Seeking greater support from the Centre, lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung in his inaugural address at the start of Delhi Assembly’s Budget Session on Tuesday said his Government was awaiting approval of the Union Government for enactment of three key proposed legislations in the education sector.
The l-G also said the city Government was committed to making the city corruption free and the passage of the lokpal Bill, which has been sent to the Centre for approval, is a move in that direction.
The four proposed legislations are among dozen-odd Bills which had been passed by the Assembly without getting any prior approval from either l-G or the Centre.
Outside the Assembly, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said the Government was “sad” about the fact that the Centre was “sitting” on the Bills passed by the Assembly, including the proposed legislation recommending hike in salaries of legislators, CrPC Amendment and Delhi School Education (Amendment).
Sisodia said, “We have sent several Bills to the Centre which are very important for Delhi, including fomation of a new university, amendments in the labour laws, journalist salary Bill. If we continue to send Bills from here to the Centre, there is no benifit. lokpal Bill, which is very important, is also pending with the Centre. We are today fighting for ACB (Anti- Corruption Branch) and had lokpal Bill been appointed today, corruption would have been rooted out from the top to bottom.”
The Deputy CM said, “We would have been able to increase seats in NSIT (Netaji Subhas Institute of Technology) after making the institute a university, but the Bill pertaining to this is still pending with the Centre.”
In his 35-minute address to the legislators, Jung said the contribution of Delhiites in central taxes was very significant as compared to other metropolitan cities and estimates suggest it was in excess of Rs 1,30,000 crore. “However, Delhi’s share in Central taxes remains stagnant since 2001-02 at Rs 325 crore. Despite this, the continuous efforts of my Government towards revenue augmentation have ensured adequate budgetary allocation for the welfare of the citizens.”
All through the l-G’s address, about 55 members were present in the House. Environment Minister Imran Hussain turned up when Jung had almost completed half of his address. This was the first occasion that all members of the House were not present during l-G’s address.
The l-G enunciated the achievements of the AAP Government in education, health and transport sectors and anti-corruption initiatives it had taken in its first year.
Jung listed the steps taken in the field of education, including the proposal to build 25 school buildings, sanctions granted for construction of 7,289 additional class rooms and 700 toilet blocks in existing schools. As a pilot project, he said approval has been granted for upgrading 54 existing schools to modern schools with better infrastructure and quality education. He said sanctions have also been conveyed to the Delhi Jal Board for new water connections in 205 schools.
Jung said his Government has approved the creation of 9,623 additional teaching posts. He said 12,585 guest teachers have already been appointed so that teaching in Government schools continued unabated.
Mohalla clinics figured in the list of steps taken by the Government to bring about improvement in the health sector. Jung said: “My Government intends to set up 1,000 Aam Aadmi Mohalla Clinics for providing quality primary health care… In addition to this, 22 Aam Aadmi Polyclinics have been set up and 64 more such clinics will be set up.”
In the transport sector, proposals to induct 1,000 new low-floor buses, fares through e-ticketing machines in all DTC buses from June 2016 were also mentioned by Jung with regard to measures being taken to augment public transport in the capital.
On women safety, Jung said it was a matter of highest priority for his Government and 46 major dark spots have been identified by the Government and appropriate lighting have been installed in 42 stretches and the remaining work will be completed by the end of this month.
later, Transport Minister Gopal Rai moved a motion thanking Jung.