Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his Cabinet colleagues took charge of their respective offices on Monday and asserted that they would work to fulfil the promises made in the “guarantee card”, released during the poll campaign, including reduction in pollution and the expansion of metro network.
The Chief Minister later issued an order making minor changes in the portfolios of the Ministers. Gopal Rai has been given Environment apart from holding Labour and Employment. Satyendar Jain has been allocated Delhi Jal Board apart from key portfolios of Health, PWD, Urban Development, Power and Home. Women and Child department has been given to Rajender Pal Gautam. Earlier this department was with Manish Sisodia.
Kejriwal has not assigned any department under his control. He will continue to oversee and guide all departments.
Soon after taking the charge, the AAP Government made its priorities clear and said the Government will fulfill the promises made to the people in its manifesto.
Soon after taking the charge, Deputy CM and Finance Minister Sisodia announced about Delhi Budget. The AAP Government will present Delhi’s 2020-21 Budget after Holi, Sisodia said while kicking off the budgetary exercise with holding several back to back meetings with officers. He discussed issues pertaining to poll promises made by the AAP in the run up to recently-concluded Assembly elections and asked officials to make those provisions in the Budget.
Holding another meeting with officials of the trade and taxes department, Sisodia directed it to take steps to prevent tax evasion.
He said, “Earlier, the budgetary exercise used to start from December, but as there was Delhi Assembly election, we could not do so. In the next 20-25 days, we will work hard to prepare the Budget and present it after Holi.”
Monday was the first working day of the new AAP Government which was formed following the oath-taking ceremony of Cabinet Ministers, including Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, on Sunday.
Last year, the AAP-led Delhi Government had presented a Budget with an outlay of Rs 60,000 crore. The previous AAP Government had allocated over Rs 15,000 crore to education sector in the last Budget.
Cabinet (Water) Minister Jain said, “Fulfilling the targets of the AAP’s manifesto will be my priority along with the Guarantee card. I will also work hard to bring Mohalla clinics within a radius of one kilometer for every citizen across Delhi. I will also work to provide clean water to every citizen 24X7.”
Rai, who has been given charge of Environment Minister, said the new Government will reach every level of society and work will be done keeping in mind the needs of the most disadvantaged section of the society. “The people of Delhi have new expectations from the new Government and people are looking forward to delivery of the Delhi’s development model today. People are discussing this model across the country and we will ensure expansion of this model,” Rai said who was Labour Minister in AAP - II.
Ensuring AAP’s work to uplift minority in society, Gautam said our (AAP) Government will work for the development of people from every class and background. “The people have supported the AAP wholeheartedly and this is our time to return this faith. We will work hard to make Delhi a better city for everyone,” said Minority Affairs Minister Gautam.
Imran Hussain who served as Environment Minister in AAP - II, said the Delhi Government wants to make Delhi a world class city. Lauding AAP, Hussain said the Government will work for the fast implementations of its policies on ground.