While addressing the first session of the newly formed Delhi Assembly, Delhi lieutenant-Governor (l-G) Najeeb Jung on Saturday said that setting up a Jan lokpal, or ombudsman, is a priority for new Government in order to bridge the gap between the Government and the people.
In his 10-minute speech, Jung also stressed on several points of AAP Government that include setting up 500 schools, improving of basic amenities in colonies, to provide regular job to contractual workers, setting up new hospitals at par with private hospitals, subsidies to farmers of Delhi, involving citizens in “selection and prioritising” projects at the level of the mohalla and colonies, full Statehood to Delhi, end of multiplicity of authorities and simplification of VAT regime.
The lt-Governor observed that citizens of Delhi have “overwhelmingly voted for change” in the just-concluded Assembly polls and his Government would try its best to meet the expectations of the people.
“They have reposed faith in not only a new approach to governance but also to a new political culture that stresses on the need to place the citizen at the centre of thoughts, actions, and policies,” he said.
The lt-Governor also promised to involve citizens in “selection and prioritising” projects at the level of the mohalla and colonies. On regularisation of unauthorised colonies, he said an action plan will be drawn up within a year to develop the settlements. Identifying security of women as a major issue, he said Special Security Cells will be set up to ensure protection to them.
“A matter of deep concern is the security of women and girls. That 50 per cent of the population should be intimidated enough to avoid public spaces is a shame,” he said.
“New courts shall be set up and new judges appointed so as to ensure that all cases involving harassment of women or girls are disposed of in three months. Similarly such number of courts shall be set up and judges appointed so that all other cases are disposed of in six months,” Jung said.
Terming health and education as the “bedrock of any human and social development,” Jung said the Government was committed to “all round improvement” of these two sectors. “Policies will be evolved and implemented to improve the standard of education in Government schools so as to make them better than even that in private schools.
More than 500 Government schools will be set up in Delhi,” he said. He said Government will put an end to the system of donations in private schools which will have to make the fee fixation system more transparent.