Presenting the Economic Survey report for Financial Year 2017-18, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, who also hold the Finance portfolio, on Monday claimed that Delhi's revenue surplus has reduced to 0.82 per cent as compared to 1.58 per cent of the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) in 2016-17. Sisodia also mentioned that Delhi's Per Capita Income was almost three times of the National Average, both at the current and constant prices.
The Delhi Government, in its official statement, also said the advance estimate GSDP of Delhi at current prices during 2017-18 is likely to attain level of Rs 6,86,017 crore, which is at a growth of 11.22 per cent over 2016-17, “The advance estimate of Net State Domestic Product (NSDP) of Delhi at current prices is likely to attain a level of Rs 6,26,002 crore in 2017-18 which is estimated to grow at 11.51 per cent over 2016-17,” quoted as mentioned in official statement.
The Government has covered 72.48 lakh beneficiaries under the National Food Security (NFS) Act, with 19.40 lakh NFS smart cards being issued to eligible families under the initiative till March 31, 2017.
According to the Economic Survey (2017-18) released on Monday, the AAP Government facilitated supply of food grains to around 72.48 lakh poor people through a network of 2,254 fair price shops at subsidised rates. “So far, 19.40 lakh NFS smart cards have been issued to eligible families of the national capital as on 31st March, 2017,” it said.
The survey said food grains were distributed to around 15.15 lakh card holders through e-Point of Sale (POS) devices.
To help the beneficiaries, the Government had introduced 'Ration Card Portability' which facilitates people to avail their entitlements from any fair price shop (FPS) in the city.
“In January this year, out of 15.15 lakh card holders, 1.68 lakh availed ration through portability. This practice encourages FPS owners to provide better consumer services and attract more people through incentives,” the survey said.
On e-ration cards, the survey said, “After the facility was operationalised in April, 2015, about 10.40 lakh ration card-holders have since availed the benefit. This has brought in transparency and efficient delivery of ration cards to the beneficiaries”.
On the 'Pahal Scheme”, which gives subsidy to lPG consumers (with or without Aadhaar numbers) through bank accounts, the Delhi Government said, “There were around 48.15 lakh lPG consumers, out of which 38.83 lakh were beneficiaries of Pahal scheme and 76.10 per cent of the consumers had seeded their accounts with Aadhaar”.
The report on economic survey further mentioned that the sex ratio as per the birth registered in Delhi under Civil Registration System (CRS) indicate a positive picture, enhanced from 809 in 2001 to 902 in 2016. “On forest areas in capital,” “South Delhi district has the highest forest cover area at 83.35 square km, and the lowest forest cover is in East Delhi of 3.70 square km,” the official release quoted.
Further on the supply of electricity, the survey mentioned that in Delhi periphery increased from 32744 million units in 2010-11 to 34,011 million units in 2016-17. The total number of electricity consumer in Delhi is 55.68 lakh in 2016-17. “Number of electricity consumers in Delhi has grown by 94.11% during the last ten years. Peak demand increased from 4,720 MW in 2010-11 to 6,261 MW in 2016-17.”
Power consumption recorded an average annual growth of approximately 3.51%. On transportation, at the operational level, common Mobility Cards have been launched in Delhi on 08.01.2018 on pilot basis in 200 DTC and 50 Cluster buses wherein Delhi Metro Rail Card will be used for tendering fare in buses using ETMs. “Electric rickshaw has also been introduced in Delhi to provide services for last mile connectivity. A subsidy of Rs 30,000 per e-rickshaw is being provided by the Government to encourage such facilities.”