |
✓ |
||
|
16 |
Set up
mechanism for of direct mktg of Vegetables |
✓ |
||
|
17 |
Create a
Mobile App system for Agri-Implements |
✓ |
||
|
21 |
Complete digitization
of land records |
✓ |
||
|
ECONOMY |
||||
|
01 |
Make India 3rd largest
economy by 2030 |
✓ |
||
|
03 |
Will continue
with policy of lowering tax rates |
✓ |
||
|
04 |
Will continue
with simplification of GST process |
✓ |
||
|
06 |
By 2024, will
invest Rs 100 L*Cr in
Infrastructure |
✓ |
||
|
08 |
Will take Ease
of Doing Biz rank into top 50 |
✓ |
||
|
Will amend
Companies Act |
✓ |
|||
|
Will announce
New Industrial Policy |
✓ |
|||
|
We will invest
in creating clusters / networks |
✓ |
|||
|
09 |
Increase loans
to MSME from Rs 19,000 Cr to 1,00,000 Cr by
2024 |
✓ |
||
|
10 |
Install 150
Technology Centre by 2024 |
✓ |
||
|
11 |
High level
Skilling to more than 6 lakh / year |
✓ |
||
|
12 |
Will establish
National Traders’ Welfare Board |
✓ |
||
|
Create
National Policy for Retail Trade |
✓ |
|||
|
Accident Insurance
of Rs 10 L for GST traders |
✓ |
|||
|
Scheme for
Credit Card for registered merchants |
✓ |
|||
|
13 |
For
Entrepreneurs, collateral-free credit of Rs 50 L |
✓ |
||
|
14 |
Easing
regulatory requirement for Start ups |
✓ |
||
|
Establish
50,000 new Start-ups by 2024 |
✓ |
|||
|
Create 100
Innovation Zones in Urban Local Bodies |
✓ |
|||
|
Set up 500 new
Incubators /Accelerators by 2024 |
✓ |
|||
|
Bring in
Innovation-newer Technologies – Global practices and Skills |
✓ |
|||
|
15 |
Create Seed
Start up Fund of Rs 20,000 Cr |
✓ |
||
|
17 |
Will set up
Entrepreneurial Northeast Scheme |
✓ |
||
|
INFRASTRUCTURE |
||||
|
05 |
Will set up 5
Regional Centre of Excellence |
✓ |
||
|
06 |
Will launch
National Urban Mobility Mission |
✓ |
||
|
07 |
Will ensure 50
cities with strong Metro Network |
✓ |
||
|
10 |
Will form new
Ministry of Water for linking rivers |
✓ |
||
|
11 |
Will launch
Jal Jivan Mission |
✓ |
||
|
Will ensure
piped water for every house by 2024 |
✓ |
|||
|
13 |
Will construct
60,000 Km of Nat Highways in 5 yrs |
✓ |
||
|
14 |
Will double
the length of Nat Highways by 2022 |
✓ |
||
|
19 |
Conversion of
viable rail tracks to broad gauge by 2022 |
✓ |
||
|
20 |
Electrification
of all rail tracks by 2022 |
✓ |
||
|
22 |
Will complete
dedicated freight corridors by 2022 |
✓ |
||
|
24 |
Equip all main
stations with Wi-Fi by 2022 |
✓ |
||
|
HEALTH |
||||
|
01 |
Set up 150,000
Health and Wellness Centre by 2022 |
✓ |
||
|
02 |
Create Pricing
Policy for medical devices |
✓ |
||
|
03 |
Set up 75
Medical Institutes by 2022 |
✓ |
||
|
04 |
Double
MBBS/Specialist doctors by 2024 |
✓ |
||
|
07 |
Full
immunization for all children and pregnant women by 2022 |
✓ |
||
|
08 |
Eliminate TB
by 2025 |
✓ |
||
|
GOOD GOVERNANCE |
||||
|
01 |
Build
consensus for simultaneous elections |
✓ |
||
|
02 |
Ensure a
Common Voter List for ALL elections |
✓ |
||
|
06 |
Will formulate
a Model Police Act |
✓ |
||
|
09 |
Enact
legislation for Int Fin Services Centre Autho |
✓ |
||
|
11 |
Set up
Committee for Easing Citizens’ Interface with Govt ( CECIG ) |
✓ |
||
|
12 |
Ensure
time-bound delivery of public services / implement the Right to Service |
✓ |
||
|
13 |
Will launch a
new Science Mission for development of cutting edge technologies |
✓ |
||
|
14 |
Will set up
National Research Foundation |
✓ |
||
|
15 |
Will launch a
Language Translation Mission |
✓ |
||
|
16 |
Will initiate
a Genome Mission for human health |
✓ |
||
|
18 |
Will get
latest technologies to transform waste to Energy and Wealth |
✓ |
||
|
19 |
Will start “
National Program for Rapid Research in Socially Contextual Technologies “ |
✓ |
||
|
21 |
Will convert
National Clean Air Plan into a Mission / will reduce pollution in 102 cities
by 35% (2024) |
✓ |
||
|
YUVA BHARAT |
||||
|
02 |
Will launch
