Delhi finance minister Manish Sisodia on Tuesday called his seventh budget for Delhi “Deshbhakti Budget” to mark India’s 75 years of independence, announcing a range of programmes and measures to evoke patriotism in the citizens including installation of 500 big tricolours across the city and organising several cultural events to commemorate leaders such as Bhagat Singh and BR Ambedkar.
“As I present this budget, I feel it would be our great fortune if the schemes and plans mentioned here would make a positive contribution to the dreams of a liberated homeland as envisioned by those selfless patriots. Therefore, with your permission and of this House, today I want to name this budget the ‘Deshbhakti Budget’,” Sisodia said in his speech at Delhi assembly while presenting Budget 2021-22.
“As part of the series of patriotic events to be initiated in Delhi from March 12, for the next 75 weeks, programmes will be organised across the city. These programmes will not only showcase Delhi but also highlight its role in the freedom movement, its journey in the last 75 years and the vision of Delhi in 2047,” Sisodia said.
The Delhi government has earmarked ₹10 crore for programmes on the life of freedom fighter Bhagat Singh and the contributions made by Dr BR Ambedkar in framing India’s constitution.
Sisodia also proposed ₹45 crore for installing the national flag at 500 different locations across Delhi. With these 500 tricolours, on the 75th year of independence, we will decorate our entire city in such a way that you will find a flag every one or two kilometers, he said.
While making the announcement Sisodia also quoted Bhagat Singh’s ‘jail diary’ and recited couplets in the memory of Ambedkar. “Rutba mere sar ko tere samvidhan se mila hai, ye samman bhi mujhe tere samvidhan se mila hai; auro ko jo mila hai muqaddar se mila hai, hume to muqaddar bhi tere samvidhan se mila hai. We want every Indian to remember Baba Saheb Ambedkar’s vision and foresight on the occasion of India’s 75th Independence anniversary,” the deputy CM said.
{{/usCountry}}While making the announcement Sisodia also quoted Bhagat Singh’s ‘jail diary’ and recited couplets in the memory of Ambedkar. “Rutba mere sar ko tere samvidhan se mila hai, ye samman bhi mujhe tere samvidhan se mila hai; auro ko jo mila hai muqaddar se mila hai, hume to muqaddar bhi tere samvidhan se mila hai. We want every Indian to remember Baba Saheb Ambedkar’s vision and foresight on the occasion of India’s 75th Independence anniversary,” the deputy CM said.
{{/usCountry}}The government also proposed to start a Deshbhakti curriculum in its schools this year. “There will be one class for this curriculum every day. Through this curriculum, we want to prepare responsible citizens who will contribute to nation-building,” Sisodia said.
The government also proposed a mentorship volunteer programme -- youth for education -- to help students in Delhi government schools.
Sisodia also proposed to set up a Sainik school and armed forces preparatory academy in the Capital to prepare students for services in the armed forces. “There are 33 Sainik schools across the nation. We will now have one in Delhi as well. We will also start an armed force preparatory academy where students will be prepared for NDA and armed force services,” he said.
At a press conference later in the day, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said that through the Deshbhakti curriculum his government will help students understand their civic duties and become good human beings and patriotic citizens. “We will train our children in such a manner that they will think twice before even jumping a red light or thinking about breaking the rules of the system. We will ensure that every child is proud of their country.”
The finance minister also allocated ₹26 crore for the families of martyrs and ₹2 crore for organising special programmes for the elderly.
Bharat Arora, secretary of Action Committee of Unaided Private Recognised Schools -- an umbrella body of over 400 schools in Delhi ---- welcomed the proposals. “Patriotism should definitely be an important and integral part of any state or country’s curriculum. So this is definitely a positive step. However, the curriculum should include a variety of programmes, camps and activities.”
Tanvir Aeijiaz, associate professor at Delhi University’s (DU) Ramjas College, said celebrating 75 years of India’s freedom is a good idea but cautioned that the government should not go overboard. “The government should not fall into the trap of pretentious competitive nationalism. The love for nation remains the same with one flag or 500 flags. At a time when the state GDP has gone down and the country is going through a pandemic, spending so much on such things doesn’t make sense,” he said.