Sheila Dikshit unveils sop-filled manifesto

Poll sops include double decker flyovers, common economic zone for NCR

Facing a tough challenge from a new contender in the fray, the Aam Aadmi Party, and a belligerent Opposition, the Bharatiya Janata Party, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit on Wednesday appealed to voters to bring Congress back to power based on its achievements of the past 15 years.

Dikshit, flanked by top Delhi Congress leaders and Union ministers Kapil Sibal and Krishna Tirath, unveiled the party’s manifesto for the December 4 Assembly polls.

Double-decker flyovers, bestowing industry status to the services sector, a common economic zone for the entire national capital region (NCR), dedicated hawking zones, in situ development of slum clusters, making Delhi a knowledge hub and a world class skill development centre are some of the important promises in the document. The chief minister claimed the capital had the highest GDP growth in the country at 10.33 per cent in comparison to the national average of 8.33 per cent. Efforts would be made to better that figure. Steps would be taken to boost women’s security and build toilets especially for them, Dikshit added.
 

ROAD MAP

INFRASTRUCTURAL EXPANSION

• Double- decker flyovers to ease traffic snarls
• Mono rail and trams
• Dedicated hawking zones
• In situ development of slum clusters

SOPS TO BOOST THE ECONOMY

• Granting Industry status to the services sector
• Common economic zone for the entire NCR region

SOCIAL SECTOR  SOPS

• Make Delhi a knowledge capital
• World class skill training centre
• Food security Act
• Qabil Laadli: Extending the scheme to college going women

To boost the economy, the Congress is looking at making the NCR a hub of development with a common economic zone. The manifesto said, “NCR should be developed as CEZ, where there will be common taxation so that the entire area, not only for its own (Gurgaon/Noida) but for the entire Northern India, becomes a hub where there are industries, services and ultimately lead to high standards of living.”

Battling a three-term anti-incumbency, the chief minister reiterated, “65 per cent of our budget has always been dedicated to social sector schemes. The popular Laadli scheme will be upgraded to Qabil Laadli and the Bhaagidari initiative will be extended to phase-2. It’s (Bhaagidari) the only example of such a vast partnership in the world.”

Admitting that the city faced housing and water woes, Dikshit also highlighted the problems due to “multiplicity of agencies” and appealed to the Centre for the immediate need for “unified command for better governance”.

The chief minister blamed many of the ills plaguing her government as being caused by dual power structures of Delhi Development Authority and the home ministry.

For a city that is home to about five lakh migrants, the Congress has promised to make life easier for them.