THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, DELHI

Respected Speaker and Hon’ble Members,

I extend a warm welcome to all of you to the Budget Session of the Legislative Assembly of Delhi.

I am happy to inform that my government over the last eight years has provided good governance, based on the principles of transparency, accountability, responsiveness and sensitivity. In spite of various constraints, my Government has taken up number of initiatives on various fronts and laid a strong edifice on which it can help build a developed and prosperous Delhi. As its commitment to the people, my Government has tried its best to achieve excellence in every field of development.

Economy

Economy of Delhi has attributes of a strong economy. The pandemic of COVID-19 virus adversely impacted the demand and supply of goods and services in the economy; however, Delhi has remained an island of robust economic fundamentals.

The Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) of Delhi at current prices   increased from Rs. 6,16,085 Crores   in   2016-17 to Rs.9,23,967 crores during 2021-22, registering a growth of 50%.

The contribution of Delhi to national GDP (at current prices) is 4.22% as compared to its share of 1.52% in the total population of the country.

The per capita income of Delhi at current prices is estimated at Rs. 4,01,982/- during 2021-22 registering an increase of 16.81% as compared to Rs. 3,44,136/- during 2020-21.

The share of the services sector in Delhi’s economy is about 83.94%. Delhi Government is aiming to increase the percentage of the working population of Delhi from the current 33% to 45% in the next five years.

My Government has presented ‘Rozgar Budget’ focused on generation of employment opportunities for the citizens of Delhi and helping the economy recover from the losses due to Covid-19, GST and demonetizations over the past few years.

Priority has been given to the retail sector, food and beverages, logistics and supply chain, travel & tourism, entertainment, construction, real estate, electronics, Electric Vehicles and green energy for creating new jobs.

Education

Quality education supported by complementary infrastructure has been the professed goal of the Government.

As a result of the Government’s focused attention on improving the quality of education, the students of Delhi have done exceedingly well in the sphere of education.

Government Schools recorded pass percentage of 98% and 97% at classes 12th and 10th level respectively, during the academic session 2021-22.

Delhi Board of School Education has been set up and the Board entered into partnership with   International   Baccalaureate    (IB) to inculcate cutting edge pedagogy and assessment tools in the schools of Delhi.

The Board has started functioning in 41 schools of Delhi Government. In next few years, scope of coverage will be extended even to the willing private schools also.

Schools of Specialized Excellence (SOSE) are world-class schools that cater to students who possess deep interest and aptitude in specific domains of study.

In line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, the SOSEs seeks to nurture the students so that they realize their full potential. Presently, 31 SOSEs are functioning in the domains of STEM, Humanities, Performing & Visual Arts, High-end 21st Century Skills and Armed Forces Preparatory Schools with about 6000 students.

These choice-based schools are from grades 9th to 12th. By facilitating specialization at an early age, the SOSEs seek to prepare students for their chosen higher education pathways and aspirational careers in their respective fields.

To equip children of Class 3rd to Class 9th with basic reading and writing skills and to do basic mathematics, ‘Mission Buniyaad’ programme was conducted and significant improvement was observed in the learning levels of the students. The process is still continuing with the objective to fill the learning gap and to recover the learning loss due to COVID-19.

In sync with the National Education Policy 2020, under “Hobby Hubs” programme, schools have been setup to enhance and nurture the innate abilities and skills of students through various activities by interested Academics /Individuals /NGOs in all Government Schools. This program encourages schools to utilize their resources and infrastructure to full capacity through these activities during non-teaching/ after school hours.

To address wellbeing and happiness of the students and to promote development in cognition, language, literacy, numeracy and arts ‘Happiness Curriculum’ has been implemented so as to raise and prepare students to be mindful, aware, awakened, empathetic and firmly rooted in their identity.

All classrooms will be converted into digital classrooms within 5 years. ‘Project Voices’ is being launched in all schools for students of Class 3rd to 12th for sharing thoughts through speaking. Concerning the future of underprivileged homeless children at an early age, my Government has decided to setup a boarding school with modern facilities for providing them food, shelter and quality education. Delhi Skill and Entrepreneur University has added various courses in emerging areas to impart skills-oriented programmes.

