The ‘Nyay Patra’ — what the country’s primary opposition promises

Election manifestos are documents that outline a party’s intentions and promises. Recently, the Indian National Congress (INC) released its election manifesto, titled the ‘Nyay Patra’, which focuses on the five pillars of justice — Yuvaa Nyay, Naari Nyay, Sharmik Nyay, Kisaan Nyay, and Hissedari Nyay.

The INC promises a nation-wide caste census, and removal of the 50% cap on reservations for SCs, STs, and OBCs through a constitutional amendment. It plans to launch the ‘Mahalakshmi scheme’ under which 1 lakh rupees would be transferred to the bank account of the oldest woman of every poor family. The manifesto also announces an increase in MGNREGA Wages to 400 rupees per day, and a legal guarantee to the MSPs (Minimum Support Price) announced by the government each year.

Through the ‘Nyay Patra’, thus, the Congress launches a slew of welfare schemes for various sections of society. And while these schemes are seen as efforts to further the causes of social justice and equity, they might pose a tremendous fiscal burden on the government.

The INC also ensures the writing off of all educational loans pending as of March, 2024, which would require banks to be compensated by the government and subsequently may account for a major drain of the national treasury.

The manifesto adopts a reparative approach, where it ensures calling back of laws that have seen widespread protests. However, on the whole, it does not propose any substantial laws to replace the ones it proposes to scrap. While the measures announced do offer an alternative idea to voters, parts of the manifesto are deemed to be unviable.

The ‘Nyay Patra’ seems to have set the stage for the elections less than a fortnight away — while the voters remain on the lookout for the BJP-NDA’s retorts, and take cognisance of the absence of a united manifesto by the I.N.D.I.A bloc.

By Trisha Rath

Link to the manifesto: https://manifesto.inc.in/assets/Congress-Manifesto-English-2024-Dyoxp_4E.pdf