English हिन्दी
Connect with us

India News

AAP completes 3 years: Corruption, pollution still a concern in Delhi

Published

on

Arvind KKejriwal

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]A survey showed that only 38 percent of people in Delhi believe that the Kejriwal government has met or exceeded the expectations it had raised while voted to power.

With the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) – which came to power in 2015 with a huge fanfare and sky-high expectations – completing its third year of governance in Delhi on Wednesday, party supremo Arvind Kejriwal claimed that corruption in the national capital have come down as the people elected an “honest government”.

Sharing a video message on the third anniversary of his government, the Delhi Chief Minister said, “In the last three years there has been a drop in the corruption, because three years ago the people of Delhi elected an honest government.”

“We faced a number of hurdles but for your rights, we fought on every step and even God helped us. It is said when you follow the path of truth and honesty then all the visible and invisible forces of this universe help you. And my biggest strength is you and the blessings of God.”

However, despite the AAP convenor’s claims, a survey showed that only 38 percent of people in Delhi believe that the Kejriwal government has met or exceeded the expectations it had raised while it came to power with 67 among 70 seats in the 2015 Delhi Assembly elections.

While many credited the AAP government for improving healthcare, water supply and education system in the national capital, many others stated that pollution and corruption still remains an area of problem, even after three years of Kejriwal’s regime.

The online survey conducted by citizen engagement platform LocalCircles also showed that compared to last year’s 61 percent only 59 percent people in Delhi still believes that the AAP has succeeded in curbing corruption.

Meanwhile, while the AAP members celebrate their third anniversary of governance, former Delhi CM Sheila Dikshit and Delhi Congress chief Ajay Maken on Wednesday released a ‘charge sheet’ on the government’s three years of rule at the DPCC office.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_raw_html]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[/vc_raw_html][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Pointing out areas of concern – including women safety, new fleet of Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) buses, free wifi, marshals and CCTVs in DTC buses and education – the senior Congress leaders claimed that the Kejriwal government had not fulfilled any of the promises it made while being voted to power.

Stating that people should be wary of the AAP government, Sheila Dikshit said, “I do not want to say much but people know AAP government is an advertisement government. They are seen talking but their works are invisible.”

Speaking on AAP government’s media coverage, the former Delhi CM said, “They find ways to be in newspapers. I fail to understand why they are given so much coverage.”

The Aam Aadmi Party came to power in 2015, rewriting electoral history by winning 67 of the 70 assembly seats, with the slogan ‘paanch saal Kejriwal’. However, after the completion of its three years in the government, the new slogan of the party changed to ‘everything is possible’.

A report card on AAP government’s ‘Performance vs promises’ was prepared by Hindustan Times:

Power subsidy 50% subsidy on electricity bills continues, no major hike in power tariff

Free water Free 20 kilolitre water scheme continues

Education Over 8,000 classrooms, including refurbished ones, built. Teachers get specialised training, private schools not allowed to hike fee, Rs 10 lakh loan for higher education

Mohalla clinics Of 180 clinics, 160 providing free healthcare. Sites identified for 668 more. Total target is 1,000

Minimum wages Minimum wages of unskilled workers have been increased from Rs 9,724 to Rs 13,350 per month, for semi-skilled workers from Rs 10,764 to Rs 14,698 and for skilled labourers from Rs 11,830 to Rs 16,182

Pension hiked Disability pension, old age pension and widow pension have been increased by Rs 1,000 each

Compensation scheme Rs 1 crore compensation for the family of security personnel in case of their on-duty death

Development in illegal colonies Laying drains, sewer lines and water pipelines underway. Government claims all colonies to be covered by December

Ease of documents 200 categories of affidavits sought by various departments, local bodies and other organisations junked. Only self-certification is required now

Lowest VAT regime VAT rates reduced in several categories from 12.5% to 5%. However, in July last year, the GST was implemented in Delhi

Swaraj bill The government called it the Mohalla Sabha Bill. The L-G did not approve the proposal

Jan Lokpal Bill The Delhi Assembly passed the Bill in 2015 but it is pending Centre’s approval

Yamuna’s revival Promise to develop a 5-km riverfront on Yamuna not fulfilled. Former water minister Kapil Mishra had announced to make Yamuna fit for bathing in 36 months. There is no concrete plan yet

Free Wi-Fi Project yet to take off, no tender issued yet

Aaam Aadmi Canteen Plan to open 100 canteens, offering low-cost food. One canteen was opened in LNJP Hospital on pilot basis, but it was shut down after two months

New Degree Colleges Plan to open 20 new degree colleges was junked since affiliated colleges can be opened only with Delhi University.

