The Aam Aadmi Party’s populism is fast catching up with the civic bodies in the Capital along with various departments of the Delhi Government. In one such move, a 60-year-old vendor, Vijay Baba, is set to inaugurate a renovated maternity hospital at lodhi Colony in the presence of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who was earlier supposed to inaugurate the facility.
Sources said the council has sent a request to Kejriwal to inaugurate the revamped facility and in response his office conveyed that one Vijay Baba will throw open the hospital. The Chief Minister will also be present on the occasion. Plaque placed at the hospital will also have Baba’s name among the dignitaries.
Vijay Baba, who would run a piao (water counter) in Connaught Place near Aulia Mosque and is now an active member of AAP for last two years. Baba, hails from Patna district of Bihar, came to Delhi 50 years back and also resides in the vicinity. He was working as a casual labourer for his livelihood. He claimed that he made a permanent house in place of his hut which was vandalised by NDMC in 2007 under alleged influence of a local businessman. Baba complaint police about the incident and finally the matter went before the local court, the case is still pending. In 2010, he heard about the movement initiated by India Against Corruption (IAC) and joined the group. Now, he goes to other States and campaign for the AAP.
While briefing about renovation work, a senior official of the NDMC said an extra block to the maternity hospital built at a cost of Rs 13 crore has been added. Built at 1985, the number of beds in the hospital has been upgraded from 30 to 65. “One block will be for OPD and the other one for IPD. The hospital is facilitated with modular operation theatres and OPDs for the newborn,” he said.