new scheme to provide collateral-free credit upto Rs 50 lakh for
Entrepreneurs |
✓ |
||
|
Will set up “
Entrepreneurial NorthEast “ Scheme |
✓ |
|||
|
Increase Mudra
loan beneficiaries to 30 Crore |
✓ |
|||
|
Create Seed
Startup Fund of Rs 20,000 Cr |
✓ |
|||
|
03 |
Will
incentivize/reward self-organized groups |
✓ |
||
|
04 |
Support
large-scale internship programme for youth in urban local bodies |
✓ |
||
|
07 |
Will establish
National Sports Education Board |
✓ |
||
|
EDUCATION FOR ALL |
||||
|
02 |
Will initiate
a Prime Minister Innovative Learning Program for talented children |
✓ |
||
|
03 |
Will establish
National Institutes of Teachers’ Training |
✓ |
||
|
05 |
Will open 200
Kendriya and Navodaya Vidyalayas by
2024 |
✓ |
||
|
06 |
Will increase
no of seats by 50 % in Law / Eng / Science and Mgmt Institutions |
✓ |
||
|
08 |
Will set up
Arts / Culture / Music University / |
✓ |
||
|
Hospitality – Tourism
Univ / Police University |
✓ |
|||
|
09 |
Will formulate
new regulatory mechanism to provide autonomy to quality institutions |
✓ |
||
|
10 |
Create 50
“Institutions of Excellence” by 2024 |
✓ |
||
|
13 |
Will
incentivize industry to collaborate with Scientific Labs and Technological
Institutions |
✓ |
||
|
14 |
Providing
access to leading journals , free of cost, to students from National Digital
Library of India |
✓ |
||
|
15 |
Will formulate
“ National Policy for Reskilling and Upskilling” for Industry-responsive
workforce |
✓ |
||
|
WOMEN EMPOWERMENT |
||||
|
03 |
Will formulate
a “Women in Workforce”
road map |
✓ |
||
|
04 |
Preferential
govt purchase for MSME employing at least 50 % women in their workforce |
✓ |
||
|
05 |
Increase no of
Child Care Facilities by 300 % by 2024 |
✓ |
||
|
06 |
Bill to
abolish Triple Talaq / Nikah Halala |
✓ |
||
|
08 |
Reduce
malnutrition level by 10 % by 2024 |
✓ |
||
|
09 |
Sanitary pads
@ Re 1 for all women and girls |
✓ |
||
|
14 |
33%
reservation for women in parliament |
✓ |
||
|
INCLUSIVE DEVELOPMENT |
||||
|
03 |
Every block
with more than 50 % ST population and at least 20,000 tribal persons will
have an Eklavya Model Residential School |
✓ |
||
|
05 |
Will establish
50,000 “ Van Dhan Vikas Kendras” |
✓ |
||
|
07 |
Will bring
down to a single digit, number of families living below poverty line |
✓ |
||
|
08 |
Pucca house
for poor by 2022 |
✓ |
||
|
09 |
Provide
subsidized sugar ( @ Rs 13/kg/family ) to 80 crore
families |
✓ |
||
|
10 |
Ensure
everyone has bank facility within 5 km |
✓ |
||
|
11 |
Further revise
the tax slabs and tax benefits |
✓ |
||
|
23 |
Expand
PM-Shram Yogi Maandhan for shopkeeper |
✓ |
||
|
24 |
Create
PM-Kalanidhi Yojana for traditional arts |
✓ |
||
|
25 |
Will formulate
Child Protection Framework |
✓ |
||
ACTION PLAN for IMPLEMENTATION :
· Divide / break-up the Sankalp Patra , into
individual items ( within 10 days of assuming office )
· Assign each item implementation to ONE minister (
no collective responsibility / one man accountable )
· Within 10 days of “ Assignment “, ministers to
submit following “ Sankalp to Sampanna “ form to the PMO and , after approval ,
publish on its own web site :
SANKALP to SAMPANNA
|
Sankalp Item |
Full
description |
|
Targets |
Quantitative /
Measureable targets for each of next 5 years |
|
Monitoring
Agency |
Name of “
government-independent”, THIRD PARTY agency ( Eg : Think Tank / Academic
Institution / World Bank / IMF / International Rating Agency etc
) |
|
Data Sources |
List of “ Govt
Records “ accessible to the Agency |
|
Publication |
Web sites of
Ministry / Agency to display “ Target vs Achievement “ , quarterly |
|
Public
Feedback |
Online /
mobile based ,“ Survey / Opinion Poll “ for public to provide its own “
rating “ (1-5 scale ) of the Minister’s performance ( once a quarter ) |
10 April 2019