SDF’s electoral plan promises a 50% quota for women in jobs and education.

In addition to other benefits for all facets of the state’s society, the opposition Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) promised 50% reservation for women in higher education and government employment when it unveiled its manifesto on Sunday.

The goal of the SDF’s pledge, according to president Pawan Kumar Chamling, to provide women 50% of the reservation in higher education and employment is to empower almost half of the people. In the Namchi district’s Rangang-Yangang assembly constituency, the former chief minister declared, “The SDF will provide 50% reservation for women in jobs and higher education.”

MK Subba, the party’s nominee for the Rangang-Yangang assembly seat, and PD Rai, the party’s candidate for the Lok Sabha, were also present. Notably, the SDF has not nominated any woman in the state’s lone Lok Sabha seat and 32 assembly constituencies.

The SDF has also pledged in its manifesto to reinstate Sikkim’s previous pension scheme (OPS) and give dearness allowance to all government workers. The opposition party’s manifesto said that all state languages will be taught at college and university levels, that the indigenous Bhutia and Limboo communities will be recognized as ancient (‘Aadhim janjati’) tribes, and that a state holiday will be observed in honor of Tenzing Norge, the first person to climb Mount Everest.

The manifesto promised to build an International Gurung study and heritage center in Sikkim, ostensibly in an attempt to curry favour with a sizeable Gurung community for votes. In addition, the SDF pledged to make Sikkimese the first carbon-negative state in the world by offering free electricity to every household in the region.

Additionally, the opposition party suggested converting MGNREGA workers into regular government employees, increasing their pay to Rs 500 and extending their man-day limit to 200 days. The SDF manifesto suggested that the Sikkim Public Service Commission (SPSC) conduct job-related exams every two years, while interviews for teaching and clerical positions would take place every two months, in an attempt to court the educated unemployed millennials.

In addition, the SDF pledged to quadruple the pay of all public servants. Additionally, it vowed to give government workers the day off on all Saturdays. The Himalayan state’s unique position and antiquated laws are contentious topics, thus the SDF vowed to protect the constitutionality of Article 371(F).

The five-term former chief minister, Chamling, said that the SDF was fighting the assembly elections on the platform of “Save Sikkim,” and he asked the youth to exercise their right to vote carefully since their choices at the polls on April 19 will determine both their future and the state’s.