SHILLONG, MAR 9: The opposition Congress on Saturday announced its five major commitments, which include creation of over 30 lakh jobs, if elected to power in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections.
Addressing media persons, Secretary of the Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee Manuel Badwar said, “Congress guarantees that it will create 30 lakh jobs in the central government, according to a published jobs calendar. There are 10 lakh sanctioned posts that are vacant in central ministries/departments. There are other vacant posts in health, education, police and army. We will also create new jobs, our party manifesto will outline the details.”
He said the Congress also guarantees a new Right to Apprenticeship Act to provide a one-year apprenticeship with a private or a public sector company to every diploma holder or college graduate below the age of 25. Apprentices will get Rs 1 lakh a year (Rs 8,500/month).
“We are the first to make apprenticeship a demand-driven right. Every qualifying person who wants to be placed will be placed. No one is forcing this on companies. The 1961 Apprentices Act already requires it. We are scaling up the existing idea and targeting 50 lakh apprenticeships. Currently there are 8 lakh apprentices under the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme. This ambitious act will facilitate skills, employability and above all dignity for our youth,” he said.
The Secretary of the MPCC said that the Congress guarantees new laws to ensure the highest standards of integrity and fairness in the conduct of public examinations that will prevent paper leaks from destroying the future of crores of youth.
He said that the Indian Express documented 41 paper leaks over the last five years in recruitment exams across 15 states. These ruined ambitions of 1.4 crore applicants. He cited that the most recent example this year is the UP Police Constable Exam for 60,244 posts in which 48 lakh youth applied, and paid Rs 400 each (general category). It was cancelled and the hopes of lakhs of youth were dashed.
Badwar informed that the Congress will create a Rs 5,000 crore , with allotments spread across all districts of the country for a period of five years. Youth below the age of 40 years can avail start-up funding for their business enterprises in any sector.
He said the existing schemes like the government’s Rs 10,000 crore Fund of Funds Scheme only benefit elite investors from top institutions. The bulk of India’s youth cannot avail these opportunities. We will ensure geographical diversification of opportunities.
Badwar said that the Congress is committed to bring legislation to ensure better working conditions and social security for lakhs and lakhs of youth who seek employment every year in the gig economy.
Gig workers earn less than other workers according to NCAER data and their incomes fell between 2019 and 2022.
He said that the Congress passed the Rajathan Platform-Based Gig Workers Act in 2023. In Karnataka we offer Rs 2 lakh life insurance and Rs 2 lakh accident insurance.
In Telangana we have promised Rs 5 lakh accident insurance and Rs 10 lakh health insurance through the Rajiv Aarogyasri scheme.