JMM Pledges Jobs, Domicile Policy, and Increased Reservation

The party promises 10 lakh jobs, monthly aid for women, and free electricity

Key Points:

– Jharkhand Mukti Morcha pledges to implement 1932-based Domicile policy

– Promises reservation increase, Sarna religion code, and women’s aid

– Land acquisition policy to be revoked and land for the landless promised

RANCHI – Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) unveiled a comprehensive manifesto for the 2024 Jharkhand Assembly elections, pledging to implement the 1932-based domicile policy and to increase reservations if re-elected.

The manifesto, released by JMM leader Shibu Soren and party general secretary Vinod Kumar Pandey, also promises 10 lakh government jobs, 200 units of free electricity, and substantial monthly financial support for women.

The manifesto emphasizes a long-standing commitment to increase the reservation cap, proposing 27% for backward classes, 28% for Scheduled Tribes, and 12% for Scheduled Castes. It also promises to push for the Sarna religion code and the inclusion of local tribal languages like Ho, Mundari, and Kurukh in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution. The manifesto highlights the revocation of the 2017 Land Acquisition Amendment and Land Bank policies to prioritize tribal land rights.

Economic Aid and Employment Generation Plans

Under the "Hemant Dobara" slogan, JMM has pledged financial aid, promising women ₹2,500 per month and 200 free electricity units per household. The party aims to provide free agricultural loans, guaranteed employment under MGNREGA with a minimum wage of ₹350 per day, and support for tenant farmers and agricultural laborers.

To address unemployment, the manifesto promises 10 lakh jobs within five years, with education loans up to ₹15 lakh for Class 10 students through the Guruji Student Credit Card scheme. The party also aims to establish engineering and medical colleges and appoint 10,000 language teachers to preserve regional and tribal dialects.

Social Reforms, Women’s Rights, and Tribal Development

In addition to financial support, JMM pledges 33% job reservation for women, free health care up to ₹15 lakh per family, and establishment of cooperative colleges and women’s colleges in every subdivision. The party also plans new policies for widowed and abandoned women and aims to improve maternity benefits.

For Jharkhand’s tribal communities, JMM will push for the creation of a tribal regiment within the Indian Army and advocate for the inclusion of all fallen Jharkhand movement leaders’ birthplaces as tourist sites. The party has also promised to strengthen Gram Sabha powers, repeal amendments to the Forest Conservation Act, and ensure land rights for all landless families through a land distribution program.

Public Welfare and Economic Policies

JMM aims to ensure basic amenities for all Jharkhand residents, including a commitment to provide seven kilograms of rice and two kilograms of pulses monthly to each needy person, gas cylinders for ₹450, and a pension of ₹2,500 per month for widows and differently-abled citizens. To boost small and medium businesses, JMM proposes a loan waiver and industrial parks in each district, with a focus on creating infrastructure for local industries.

The manifesto reiterates the JMM’s focus on preserving the state’s tribal identity and promoting welfare programs to support Jharkhand’s economically disadvantaged and rural communities.