Cheap electricity, Women Security, more govt schools: AAP
Delhi Jan Lokpal Bill
Commitment to passing Delhi Jan Lokpal Bill within 15 days of coming to power. All public servants to fall under its purview. Time-bound investigation and swift disposal of corruption cases. Cases against Ministers, MLAs and Secretaries would be completed in six months to one year. Lokpal would have financial, administrative and investigative independence. It would have the power to initiate investigation and prosecution against corrupt public servants. Those found guilty of corruption would be removed from their jobs, sent to jail and their property confiscated. Citizens’ charter for every government office, setting a time limit for any citizens’ work at a Government office. Concerned officer to be fined if the work is not completed within the time limit. Encouragement to honest officers and protection to whistleblowers.
Swaraj
Devolving power directly to people; decisions about development in any locality to be taken by Mohalla Sabhas; payments for any work (roads, pavement, etc) to be released only once the work is approved by Mohalla Sabhas. Mohalla Sabhas to monitor the functioning of local school, primary health centres, ration shops. Demand for full statehood to Delhi, so that MCD, DDA and Delhi Police are directly controlled by the Delhi government.
Electricity
Delhi’s consumers have been getting inflated bills due to malpractices by Discoms. AAP promises a reduction of consumers’ electricity expenditure by 50%. This will be done by ordering an audit of discoms, rectifying inflated bills and getting electricity bills checked by independent agencies. Licences would be cancelled of any discoms that refuse the audit . Discoms would be brought under RTI and their accounts made more transparent. Discome monopolies would be ended and consumers would be allowed to choose between two electricity providers. Incentives and subsidies to promote solar energy; target of meeting 20% of Delhi’s electricity needs via solar energy in the next ten years. Individuals installing solar panels in their houses would be allowed to sell extra electricity to the grid.
Water
Water is the biggest concern of the aam aadmi in Delhi, as more than 50 lakh people do not get piped water in their homes. AAP is committed to ensuring that all households in Delhi get water in their homes, irrespective of whether they are in slums or unauthorised colonies. Households using up to 700 litres of water (per day) would be given free water. Transparency would be introduced in the functioning of the Delhi Jal Board, who currently keep no account of how much water is received from different sources and how much water is supplied to each area. Bulk meters would be installed and their data put on the DLB website every day. Clamp-down on tanker mafia. AAP opposes the privatisation of the Delhi Jal Board and is committed to the public provision of water to all citizens. Long run solutions to Delhi’s water situation would focus on city-wide rainwater harvesting, reviving Delhi’s water bodies and the conservation and recycling of water.
Sanitation and Waste Management
More than 15 lakh people in Delhi do not have toilets in their homes; this is a cause of ill-health and insecurity, especially women. AAP is committed to building 2 lakh community and public toilets in Delhi. More than 40 lakh people in Delhi do not sewerage lines taking the waste-water from their homes to sewage treatment plants. AAP is committed to connecting all households to the sewage network, irrespective of whether they are in slums or unauthorised colonies. Small, decentralised sewage plants would be built, which would be managed by Mohalla Sabhas. Waste would be managed with the direct participation of people; there would be separation of bio-degradable and non-biodegradable waste at the household level and littering would be heavily fined.
Women’s Security
Citizens’ Security Forces would be formed with a branch in each ward, who would provide security to anyone in distress, but with special focus on security of women, children and senior citizens. Ensuring swift dispensing of justice in case of crimes against women by establishing special fast track courts; implementation of recommendations of the Verma Committee Ensuring lighting and security provisions on roads, parks, buses and all public spaces.
Education
Commitment to improving the standard of government schools, so that all citizens of Delhi – whether rich or poor – would have access to high quality of education. Government schools to be made as good as private schools. A law would be introduced to regulate high fees and donations in private schools and colleges. New colleges would be opened for students from Delhi. Delhi government-run universities, like Ambedkar University, would be expanded. Employment of contractual/temporary teachers in both government and private schools and colleges shall be stopped and all posts would be regularised.
