100 days of Delhi govt: Here's what AAP announced at 'open cabinet' meet

Delhi government on Monday said it would provide a subsidy of Rs 15,000 to e-rickshaw owners on registration of their vehicle with the transport department and also announced 1,880 new buses to strengthen public transport in a few days.

Transport Minister Gopal Rai made the announcements at the AAP government's open Cabinet session at Central Park here and said that 10,000 buses would be added to the DTC fleet in the next five years.

"More than 24,000 e-rickshaw drivers have been given driving licenses and PSV badges after we took office. We have also decided that e-rickshaw drivers would be given Rs 15,000 from the government's part for every new registration.

"Delhi's lifeline are its buses. In the recent past, with a special purpose, the whole DTC fleet was brought to its knees. No new buses came in the last three years so 1,880 buses will be bought in the next few days and the department is working on that," Rai said.

Rai said that as per the suggestions of all the MLAs, the department had decided to run 70% of those buses in the outer Delhi areas. "1,380 big buses and 500 small buses would run outer Delhi areas".

Referring to the NGT order that banned diesel vehicles older than 10 years from plying on Delhi roads, he said the government has decided to strengthen public transport, that he said would also reduce air pollution.

"We have decided to strengthen the public transport network to a great extent so that people are not forced to take private cars. 10,000 new buses would run in Delhi's roads in the next five years that would include advanced, standard floor buses and that would make Delhi pollution free.

"We have written to the LG/DDA and other authorities to help us procure land for new depots," he said, adding 1,000 new contractual drivers would be recruited in the coming days.

Rai said that his department and DMRC were working towards providing a common mobility card to commuters. The minister said that the government will take care of the concerns of auto rickshaw drivers while warning them of action against harassment of passengers.

The minister also assured that economic rights of labours will be protected. "If any labour's economic right is snatched by middle-men and contractors we will taken action. Labour department has run a special drive to make sure that the culprits are put into Tihar," he added. 

In order to improve health care facilities, the AAP government said that it would increase the bed capacity of government hospitals from existing 10,000 to 20,000 in next two-and-a-half years.

Addressing a gathering at 'Janta ki Cabinet, Janta ke Beech' on completion of 100 days of Delhi government, Delhi Health Minister Satyendra Jain said that out of 20,000 hospitals beds, government will set aside 3000 beds for emergency and ICU.

"At present, Delhi government has hospitals having a capacity of 10,000 beds, but in next two-and-a-half-years, we will increase from 10,000 beds to 20,000 beds which could never be done in past 65 years. Government has prepared a plan of this project," Jain said.

"We have got to know that in Delhi, people have to spend Rs 60,000 to Rs 1 lakh for using ICU beds every day. In view of this, our government has decided to set aside 3000 beds for emergency and ICU out of 20,000 beds in government hospitals," he also said.

The minister said that health department will open separate four branches of Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences, GB Pant Hospital, Guru Nanak Eye Centre, Maulana Azad Dental College and Delhi Cancer Institute in the national capital.

"For example, if you want to get your eyes treated at Guru Nanak Eye Centre, but it falls far from your house. Keeping this in view, government will open four branches of Guru Nanak Eye Centre across the city so that people will be benefited," Jai said. 

The government also announced expansion and improvement of infrastructure of government educational institutions with more teachers along with formation of a committee to regulate private schools admission and fees.

Addressing a gathering at 'Janta ki Cabinet, Janta ke Beech' on completion of 100 days of Delhi government, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said that "during this budget we will formulate a policy for private schools admission and fee.

There were flaws and loopholes in law to regulate and control fees and admission of private schools.

"We will amend the law and give power to our officers. We will also form a committee to regulate private schools soon. This will happen soon and the public will not have to face problem due to it," said Sisodia. He admitted that that there is a shortage of teachers in government schools at present.

"In one year, we will give 20,000 teachers to the government schools. Even guest teachers will be permanent after taking their examination. Those of you not found fit will not be made permanent," Sisodia said.

He further said that government is mapping each government schools and identifying problem areas in terms of infrastructure. "We have started working on each school after doing mapping. I assure you that when schools reopen in July, they will find substantial change in their school building," he said.

Claiming that government is moving towards AAP party's poll promise of opening 500 schools in Delhi Sisodia said, "we will open 100 model schools which will also have auditorium, lab and other modern facilities. We have started construction of 45 schools across Delhi and also planning to run double-shift in 75 schools. We have also identified land for 60-70 schools."

The Education Minister also announced that government is installing CCTV cameras in each school and classroom.

Talking about higher education, Sisodia said, "Netaji Subhash Institute of Technology (NSIT) is a premium engineering institute and we have decided to make it a university. At present, 4,000 students study here and soon it will be made available for 12,000 students. We will open a vocational and sports university."

Government is also planning to roll out a scheme for educational loans. Sisodia said that government is also working to ensure healthy and nutritious food to school students through mid-day meals.

Sisodia said its fight with the Centre was for the people and against corruption, which it claimed has "heavily come down" during its 100 days in power in Delhi.

At its 'Janta ki Cabinet, Janta ke Beech' event to mark the completion of 100 days of AAP government in Delhi, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said their biggest achievement lay in curbing corruption in the city, which had also seen them end the "transfer posting industry" here.

"Yes, we are fighting, but we are also working. We are not fighting for personal gains, but for the people's rights, their benefit, and against corruption.

"If the public would not have given us more than 36 seats, then we would not have completed 100 days. We are here to tell the people of the city what we are doing to fulfil the duty given to us by them," said Sisodia.

Talking about AAP's stand against corruption, Sisodia took a jibe at corrupt officials, saying that they are "courageous" as those caught taking bribes would be sacked.

"Corruption has heavily come down in the city. So far, 51 such courageous officers were arrested for taking bribe.

Earlier, honest officers were called courageous, but now corrupt officers are being courageous in taking bribes as the government is so strict against them," he said.

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Sisodia also said that the AAP government had approached Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his support in the fight against corruption.

"We went to meet the prime minister before taking oath and told him that people have given him and us an historic chance through a full majority. Let's work together in fighting corruption," he said.

Referring to the "transfer posting industry" in Delhi, the deputy chief minister said, "I am in charge of service department, which is responsible for the posting of officers in Delhi government. Many people approached me for posting as SDM in the Saket and Mehrauli areas. I got nine such cases within a month.

"As I was not aware of it, I enquired with my team, who told me that at the SDM-level, one can make maximum money in the revenue department at these locations.

"I decided not to appoint corrupt officials but deployed new, honest officers. Sub-registrar used to pay Rs 40 lakh for a posting for a year. If a man is paying Rs 40 lakh for his posting, then he will only take bribe."