Setting the tone for the upcoming Assembly elections, Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamata Banerjee officially released the party’s manifesto on Friday, titled ‘Didi’s 10 Pledges’. The document outlines a comprehensive vision for Bengal’s future, focusing heavily on social welfare, administrative expansion, and rural development. Banerjee emphasized that these pledges are a direct response to the “conspiracies” of the central government and a shield to protect Bengal’s interests.

The headline-grabbing promise is the significant hike in the ‘Lakshmir Bhandar’ scheme. General category women will now receive ₹18,000 annually, while SC/ST women will get ₹20,400 per year. For the youth, the ‘Banglar Yuba-Sathi’ scheme promises a monthly financial aid of ₹1,500 to unemployed individuals. In a first for the state, the TMC has also pledged a dedicated ₹30,000 crore Agriculture Budget to ensure holistic growth for farm families and landless laborers.

On the administrative front, the manifesto promises the creation of 7 new districts to bring governance closer to the people. A revolutionary ‘Duare Chikitsa’ (Medical Treatment at Doorstep) initiative will see annual health camps in every block and town. Education is another pillar, with the ‘Banglar Shikshayatan’ program aimed at the infrastructural overhaul of all government schools. With additional promises of a pucca house for every family and piped drinking water for all, Mamata Banerjee has laid out a formidable welfare-driven agenda to retain power for a fourth consecutive term.