CHENNAI: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman released the election manifesto of the Bharatiya Janata Party for the April 6 Puducherry Assembly polls on Friday with a slew of welfare measures and promising generation of 2,50,000 employments for the youth.

The manifesto further promised to meet the aspirations of the people as it is finalized after getting feedback from the public. The BJP had gathered opinions from around 50,000 people of Puducherry before preparing the manifesto.

FM Sitaraman said, "BJP government at the Centre and the union territory will ensure implementation of all central schemes. The previous state government did not do this fearing that the credit would go to the central government and Prime Minister Narendra Modiji,"

The manifesto promises measures aimed at the empowerment of women, besides making Puducherry a spiritual hub and provide free and quality education to girls from Kindergarten to Post-Graduate level. The BJP has also promised free scooters to girls in colleges.

The promises also include interest-free loans of up to Rs 5 lakh for women self-help groups and also waiver of loans taken by Women SHG's which were affected by the Covid-19.  There will be 50 per cent reservation for women employees in government institutions and in local body elections, the manifesto promised, besides free public transport for women.

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