Bhubaneswar, Nov 6: The Odisha Congress party has released its manifesto for the ongoing Nuapada by-election, outlining its commitment to tackling long-standing issues such as migrant labour, inadequate irrigation, and rural healthcare. The party promised to implement comprehensive solutions to these challenges if their candidate, Ghasiram Majhi, wins the by-election.

“The manifesto highlights Ghasiram Majhi’s dedication to the region, the issues facing Nuapada, and our proposed remedies. Voters deserve to know what their candidate stands for. With widespread public interest in this by-election, it’s important that we lay out a clear vision for the future,” said Bhakta Charan Das, President of the Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC). He emphasized that Congress would continue to press the state government to address these issues in the Assembly.

The Congress manifesto also reflected on the party’s past contributions to the development of Nuapada, detailing initiatives undertaken during the tenure of Bhakta Charan Das as an MP and under the leadership of Ghasiram Majhi.

A central focus of the manifesto is the eradication of the ‘Dadan Shramik’ or migrant labor system. The Congress party proposed the establishment of agriculture-based industries, the promotion of small-scale industries, and the strengthening of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) to provide sustainable livelihoods for the people of Nuapada.

On the issue of irrigation, the Congress promised to ensure that 60% of the agricultural land in the constituency receives proper irrigation. This would be achieved through the development of the Patora Dam, the Tikhali project, and other minor irrigation initiatives. Additionally, the party plans to construct cold storage facilities to reduce post-harvest losses, and work on the effective implementation of the Forest Rights Act to address the concerns of farmers and tribal communities.

Furthermore, the Congress assured that, if elected, Ghasiram Majhi would work towards filling vacant positions for teachers in educational institutions and doctors in Primary and Community Health Centres across the district, improving both education and healthcare access.

The manifesto also referenced several key developmental projects undertaken during the Congress party's governance at both the state and national levels. Among the highlights were the approval of a super-speciality hospital in Nuapada by the Congress-led government in 2013, the construction of the Patora Dam during the 1995-2000 period under Congress leadership, and the approval of a National Highway passing through the region by the Centre.