Promising to make the corporation financially independent, Delhi Congress chief Ajay Maken while releasing the manifesto said, "We have made a concrete roadmap of generating additional annual revenue of Rs 5,200 crore."
Leave aside Mohalla clinics and improving hospitals in Delhi, Congress promises to introduce 'Clinics on wheels' and 'Diagnostic Centers on Wheels' to provide basic diagnosis facilities in its manifesto released on Monday.
With a promise to improve primary health and education infrastructure and developing unauthorised and resettlement colonies, Congress interestingly, also announced to hand over the corporation-run hospitals to Delhi government -- reducing the expenses by Rs 652 crore every year -- and promised to revamp and run the primary health centers across the city.
Promising to make the corporation financially independent, Delhi Congress chief Ajay Maken while releasing the manifesto said, "We have made a concrete roadmap of generating additional annual revenue of Rs 5,200 crore."
In a jibe against the incumbent BJP and attributing the MCD's perpetual fiscal crunch to the "revenue leakage" at different levels, Maken said that those at the helms of affairs lack "vision" which reflects on the exchequer as well. He said the revenue sources of the corporation are yet to be tapped to the optimal level.
Financial self-reliance of the urban local bodies, environment issues, superior delivery of healthcare services and education are the thrust areas of the Congress Party's agenda this time.
Talking about poverty alleviation of the urban poor, Maken said, "Delhi ke nirmaataon ka dhyan rakhegi MCD (The MCD will take good care of the builders of Delhi (the construction workers)."
The party has promised to establish Urban Poverty Alleviation Department under the MCD dedicated to improving the livelihoods and living conditions of the poor involved in the informal sector.
"Ward-level employment exchange kiosks will be set up to register the unorganised laborers wherein the local residents can approach for availing services of registered construction workers and domestic helps in the local area for a minimum fee," he said.
On unauthorised and resettlement colonies, Maken said, "Congress-ruled MCD will earmark Rs 2,000 crore development fund for unauthorised colonies and sanction layout plans of such colonies to speed up their regularisation."
Taking a step in direction of the redressal of the demand of salary disbursement of sanitation workers of the MCD, the former union minister said that their salaries will be disbursed in the first six months of the Congress coming to power in the civic body.
On street vendors, Congress added establishment of special Vending Zones with toilet and sanitation facilities will bring and additional revenue of Rs 600 crore in the civic body's kitty.
The party also promised to ensure closure of all the sanitary landfills across Delhi within a span of two years.
With the motto of "Health for All," Congress promised to provide primary health services to the entire population of Delhi free of charge and also planned to roll out health insurance for the school goers.
In its bid to reducing the expenses, Maken said that Congress will transfer all MCD-run hospitals to the Delhi Government and will take ownership of all Primary Health Centers -- currently being operated by the state and central governments -- and will provide the facilities like laboratories, X-ray machines and other test facilities.
'Clinics on wheels' will be augmented and upgraded and 'Diagnostic Centers on Wheels', will be introduced targeted to provide basic diagnosis facilities, he said and added that the Health Watch Groups (HWG) will work as eyes and ears of the MCD and will be in constant touch with the Municipal Councilor and Deputy Commissioner of the area who will hold fortnightly meetings with HWGs and dispose of the concerns raised within a week.
Speaking on the availability of medicines at reasonable prices, Maken also said the MCD will open fair price pharmacies which will stock generic medicines.
On education services, Maken said, "We envision a complete overhaul of the prevalent education system under MCD by introducing major institutional reforms by establishing supervisory bodies to ensure quality education to the students, to train the teachers and to encourage active participation of local communities around the schools."
Municipal polls for 272 wards will be held on April 23 and the results will be declared on April 26.
Road map through which Congress Party will generate an additional revenue of Rs. 5,200 crores
a) Revenue from unutilized land bank available with MCD (additional 1,500 cr)
b) Plug in leakages to collect an additional Rs. 1,600 crore annually from Toll Tax from commercial vehicles entering Delhi
c) Augmenting revenue from parking by restricting Parking Mafia (additional 500 cr)
d) Outdoor Advertisements (1000 cr)
e) Issuance of Municipal Bonds (500 cr)
f) Rs 600 crore annually by Licensing of Street Vendors
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