Uddhav Thackeray, Sharad Pawar and Sonia Gandhi

MUMBAI: For a party that once demanded the deletion of the words "secular" and "socialist" from the preamble of the Constitution, the Shiv Sena has come a long way. The very first line of the Common Minimum Programme (CMP) forged by the Sena-led ruling coalition in Maharashtra espouses the upholding of "secular values".

The CMP signed by Uddhav Thackeray , Jayant Patil (NCP president) and Balasaheb Thorat (Congress state chief) says, "The alliance partners commit to uphold the secular values enshrined in the Constitution." It further states that on contentious issues of national importance, especially those with consequences for the "secular fabric of the nation", the tripartite coalition will take a joint view after consultations.

The CMP, released hours before the swearing-in on Thursday, lays out a road-map for governance, listing out proposed initiatives in various sectors including industry where it promises faster clearances, healthcare with wider insurance coverage, and housing with bigger homes through slum rehab. It also promises immediate aid to farmers hit by unseasonal weather as well as a loan waiver . It says crop insurance schemes will be revised so that cultivators get immediate compensation for losses. Besides, it promises steps to ensure remunerative prices for farm produce.

To tackle unemployment, it promises to fill up all vacant state government posts immediately. Further, a law will be enacted whereby 80% of private sector jobs will be reserved for local/domiciled youth. Addressing a joint press conference held at a suburban hotel, Jayant Patil, who is among the signatories to the new government's CMP, said it provides a broad framework for promises meant to be fulfilled over the next five years. "Once government formation is done, the details will be worked out and it will be shared," he said.

Among specific initiatives spelt out is a rehabilitation plan to offer a 500sq feet tenement to eligible slum dwellers instead of 300sq feet, with basic amenities and infrastructure in Mumbai and rest of Maharashtra.

To tackle unemployment, it promises to fill up all vacant state government posts immediately. It also says crop insurance schemes will be revised so that farmers get immediate compensation for losses. Besides, it promises steps to ensure remunerative prices for farm produce.

The CMP also promises to improve roads in municipal council and corporation areas. Patil clarified that these roads would be in slum areas and no roads will be taken over from the Sena-ruled BMC for improvement. Gesturing towards Sena leader Eknath Shinde, Patil said, "now that they (Sena) are in government, any decision on this will be taken in consultation with them."

To facilitate talks for implementing its programme, the three-party coalition also outlined plans to set up two coordination committees - one for coordination within the state cabinet and the other for coordination among alliance partners.

Key sectors addressed at the unveiling of the CMP also included welfare schemes, water conservation and women's safety. "Adequate steps shall be initiated for the construction of sustainable water supply system for the drought-affected areas," reads the CMP.

Women's safety, says the CMP, will be accorded the highest priority. It will take up construction of working women's hostels in urban centres. Also, girls from economically weaker sections have been promised free education and a hike proposed in the honorarium for aanganwadi sevikas/Asha workers.

For social justice, government has outlined measures to tackle pending demands of underprivileged groups like SCs/STs/Dhangars/OBCs, etc to ensure basic demands pertaining to food, shelter, education, health, employment are met. It's also proposed schemes to eliminate "social, educational and economic backwardness of the minority community." For new industries, the CMP promises concessions and a simplified process for investments. Information Technology received a special mention with the CMP promising necessary policy reforms.

Special measures are also being planned for tourism development, improving facilities for senior citizens, and tackling of food and drug adulteration, reads the CMP.

The government also proposes to launch Re 1 clinics at taluka levels to conduct pathological tests, and build super-speciality hospitals and medical colleges in each district in a phased manner.



In Video: Aghadi announces CMP; jobs, women's safety in focus