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Delhi Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung on Tuesday outlined the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government’s agenda, sending out a message that the central government’s support will be vital in fulfilling its key promises.
It was clear Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s priorities were centered towards the passage of his pet legislations such as the Janlokpal Bill, the Swaraj Bill and granting of statehood to Delhi by seeking to bring various institutions under its ambit.
Although “rigorous” audits of “public services” such as the electricity and water departments will continue, there was a promise of making Delhi “a city of flourishing trade”, a “retail hub” and to curb the inspection raj, the Lieutenant Governor said in his speech. A framework will be created to incentivize entrepreneurs to start business and the private sector to create jobs, Jung chalked out.
Funds to fulfill its promise of free water and cheap electricity to the poor will not be an issue for the AAP government, Jung indicated pointing out how the Delhi government has “a history of budget surpluses” and the economic growth has “grown impressively at several percentage points above the national average.”
However, a clear signal was sent out that the AAP government would require the central government’s support to fulfill the key promises the party has made in its 70-point manifesto.
“The ultimate aim is to ensure that institutions such as the DDA (Delhi Development Authority), MCD (Municipal Corporation of Delhi) and Delhi Police are accountable to the elected government of Delhi. This will help bridge the gap between the government and the people by creating greater coordination among civic services with regard to service delivery,” Jung read out a speech written by the AAP government.
“The provision of critical public services such as law and order and low-cost housing would happen more smoothly if Delhi were accorded autonomy as a full-fledged state with greater control over these aspects… Only then can the problems created by a multiplicity of authorities and jurisdictions in Delhi be solved,” Jung said.
The AAP government will make “every effort” to bring the Janlokpal Bill for a time-bound investigation of cases and protection of whistleblowers, he said. The AAP government will encourage participative governance by passing the Swaraj Bill to create a Citizen Local Area Development (C-LAD) Fund for communities to allocate funds according to its needs.
On women safety, the speech talked out providing last mile connectivity in Delhi’s public transit system, setting up fast-track courts dealing with heinous crimes and building a ‘Mahila Suraksha Dal’ by deploying members of the Home Guard and Civil Defense Volunteers at various public spots.
The budgetary allocation on healthcare and educational infrastructure will be increased to create primary healthcare, build new schools and colleges.
