Releasing the 2nd edition of the Human Development Report for Delhi 2013 titled Improving lives, Promoting Inclusion, Vice President M Hamid Ansari on Saturday said that the issue of safety and security has been agitating the public mind and Government must restore people’s faith in the police and judiciary.
Underscoring the need for improved security in the city, Ansari said lack of safety and security in public spaces affects daily lives of all citizens. Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, Social Welfare Minister Prof Kiran Walia, Chief Secretary DM Spolia, Principal Secretary (Finance) Shakti Sinha and others were present at the function. The Veep also said that there was an overwhelming need for ensuring a safe and secure environment for vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly and women.
According to the report, access to basic services like power and water supply, public transport, healthcare and educational opportunities have improved in the city in the last seven years. The report said the citizens of Delhi are satisfied with the quality of life they lead as assessed on the basis of critical indicators like employment, education and healthcare as well as personal attributes.
Speaking on the occasion, Dikshit said that the report will be instrumental in guiding social measures in Delhi in the years to come. She further stated that Delhi ranked second in terms of Human Development Index in 2011.
The city-State is highly placed vis-à-vis other States in India in terms of indicators involving per capita income and education. The first report was brought out in 2006. The report said that Delhi’s average per capita income, at more than `2 lakh per year in 2012-’13, is the highest in India.