Civic Elections 2025: Congress Releases Public Manifesto, See Highlights

Raipur: Ahead of the urban civic elections scheduled for February 11, 2025, the Congress party has released its public manifesto at Rajiv Bhavan, Raipur. The event was attended by State President Deepak Baij, Manifesto Committee Chairman Satyanarayan Sharma, Mayoral candidate Deepti Dubey, former MLA Vikas Upadhyay, Pramod Dubey, and Youth Congress State President Aakash Sharma.
Key Promises in Congress' Civic Elections Manifesto 2025:
Conservation & Beautification of Lakes – Special efforts will be made to protect and enhance lakes.
Changing Rooms for Women – Changing rooms to be built at ghats and lakes for women.
Women’s Sanitation Facilities – Special provisions for public toilets in urban commercial areas.
Enhanced Women’s Safety – CCTV cameras will be installed at major city intersections, near schools and colleges, in coordination with the police control room.
Parking & Charging for E-Rickshaws & Auto Rickshaws – Dedicated parking and charging stations for e-rickshaws and auto-rickshaws.
Increased Financial Assistance for BPL Families – Assistance under Shraddhanjali Yojana will be raised from ₹2,000 to ₹5,000 for BPL cardholders.
Regularization of Temporary Municipal Employees – Efforts will be made to regularize contract-based employees in municipal corporations.
Online Payment for Taxes & Utility Bills – Citizens will be able to pay property tax, water charges, and other fees online from home.
Expansion of Online Building Permit System – Within six months, online building permit services will be made available in all areas.
Simplified Housing Allocation – The housing allocation process will be made more transparent to ensure all eligible people get homes.
Public Display of Sanitation Worker Information – Details of sanitation workers assigned to each ward will be displayed publicly.
Free Libraries for Competitive Exam Preparation – Fully-equipped, free libraries will be established in every municipality for students.
Free Water Tanker Services for Community Events – Municipalities will provide free water tankers for public events like death ceremonies and weddings.
Rationalization of User Charges – User charges for various services will be made more affordable.
Making Cities Dust-Free – Steps will be taken to reduce dust pollution in urban areas. Women’s Priority in Pauni-Pasari Scheme – Women will be prioritized for benefits under the Pauni-Pasari scheme, with improved facilities.
Support for Street Vendors – Designated vending zones will be created to provide proper spaces for mobile street vendors.
Cheque Signing Rights Restored to Civic Presidents – The cheque-signing rights of municipal presidents, which were revoked by the previous government, will be reinstated to enhance transparency and accountability.
Free Community Halls for Weddings of Poor Girls – Community halls will be provided free of cost for girl child marriages. Online Booking for Community Halls – A digital system for booking community halls will be implemented.
Land Rights for Landless People on Government Property – People residing on government land will be given legal ownership rights.
Pension for Senior Citizens, Disabled & Destitute – Ensuring all eligible individuals receive pensions without bureaucratic delays.
Scholarships for Meritorious Students – Outstanding students from government schools and Atmanand Schools will receive financial incentives. Anganwadi Centers in Every Ward – Fully equipped Anganwadi centers will be built in all wards.
Free Sanitary Napkins for School & College Girls – Menstrual hygiene products will be distributed free of cost to students.
Home Delivery of Birth, Death & Marriage Certificates – Citizens will be able to receive official certificates at their doorstep.
Employment Hubs for Youth – Youth employment hubs will be set up in all urban areas to create job opportunities.
Special Employment Schemes for Women Self-Help Groups – Women self-help groups will be given business opportunities and financial support.
Free Public Wi-Fi at Public Places – Cities will have free Wi-Fi hotspots at public locations.
Citizen Charters for Municipalities – Congress-run municipalities will set fixed deadlines for public works and publish a Citizen Charter for transparency.
Property Tax Incentives – Special discounts will be provided for timely property tax payments.
High-Tech Restrooms for Journalists – Journalists will have access to modern, well-equipped restrooms in all municipal corporations.
Dedicated Vegetable Markets in Every Ward – New vegetable markets will be developed in each ward.
Stray Animal Control Measures – Measures will be taken to free cities from stray animals.
With these promises, Congress aims to make urban governance more transparent, efficient, and citizen-friendly. The manifesto outlines key reforms focused on women’s safety, public services, employment generation, and civic infrastructure. As the February 10 civic elections approach, it remains to be seen how voters respond to these promises and reforms.