Jaipur, Oct. 12 -- BJP on Sunday released its manifesto for Rajasthan's panchayat elections, promising an average Rs.5 crore in development works in each gram panchayat over five years, Rs.12,000 in annual financial assistance to farmers, and education, healthcare and transport facilities closer to rural households. Chief minister Bhajan Lal Sharma released Gram Vikas Sankalp Patra at the party's state headquarters in Jaipur in the presence of state president Madan Rathore and organisation general secretary Ajay Kumar. The document combines commitments on agriculture and welfare with proposals to strengthen panchayat finances and give elected representatives a greater role in development decisions. He said, "Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP goes to elections with a manifesto of development. Before the Assembly elections, we went to the public with a manifesto, and similarly, we issued a manifesto before the local body elections. After the Municipal Corporation, Municipal Council, and Municipality elections, we prepared a roadmap for 100 days of development work in the local bodies." Sharma said, "Under the PM's leadership, corruption has been curbed in last 12 years, and full benefits of schemes are transferred directly to beneficiaries' accounts through DBT. He said that by providing urban-like facilities in villages, villagers will not migrate to cities; to this end, a roadmap for rural development has been prepared. He urged villagers to provide suggestions regarding village development and needs through Gram Sabhas. Our government also invites farmers, livestock farmers, youth, women, and entrepreneurs to seek their suggestions before the budget." The manifesto identifies 14,403 gram panchayats for administrative, financial and technical strengthening. It promises priority provision of buildings, offices, personnel, internet and other infrastructure to approximately 3,600 newly constituted panchayats. Sharma said improving village infrastructure would reduce the need for residents to travel to cities for essential services and ease pressure on urban areas. "For the development of rural areas, it is essential to ensure that the benefits of schemes reach the last person," he said. Under its "Shahar Gram" concept, the party proposes to extend urban amenities to villages while preserving their rural and cultural identity. Each gram panchayat has been promised an Atal Knowledge Centre with internet, a digital library, competitive examination material and career guidance, along with sports grounds and community sports facilities. The centres would be developed in phases, with self-help group members involved in running them. "We have resolved to develop sports grounds and Atal Knowledge Centres in every gram panchayat," Sharma said, adding that access to education, sports and technology would give rural youth opportunities to advance in their respective fields. On healthcare, the document promises medical facilities in every gram panchayat, with doctors, nursing staff, medicines, diagnostic services and primary emergency care. It also proposes a blood bank in every panchayat samiti area under a "one block, one blood bank" initiative, and de-addiction centres according to local requirements. For farmers, the manifesto reiterates the commitment to raise annual assistance to Rs.12,000. "The Centre provides Rs.6,000 annually to farmers, and the state government aims to provide another Rs.6,000. Together, this will take the annual assistance to Rs.12,000," he said, adding the government was working to address farmers' water and agriculture-related needs. Referring to interstate water projects, he said 10 such projects were underway, four of which would directly benefit Rajasthan. The manifesto promises tap water and regular supply to every rural household, daytime electricity for agricultural irrigation in all districts, and priority linkage of groundwater-stressed villages to major water projects. For women, the manifesto promises Rs.1,000 crore in livelihood support and more than Rs.10,000 crore in bank credit for self-help groups....