Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday announced a scheme in Chhattisgarh to provide free education from kindergarten to postgraduate level in government-run institutions. He also pledged to increase the price of tendu leaves collected by tribals and raise the minimum support price of other forest produce.
Gandhi made the announcement while addressing election rallies in Bhanupratappur and Farsgaon in the Naxal-affected Bastar division. He said that the free education scheme would be called "KG to PG" and would be implemented if the Congress wins the upcoming assembly elections in the state.
Gandhi criticized BJP leaders for advocating Hindi medium education while sending their own children to English-language schools. He reiterated his commitment to conducting a caste survey to identify the number of other backward classes (OBCs) in the country.
Gandhi's announcement of free education is seen as a major poll promise ahead of the Chhattisgarh assembly elections, which are scheduled to be held in November 2023. The Congress is currently in power in the state.
Image Caption: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi addresses an election rally in Bhanupratappur, Chhattisgarh, on October 29, 2023.
