NEW DELHI, Jan 31: Immediate 50 per cent cut in power tariff, free Wi-Fi across Delhi, installation of 10-15 lakh CCTV cameras for women security, making water a legal right and bringing down the VAT significantly are among 70 promises the AAP made in its manifesto to make Delhi a “truly” global city and ensure inclusive growth for all sections.
The Aam Aadmi Party also promised to build two lakh public toilets across Delhi, set up 20 new colleges, regulate fees of private school, add 30,000 more beds in Delhi hospitals and create eight lakh new jobs in the next five years if it comes to power.
Releasing the manifesto, AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal said it was prepared after four months of intense research and that it was party’s “Geeta, Bible, Quran and Guru Granth Sahib” which will be implemented point-by-point if voted to power.
Kejriwal announced that if an AAP government comes to power, electricity tariff will be slashed by 50 per cent immediately and a thorough audit of the private power distribution companies will be carried out based on which rates will be revised.
The Congress in its manifesto had promised to cut power tariff to Rs 1.50 per unit for consumption up to 200 units per month against current rate of Rs 2.80. During its first tenure, the AAP government had halved the power tariffs for monthly consumption up to 400 units.
Among the significant announcements in the manifesto, the party promised to push for Delhi’s statehood and bring down the VAT charges to the lowest level among all states and Union Territories within five years.
In order to ensure women security, the party promised to install 10-15 lakh CCTV cameras all over the city along with ensuring a security guard in every bus.
“If 15,00O CCTV cameras can be installed for Barack Obama, why can’t the same be done for our mothers and sisters? We will install 10-15 lakh CCTV cameras along with putting a security guard in every bus,” the former Chief Minister said.
Kejriwal said AAP will ensure up to 20 kilolitres (20,000 litres) of free water to every household per month and the scheme will be extended to group-housing societies. He said the mandatory annual 10 per cent hike in water tariff will be abolished. He said AAP will make water a legal right.
As per the manifesto, AAP will build two lakh toilets across Delhi out of which 1.5 lakh toilets will be in slums and jhuggi clusters and 50,000 toilets in public spaces. One lakh toilets will be for women.
“We want a Delhi where everyone will be proud of calling himself or herself its resident. Where every class grows equally, irrespective of caste or religion,” Kejriwal said.
He said free Wi-Fi was a “basic necessity” in today’s times and the party will make sure that every citizen can connect to the Internet wherever they are.
The manifesto said the party will not allow FDI in retail in Delhi.
It also promised to regulate private school fees, ensure transparency in schools admissions and ramp up government schools to provide quality education
In the field of education, the party said apart from opening 500 new schools and 20 new colleges, it will launch a Higher Education Guarantee Scheme enabling students to avail loan from banks without having the need to furnish any collateral.
The party’s manifesto also promises to create 900 new Primary Health Centres and to increase the number of government hospital beds by 30,000.
To ensure “speedy justice” for victims of sexual assault, 47 fast-track courts will be operationalised, if AAP is voted to power.
Holding the 1984 anti-Sikh riots as one of the “lowest points” in history of Delhi, the party said it will notify an SIT to “reinvestigate” the killings.
The party also resolved to legislate the Jan Lokpal Bill to ensure time-bound investigation in matters of corruption.
Legislating the Swaraj Bill is also on the party’s agenda with an aim to “devolve” powers directly to the people.
The party said that it will regularise unauthorised colonies within “one year” of coming to power. Before that, as an “immediate measure” it will provide registration rights to the residents of those colonies paving the way for electricity and sewer lines.
To confer freehold rights to residents of resettlement colonies, the party manifesto proposes a simplified mechanism wherein original allottees will receive ownership of their plots for Rs 10,000.
On the power issue, the manifesto said discoms will be brought within the ambit of the RTI act and competition will be introduced amongst the discoms by providing consumers the right to choose between electricity providers.
The AAP said it will facilitate a phased shift to renewable and alternate sources of energy and will try to make it a solar city.
The manifesto also promised fair and transparent water pricing, augmenting water resources, crackdown on water mafia, reviving the Yamuna, better waste management, increase in number of DTC buses, ensuring quality drugs for all at affordable price, adequate street lighting and effective last mile connectivity.
“New judges will be appointed. We will make provisions for affordable housing for government counsel and lawyers practising in lower courts,” it said.
AAP will set up Mahila Suraksha Dal or Women’s Security Force made up of a 10,000 strong Home Guards who are currently forced to work as servants, drivers and cooks at the residences of senior officers and ministers, the manifesto said.
AAP government will facilitate a ‘Suraksha/SOS’ button on every mobile phone. “We will work towards its connectivity to the police, nearest PCR van, relatives and volunteer community,” it said adding “all government services and forms will be made available online and on the phone. Data on government projects, performance, accounts and personnel will be posted online.
“This will bring transparency and accountability in governance.”
It said pro-farmer land reforms will be initiated and Section 33 and 81 of the Delhi Land Reform Act, “which put unjust restrictions on farmers’ rights over their land, will be removed”.
It said Delhi will be made a trade and retail hub.
On E-rickshaw drivers, it said AAP will formulate a clear policy and standards for ownership and operation of e-rickshaws, keeping safety aspects in mind.
The manifesto said AAP will construct affordable housing for lower income groups.
“Over 200 acres of land is currently lying vacant with the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board that can be used for affordable housing,” it said. (PTI)
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