The CPN-UML on Thursday unveiled its election manifesto for the upcoming House of Representatives polls, promising an expanded social welfare regime and a rapid scale-up of the national economy.

Under the slogan ‘UML builds’, the party pledged to raise Nepal’s economic size to Rs10 trillion within five years and Rs20 trillion within a decade, targeting annual growth of 7 to 9 percent.

The manifesto outlines immediate actions and 25 long-term ‘pillars of prosperity’, with a focus on women, youth, workers and low-income families.

It promises Rs20,000 per child as a nutrition allowance for new mothers, free life insurance coverage of up to Rs500,000 for pregnant women, and doubled health check-up and transport subsidies. Women entrepreneurs would be eligible for interest-free loans of up to Rs2 million, while schoolgirls would receive free sanitary pads.

Students pursuing technical higher education would be offered interest-free loans of up to Rs2 million and internship opportunities. Youth engaged in information technology and start-ups would receive a $10,000 card to facilitate international transactions, along with 10GB of free monthly data for those aged 18 to 28.

The party pledged to raise the minimum monthly wage to Rs25,000 and to deposit an annual Rs5,000 bonus into the bank accounts of migrant workers who remit money through formal channels.

Low-income families would have cooperative and financial institution loans of up to Rs25,000 waived and be brought under contributory social security schemes.

The manifesto also promises to expand domestic employment, build safe housing and modern cities, and develop major infrastructure, including an East-West railway and metro rail systems.

Digital governance, agricultural modernisation and anti-corruption measures feature prominently in the party’s long-term agenda.