Similarly various foundation course and certificate courses have commenced in Netaji Subhash University of Technology. Delhi Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research University has added a Centre of Excellence ‘Centre for precision medicine’ with ultra-modern facilities. It will help in research in RTPCR, Genome Study etc.

Phase-II construction work for Delhi Technological University is complete. Indira Gandhi Delhi Technical University for Women isrunning mentoring programme for school students for motivation towards better career and future prospects.

Social Security and Welfare

My Government believes in inclusive development. We have made special efforts to help the vulnerable population (women, elderly etc.) and the poorest of the poor.

Under Old Age Assistance Scheme, 4.08 Lakh beneficiaries and under Financial Assistance to Persons with Special Needs, more than 1.25 Lakh beneficiaries have been remitted pension respectively.

Similarly, under the scheme of financial assistance to poor widows for performing marriage of their daughters and orphan girls, one time grant of Rs. 30,000 was sanctioned in 1668 cases. Financial assistance was also provided to 3.50 Lakh women in distress.

An MoU has been signed with UN- Women to provide technical support to the Government of Delhi to strengthen the government’s ongoing efforts on eliminating violence and discrimination against women, Gender Responsive Governance, Planning and budgeting across sectors, women’s access to resources and opportunities for economic empowerment.

The government has been working tirelessly for the welfare and development of SC/ ST/OBC/ Minorities communities. For welfare of SC/ST/OBC the Government is implementing 08 scholarship schemes. Under Jai Bhim Mukhyamantri Pratibha Vikas Yojana 38 more coaching institutes have been taken on panel of Delhi Government.

Under Mukhyamantri Vidhyarti Pratibha Yojna students of Class 9th & 10th are being provided scholarship amount of Rs.5,000/- per annum and for students of class 11th & 12th grade of Rs. 10,000/- per annum are being provided as scholarship.

My Government is committed to the welfare of the labourers. Minimum wages for unskilled   workers   is   Rs.16,792/- per   month;   for    semi-skilled    worker, it is Rs.18,499/- per month while for skilled workers the minimum wages are Rs.20,357/- per month. These rates are the highest amongst all the States and Union Territories in the country and at par with the Central Government Rates in A-class cities. 32.42 Lakh unorganized workers have been registered on e-Shram portal.

Infrastructure

As part of improvement of city infrastructure, construction of various projects related to underpasses, flyovers, subways have been completed.

Construction of underpass and flyover at Ashram Chowk has been completed and the flyover is extended to DND Flyover.

One tunnel from Purana Qila Road to Ring Road along with six numbers of underpasses on Mathura Road, Bhairon Marg and Ring Road have also been constructed. The underpass at Benito Juaraz Marg, bridge on Najafgarh drain at Basaidarapur, elevated road of Barapullah Phase-III from Sarai Kale Khan to Mayur Vihar has been completed.

The work of Synthetic Athletic Track in Sports Complex at Village Kair and at Sarvodaya Vidyalaya, Prahladpur, Delhi is complete.

The work of Synthetic Hockey Court at Vivekananda College, Vivek Vihar and Girls Hostel & Boys Hostel for Foreign Students and Engineering Office Block in NSUT Campus, Dwarka is also complete.

1,35,500 CCTV cameras have been installed throughout Delhi. On the occasion of 75th year of Independence, my Government has unfurled 500 National Flags of 115 ft. height and 165 ft. height at different locations so that every citizen of Delhi takes pride after seeing a national flag after every two-three kms, once he comes out of his home.

Infrastructure in schools has been improved and approximately 20,000 classrooms have been inaugurated.

All our future buildings will be net zero green building with zero waste.

