The United Democratic Front (UDF) election manifesto on Saturday guaranteed the poorest families in Kerala a minimum monthly income of ₹ 6,000.
Unconditional cash transfers will reduce income inequality, reduce starvation and help ineligible families avoid the worst deprivations of daily life. The UDF claimed that the scheme would increase spending, increase demand and stimulate the economy.
Welfarism seemed to take center stage in the UDF manifesto. The opposition attempted to advance the ruling front by promising a monthly welfare pension of ₹ 3,000 instead of Left 2,500 guaranteed by the Left Democratic Front (LDF).
The UDF appeared to vote far and wide to attract voters of various income brackets, social backgrounds, employment status, age and gender. It seems that social welfare and subsidies gave rise to economic tightness in the UDF manifesto. There was no notable mention in the 2021 manifesto in the UDF’s 2016 election promise to ban alcohol.
The UDF pledged to transfer F 2,000 monthly to homemakers between the ages of 40 and 60 if they are not covered by the Minimum Monthly Guarantee Scheme.
The UDF set the minimum daily wage at the 700. It also proposed legislation to recover 5.5 lakh acres from illegal owners and to give land to landless tribals and Dalits. The front sought to attract the support of families earning more than ₹ 1 lakh by assuring non-priority ration card holders 5 kg of free rice every month.
At one time, the UDF demanded the adoption of free ration and food kits provided by the LDF government during the COVID-19 epidemic.
The UDF manifesto put too much stock in subsidized health care. It will promise a ‘no bill hospital’ in the public health sector by reducing the medical expenses of patients with cancer, heart, kidney, organ transplant and hemophilia.
One lakh unemployed youths will get two-wheelers at half the price in the market. An ex-gratia payment of ₹ 5,000 is a one-time payment on the card for autorickshaw and taxi drivers. Free housing for five lakh low-income families and maternity allowance for SC / ST mothers are the other main attractions.
UDF matched LDF by promising a minimum price of 250 for rubber. It will write agricultural loans up to 2 lakhs. It vowed to subsidize public transport and self-owned autorickshaw and taxi fuel to make travel more affordable.
On the political front, the UDF promised a law to defend the Sabarimala faith. It promised to stop backdoor appointments, mandating government departments to report vacancies to the Public Service Commission and to conserve the high seas for traditional fishermen.
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