Lok Sabha Election 2024: Congress promises to abolish Agnipath Scheme, fill 30 lakh vaccanices

Congress releases its manifesto for 2024 Lok Sabha elections with focus on justice.

The Indian National Congress, in its manifesto for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, has promised to fill nearly 30 lakh vacancies in sanctioned posts at various levels in the central government departments and abolish Agnipath Scheme if it is elected to power.

In the manifesto, the party has mentioned it will publish a job calendar for each department, institution, and public body with details of vacancies and the timelines to fill the vacancies.

It has also promised to abolish the Agnipath Scheme and go for direct recruitment in the armed forces to achieve the full sanctioned strength.

“Appoint a second ASHA worker in all villages with a population exceeding 2,500 persons. Double the number of Anganwadi workers and create an additional 14 lakh jobs. Create a new employment-linked incentive (ELI) Scheme for corporates to win tax credits for additional hiring against regular, quality jobs,” reads the manifesto.

The grand old party will also launch a strategic mining programme to explore and mine rare earths and critical minerals with the object of increasing the share of mining to 5 per cent of GDP and creating 1.5 crore jobs for unskilled and skilled workers in the mineral-rich states.

The programme will be implemented consistent with stringent environmental and labour safety standards.

“We will launch an urban employment programme guaranteeing work for the urban poor in the reconstruction and renewal of urban infrastructure. Provide jobs for low-education, low-skilled youth by launching a water bodies restoration programme and a wasteland regeneration programme that will be implemented through village panchayats and municipalities,” confirms the manifesto.

The party has mentioned that it will establish an autonomous non-profit society involving the state governments, universities, and business organisations to establish at least one Skills Training Institute in each district to impart skills through short- and long-term courses to youth in the age group of 18-29 years.