The West Bengal Chief Minister also said the 100-day work provision under MNREGA, the government's flagship employment scheme for the rural poor, will be extended to 200 days a year and the wages doubled.
“Why was demonetisation carried out? We want a judicial probe monitored by a former Supreme Court judge...We will bring back the Planning Commission and ensure that it strengthens the federal structure,” Banerjee said during the press conference after releasing the manifesto. The 67-page manifesto has been published in Bengali, English, Hindi, Nepali, and Ol Chiki, the tribal Santhali language.
“We want the GST to be reviewed by an expert committee. If it is really helping people, we would keep it or else we would review it,” she said while adding that both GST and demonetisation have destroyed the Indian economy.
Furthermore speaking on the rising unemployment in the country, Banerjee criticised PM Modi over allegedly failing to keep his promise of creating two crore jobs every year. She also said that the new government will lay special stress on employment generation and filling up the vacancies meant for Schedule Caste, Scheduled Tribe and Other Backward Classes candidates, including those from the minorities.
Banerjee said that women's empowerment and bringing workers in unorganised sectors under social security cover will be priority areas for the new dispensation. Responding to a question about the vexed Kashmir issue, the TMC chief said that she wants peace in the restive state and is willing to go and stay there to help find a solution.