We are planning complete transformation of roads through street scaping programme. 34 Kilometres of new water pipelines have been installed and 117 Kilometres of old and rusted water line have been laid to improve drinking water supply.   Projects at Chandrawal Water Treatment Plant and Wazirabad Water Treatment Plant are near completion. For improvement of carrying capacity of the sewer lines, around 167 Kms of peripheral sewer line has been rehabilitated with trenchless technology.

Health

Providing better health care facilities to the citizens of Delhi is one of the prime objectives of the Government.

Delhi has created robust health infrastructure and 38 Multispecialty Hospitals, 174 Allopathic Dispensaries, 522 Aam Aadmi Mohalla Clinics, 30 Polyclinics, 60 Seed Primary Urban Health Centres (PUHCs), 46 Ayurvedic, 22 Unani, 107 Homeopathic Dispensaries,22 Mobile Clinics etc. are providing preventive, promotive and curative health care services to the Citizens of Delhi.

New Hospitals at Jwalapuri, Siraspur, Madipur and Vikaspuri are being constructed. Remodelling of 19 existing Hospitals has also been done.

05 new Hospitals at Bindapur, Baprola, Deendarapur, Keshavpuram and Sangam Vihar are at planning stage.

More than 16,000 beds will be added after completion of new Hospitals and re- modelling of the hospitals.

All essential drugs are being provided free of cost to patients attending public health centres of Delhi Government. Under ‘Delhi Arogya Kosh’ free treatment, surgery and diagnostic services are provided through identified private hospitals to the patients who cannot be provided treatment at Delhi government hospitals due to any reasons.

Health knowledge and services are also being provided to school children in Delhi at 61 Centres.

Health Information Management System (HIMS) project is in implementation phase. Pilot project are being done in two hospitals and later the project will be scaled up to all Hospitals and healthcare institutions.

Health Card Project has been initiated, which aims to provide Health Card to all the eligible residents of Delhi wherein a QR code-based Health Card will be provided on the basis of voter ID Card. This will make it easier for all citizens to get timely treatment.

Power

Delhi has extended electricity subsidy, irrespective of the load, of entire bill amount of domestic consumers utilizing up-to 200 units in a month and up-to Rs.800 per month to the domestic consumers utilizing up-to 201 units to 400 units per month during 2022-23.

Peak Load Demand of 7695 MW was successfully met on 29.06.2022. The power outages have been reduced to 0.02%.

Delhi Electricity Tariff remains lowest among neighbouring states.

Government has also made efforts to promote renewal energy. Till date 238 MW capacity rooftop Solar PV Systems have been installed in Delhi. To promote green and clean transportation, 846 electric vehicle charging stations have been installed.

Transport

My Government has placed public transport and well-designed infrastructure among its most crucial objectives.

Delhi Transport Corporation has a total fleet of 4010 buses out of which 3760 are Low Floor Buses and 250 are e-buses with zero emission. 1500 more electric buses are under addition.

Bus Depots have been redeveloped and modernized. 30 new bus routes have been identified. Marshals have been deployed inside buses to ensure safety of passengers especially women.

The existing network of Delhi Metro is 390 Kms. The connecting link between Mayur Vihar Pocket-1 and Trilokpuri - Sanjay Lake Metro stations of Pink Line has been commissioned.

With the opening of this important connection, the 59 Km long Pink Line will seamlessly connect the northern and eastern fringes of Delhi. Also known as the ‘Ring Corridor’, the Pink Line will be the longest corridor of the Delhi Metro, forming a ring, with interchange facilities with all existing routes.

Further Najafgarh - Dhansa Bus Stand extension of Grey Line has also been commissioned. Kirtinagar-Bamnoli Village Metro Line corridor of 19 KM and 21 stations is under approval.

Transport Department has taken up a major initiative to provide all public services in a faceless manner, dispensing with the requirement of a physical visit to MLO Offices. Delhi residents can avail of 33 transport documents online.

Women are being provided free training for Heavy Motor Vehicles and LMV for induction into bus fleet and Cab aggregators respectively.