Public Transport No new DTC buses have been. But, 2,000 buses are likely to be rolled out by end of this year. Last-mile connectivity also remains poor

Regularisation of illegal colonies Government has begun the survey to identify such colonies now

2 lakh public toilets The government has only built 21,000 community toilets out of the 1.5 lakh target

Roads and infrastructure The Rs 5,000-crore-plan to redesign 10 roads to decongest them is stuck in bureaucratic hurdles. The plan to build an east-west elevated corridor (Anand Vihar terminal to Peeragarhi) and north-south corridor (Wazirabad to Airport) yet to see light of the day

Schemes and projects that the AAP government plans to bring in over the next two years:

Doorstep delivery of services: Birth, death, income, caste certificates, driving licence and ration to car holders to be delivered at doorstep

Health card: A smart card with ID details and medical history of the patient. But tender has no mention of medical history

24X7 surveillance: 1.4 lakh CCTV cameras to be installed in all residential areas and markets by October. Plans afoot to put cameras in buses and schools

Electric buses: 1,000 AC electric buses will be rolled out over the two years

Decentralised STPs: 600 locations have been identified to set up small scale sewage treatment plants in unauthorised colonies

Skill centres and anganwadis: 25 skill centres across Delhi to be opened in the next two years. One such centre has been approved at Jonapur. Anganwadis will also be revamped

Landscaping roads: 500 kms of PWD roads will be beautified with plants, shrubs and artworks[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

India News

West Bengal government to launch Annapurna scheme from June 1, offering monthly aid of Rs 3,000 to women

The West Bengal government has announced the Annapurna Yojana, providing Rs 3,000 monthly financial assistance to eligible women aged 25–60 starting June 1, 2026. Existing beneficiaries of the older scheme will be automatically migrated subject to verification.

Published

on

The West Bengal government has officially notified the rollout of the ‘Annapurna Yojana,’ a welfare initiative aimed at providing assured monthly financial assistance of Rs 3,000 to women across the state. Introduced by the Department of Women and Child Development and Social Welfare, the scheme is structured to foster the socio-economic upliftment of women and will officially come into effect on June 1, 2026.

Under this new initiative, financial benefits will be transferred directly into the Aadhaar-linked bank accounts of qualified beneficiaries using the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system.

Strict eligibility criteria outlined

According to the official government notification, specific guidelines have been established to determine eligibility for the monthly cash assistance:

  • Target Age Group: Eligible women must be between 25 and 60 years of age.
  • Employment Status: Applicants must not hold permanent government employment or receive a regular salary or pension from the central government, state government, statutory bodies, panchayats, municipalities, local bodies, or government-aided educational institutions.
  • Tax Criteria: Women who are income tax payers are excluded from the scheme.

Automatic migration and scrutiny rules

The new order clarifies that all current beneficiaries of the erstwhile Lakshmir Bhandar Scheme will be automatically migrated to the Annapurna Yojana. However, the transition involves a rigorous filtering process. Individuals identified as deceased, shifted, deleted, or recorded as absentee electors during the SIR-2026 exercise or voter slip distribution will be systematically excluded from the beneficiary list.

On the other hand, individuals who have filed appeals before the SIR Tribunal or submitted applications under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act will continue to receive financial assistance until their applications are legally resolved by authorities.

Application process for new beneficiaries

For fresh applicants, a dedicated online portal for the Annapurna Yojana will be launched on June 1, 2026. To ensure transparency, all new applications will undergo a strict multi-tier verification process by designated local administrative officials:

  • Rural Areas: Block Development Officers (BDOs) will manage the verification and inquiries.
  • Urban Areas: Sub-Divisional Officers (SDOs) will oversee the process.
  • Kolkata: Officials of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) will handle applications within their jurisdiction.

