Dedicated to the homeless people of the national Capital, ten skill development centres set up by the Delhi Government were jointly by lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday.
This was for the first time that the two appeared together publicly since Baijal assumed office.
Speaking at the event in West Delhi’s Tilak Nagar area, Baijal complimented the AAP Government for the project while Kejriwal on his part thanked the l-G for inspiring the city administration to implement such public interest initiative by gracing the function.
Skill development centres have been set up at 10 night shelters, including the one at Tilak Nagar, where the homeless will be trained by qualified teachers in skills ranging from basic sewing, beauty culture, plumbing, electrical work and a crash course in simple cooking.
“Good to see that homeless people have not been only provided shelters here, they are also being made employable so that they can earn their livelihood on their own... This is a very good initiative and I welcome it,” Baijal said.
Baijal, 70, also said he was happy that after assuming the office of the l-G, he has come to an event the first time where urban shelters and their activities are being discussed. On his part, Kejriwal thanked Baijal for inspiring the Government by coming to the event on “our request”, saying that in the coming days, he hopes that “we would work for three-four folds development of Delhi with the people of city”.
“On our request, the l-G spared his time for the event, I thank him for inspiring us by coming... In the coming days, we all will work for the three-four folds development of Delhi with the people of Delhi,” the Delhi Chief Minister said.
Earlier, the AAP and former l-G Najeeb Jung were at loggerheads continuously over issues ranging from transfers and postings of officers.
Jung and Kejriwal were perhaps never seen together to jointly inaugurate any project of the Government during the former’s tenure.
“People, who stay at night shelters, are neither voters nor vote bank of any political party. In the past, no Government had worked for them, “ Baijal said while Kejriwal underlined the work done by AAP in the last one and a half year.
“The AAP Government doesn’t work for votes and instead it works for humanity. It is our responsibility to take care of them,” Kejriwal said.
The CM also said while staying at JJ clusters in 2005-06, he had found that people, especially women, had to face a lot of problems while going for toilets in the open. “I am happy to see that activist and NGOs, who used to criticise previous Governments for bad condition of night shelters, are now praising this Government. Best facilities are being provided to the homeless people,” he said.