Environment

The Government is committed to having a Green and Clean Delhi. Extensive efforts are being continuously taken to control air pollution. Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations at 40 stations has been established.

Mechanical Road Sweepers and Water Sprinklers, Anti-smog Guns have been deployed all over Delhi to mitigate dust re- suspension.

Efforts of the government has been significantly instrumental towards positive trend in air pollution levels.

‘Severe’ air quality dropped from 24 days in 2021 to 06 days in 2022.

To protect Yamuna River, 13 CETPs and 35 STPs are tracking pollutant load, sewage and industrial effluents.

18 major drains which are falling into river Yamuna have been covered in Interceptor Sewar Project and flow of sub-drains under their command areas have been trapped and treated.

78% of the unauthorized colonies are also linked to sewerage system. The Wetland Authority of Delhi has completed geo- tagging and mapping of 1018 water bodies.

Special Task Force has been constituted and Comprehensive Action Plan has been prepared to eliminate single use plastics in a mission mode.

GNCTD is working actively to increase and protect the green cover and the wildlife of the city state. Green Cover has been increased to 342 Sq. Km. which covers 23.06% geographic area of Delhi.

Green Action Plan 2022-23 has been launched with an annual plantation target of 42.81 lakh seedlings on the occasion of World Environment Day.

During Van Mahotsav-2022 a Mega Plantation Drive was launched in Asola Bhati Wildlife Sanctuary where 01 lakh saplings have been planted in one single day.

Till date 37.82 lakhs plant saplings have been planted and 6.70 lakhs plant saplings were freely distributed to the general public.

A pilot project for ecological restoration of forests in Central Ridge has also been started by planting indigenous trees.

Soil moisture conservation works has also been undertaken in the Central and Southern Ridge area in the form of small check-dams. It is also proposed in Yamuna floodplains to rejuvenate the river.

‘The National Capital Territory of Delhi Biodiversity Council’ has been constituted for conservation, management, and enhancement of city biodiversity.

To stop stubble burning information and publicity campaign has been launched, technologies demonstrated, farmers have been mobilized and Pusa Bio-Decomposer solution has been extensively used.

Agriculture and Animal Husbandry

NCT of Delhi is cosmopolitan city and the   agriculture   area   is   reducing   due to fast urbanization, change   of   land use, rehabilitation programmes of the Government.

Hence, high value and low volume agriculture is being promoted. Farmers’ training programmes are being organized at village level.

For analysis of soil, seed and water samples, services to the farmers are being provided and expert advice is given.

Animal Husbandry Unit has network of 48 Veterinary Hospitals and 29 Dispensaries through which veterinary services have been improved and contagious diseases have been controlled.

Mobile Veterinary Units have also been started. Fisheries activities are reorganized and expanded.

Tourism

In order to promote Delhi as a cultural tourist destination, the Government has taken several steps.

Delhi Tourism has augmented its website and also launched ‘Dekho Meri Dilli’ mobile app for one-stop-shop for all tourism related information in the city.

Delhi Film Policy (DFP) 2022 has been launched to brand the national and international profile of Delhi through films.

Various events, fairs and festivals have been organized like ‘Har Haath Tiranga’, musical play on the life of Baba Saheb Ambedkar, Ganesh Chaturthi, Teej Festival etc.

The development process in Delhi is proceeding in the right direction at the desired pace. People’s participation has provided a powerful dimension to this.

Delhi being a National Capital attends to people from all parts of the country and from all walks of life, coming to work and making Delhi their home. My Government seeks to fulfil their aspirations, through sincere responsiveness & efforts.

Respectful Speaker and  Members of this august house, I have broadly outlined the important policies and programmes of my government.

I have also included new thrust areas identified for implementation.

Finance Minister will spell out the details in his Budget speech.

I am sure that with the help and cooperation of the members of this august House we shall overcome challenges and transform Delhi into a modern, progressive and global city.

I wish all the success in your deliberations and hope that they would be productive and help in generating new ideas for realizing our dream of turning Delhi into a world-class city.

Jai Hind !