Health
Government health care facilities would be improved (and made as good as private hospitals) so that all citizens of Delhi – rich or poor – have access to high quality health care. New government hospitals would be opened to ensure Delhi conforms to the international norm of 5 beds for every thousand people. New primary health centres would be established. Use of generic medicines would be promoted to reduce patient expenses on medicines Ayurveda, Naturopathy, Homeopathy and Unani medical systems would play an important role in the government healthcare facilities. New hospitals would be opened for these systems of medicine. Large percentage of diseases in Delhi are caused by polluted air, contaminated water and improper waste disposal; AAP would work on controlling these for a long-term solution. A special task force would work on a war-footing to control dengue in Delhi.
Delhi’s Villages
Gram Sabhas would be empowered to make decisions regarding Delhi’s villages including extension of Lal Dora; land acquisition in these villages would be possible only with permission of Gram Sabha. Adequate number of schools and hospitals would be provided; farmers would be provided agricultural subsidies; sports facilities would be improved.
Unauthorised Colonies
Regularisation of unauthorised colonies based on rates decided in the notification of March 24, 2008 Process of authorisation, planning and supervisions development works would be done by the local Mohalla Sabha, with direct participation of the people.
Slums
Rehabilitation of people living in slums – flats/plots would be provided on site, or as near as possible to existing location of slums. Process of rehabilitation to be done in consultation with the people. · Till rehabilitation is done, no slums will be demolished; improvement in local living conditions will be made with provision of water, sewerage lines and proper waste management.
Inflation and Unemployment
While inflation is due to central government policies, AAP would take measures to ensure basic facilities remain within reach of the aam aadmi; these would include electricity expense reduction, 700 litres of water made available for free, government provision of high quality education and health , regulating fees of private schools and strict action against hoarders For increasing employment AAP shall fill all vacant government posts, provide better facilities to industrial areas and provide young entrepreneurs loans at low interest rates.
Other Economic Issues
Traders: Simplifying VAT structures and opposing FDI in retail Industry: Improving facilities in industrial areas and simplifying licensing procedures Contract Labour: No contractual jobs for work that is required 365 days a year; ensuring implementation of minimum wages Unorganised sector: Ensuring social security for unorganised sector workers; regulating wages and working hours of domestics workers; improving working condition of rag-pickers. Street Vendors: licenses and fixed locations to be given to street vendors.
Transport
Establishing a Unified Transport Authority for a holistic transport policy, commitment to providing high quality public transport in Delhi Expansion of DTC bus service and Delhi Metro; improving and making secure last mile connectivity via feeder buses, shared auto-rickshaws and e-rickshaws. Making pavements and cycle tracks on all possible roads; removing unnecessary route restrictions on rickshaws Auto Rickshaws: Increasing auto stands, streamlining procedure for purchasing auto-rickshaws and preventing black marketing, preventing police harassment and revising auto fares in an ongoing manner.
Environment
Priority to sewage treatment and industrial effluent treatment to prevent polluted water from flowing in Yamuna; preventing encroachment on Yamuna river-bed Protecting Delhi Ridge by clamping down on encroachment; ongoing afforestation in Delhi Animal Welfare Board to be given enforcement authority, and not merely be an advisory body.
Social Justice
Scheduled Castes: Ensuring SC component plans is spent on welfare schemes for SCs and reservations implemented; providing low or zero-interest loans for setting up their livelihood. Valmikis: Ending contractualisation in safai karamchari posts, providing educational and livelihood opportunities to help them find employment in fields other than those of safai karamcharis. Muslims: Ending harassment by police and prosecution of Muslim youth in false cases, improving functioning of Delhi wakf board. Victims of 1984 Sikh massacre: Providing justice to victims of 1984 riots, re-opening wrongly closed cases, improving living conditions in areas like Tilak Nagar where many victims now live. Status of Punjabi and Urdu as second language: Providing them genuine status as second language by ensuring adequate facilities and filling vacant posts Persons with Disability: Expanding definition of disability, ensuring their admission into schools and colleges; priority to making all public buildings barrier-free and accessible. Other marginalised groups: Efforts to end discrimination against and improve living conditions of nomadic communities (NT/DNT), trans-genders and other marginalised communities.