Following field inquiries, verified reports will be uploaded directly to the digital portal. The respective District Magistrates and the KMC Commissioner will serve as the final sanctioning authorities in their corresponding jurisdictions to approve the disbursement of funds.

Continue Reading

India News

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay travels to New Delhi for first official meeting with PM Narendra Modi

Newly sworn-in Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay embarked on his first official visit to New Delhi to hold a high-level meeting with PM Narendra Modi, focusing on economic aid, fertilizer supply, and water rights disputes.

Published

on

Tamil Nadu CM Vijay and PM Modi

Marking his maiden official visit to the national capital since assuming office, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday to deliberate on a wide range of state-specific matters. The Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief, who led his fledgling party to a historic victory in the recent assembly elections, took the oath of office on May 10. While the Prime Minister had previously extended his congratulations via social media, this marks the first formal in-person meeting between the two leaders.

According to official sources, the Chief Minister departed from Chennai on a chartered flight at 10:00 AM. The high-profile meeting with the Prime Minister is slated for 4:30 PM, where Vijay is expected to submit a comprehensive memorandum outlining Tamil Nadu’s long-pending welfare and developmental demands.

Key state matters on the table

The core of the discussions is expected to center around financial assistance and clearances for major infrastructure projects in the state. Media reports indicate that the Chief Minister will heavily push for additional funds to bankroll ongoing developmental initiatives.

Furthermore, the interstate Mekedatu water dispute remains a high-priority issue. Chief Minister Vijay has already written to the Prime Minister, urging him to instruct the Union Jal Shakti Ministry and the Central Water Commission (CWC) to reject the Detailed Project Report submitted by Karnataka for a reservoir at Mekedatu.

Other critical administrative concerns to be raised include ensuring an uninterrupted supply of fertilizers for the upcoming Kharif farming season and the removal of the 11 percent import duty on cotton to protect the raw material supply chain for the state’s textile industry.

A packed diplomatic itinerary

Accompanied by a team of senior officials and select cabinet colleagues, the Chief Minister’s itinerary extends beyond the Prime Minister’s Office. Vijay is likely to sit down with Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to directly advocate for financial backings for key state portfolios.

The new administration has also drawn national interest for its structural innovations, including retaining critical departments under the Chief Minister—such as Home, Police, and Women Welfare—and carving out a dedicated cabinet-level Artificial Intelligence department, making Tamil Nadu only the second state in the country to do so.

Navigating a complex political landscape, the TVK-led government, which holds 108 seats in the assembly and enjoys backing from coalition partners including the Congress, Left parties, VCK, and IUML, is also using this trip to engage with national opposition leaders. Chief Minister Vijay is scheduled to meet Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi during his stay in the capital.

Before wrapping up his tour, the Chief Minister is slated to participate in a cultural event at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), where he will formally inaugurate a statue of the revered Tamil poet-saint Thiruvalluvar installed by the Tamil Nadu government. Sources indicate that Vijay will conclude his official engagements and return to Chennai on Thursday.

Continue Reading

India News

Assam clears Uniform Civil Code bill, becomes third state after Uttarakhand and Gujarat

Assam has officially become the third state in India to pass the Uniform Civil Code bill. The legislation was cleared by the state assembly on Wednesday despite strong objections raised by opposition lawmakers who claimed it impacts minority rights.

Published

on

himanta

The Assam Legislative Assembly on Wednesday passed ‘The Uniform Civil Code, Assam, 2026 Bill’, making it the third state ruled by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to adopt a uniform legal framework after Uttarakhand and Gujarat.

Opposition flags concerns over rights during house debate

The bill was taken up for final passage in the state assembly on Wednesday, sparking a heated discussion among lawmakers. During the legislative floor debate, opposition MLAs strongly voiced their concerns regarding the proposed law, stating that the legislation will hurt and compromise the fundamental rights of a certain section of society.

Despite objections from the opposition benches, the treasury benches cleared the passage of the bill, cementing Assam’s position as the latest state to move away from diverse personal laws in favor of a uniform code. Media reported that the legislative move follows extensive political discussions in the state surrounding civil regulations. With this enactment, Assam joins Uttarakhand and Gujarat, which have previously passed their respective uniform civil codes.

Continue Reading

Trending

© Copyright 2022 APNLIVE.com