The Pattali Makkal Katchi, going solo in the assembly elections with its own chief ministerial candidate in Andbumani Ramadoss on Friday unleashed a slew of freebies – including loan waivers for farmers and students – prohibition and free health care for all.

In its manifesto released by party president S Ramadoss in the presence of his son and former union health minister Anbumani Ramadoss, the party said the PMK has been demanding prohibition for the past several years and accused that all other parties have only copied its stance on prohibition.

Not only there will be a liquor ban if the PMK came to power, but also its government will cancel the licenses of all the distilleries, said Ramadoss. But the party would allow sweet toddy tapping, which is prevalent in rural Tamil Nadu.

“As the needs of education, medical treatment and agriculture will be provided free each family can safe over Rs.100,000 per year. This they can consider as freebie,” the manifesto highlights said.

The only party to give a focused freebee—to journalists – is 90 per cent subsidy to journalists to purchase laptops.
The PMK, however, refused to come out with freebies in the form of gadgets like the DMK and AIADMK, which gave colour TVs, mixie, grinder, fan and laptops. The freebies would be more in the form of kind, in terms of waivers and health benefits. The freebies fall under the categories of education, agriculture and health.

The PMK would double allocation for education, provide free school education; fixing of school fees and payment of the same by the government to private schools; upgrade government schools and syllabus to that of CBSE standards; lightening of the school students bags by providing small computer and plying students only buses.

For the farm sector, the PMK has promised free seeds, fertiliser and farm motors and writing off of farm loans. It has also promised one tractor to each local body for farmers use and setting up of agricultural special economic zone in each district.

Manifesto highlights

– Passing of Lok Ayukta Act and bring the Chief Minister and other Ministers under its ambit
– Tiruchirapalli to be declared as second capital of the state
– Bring back the legislative council in the state
– Spreading out industrial activity across the state
– Scheme for creating over one crore job will be drawn
– Creating Tamil Nadu as an International Logistics Hub
– Setting up more nursing schools
– Scrap 5 per cent value added tax on sugar
– Reduce bus fares and regulate fares of private buses
– Scrap licences of toll gates that runs on profit
– Caste wise census in Tamil Nadu
– Retrieve temple lands from encroachers