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Kejriwal calls budget inclusive, says education will be made a mass movement
New Delhi: Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday called the Delhi Budget 2021-22 an “inclusive” document, which covers all aspects of the society from women to the elderly, students, youth, all religions, and all castes
New Delhi: Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday called the Delhi Budget 2021-22 an “inclusive” document, which covers all aspects of the society from women to the elderly, students, youth, all religions, and all castes.
Addressing a press conference after the presentation of the budget in the Delhi assembly, Kejriwal outlined the salient features of the budget as one that endorses patriotism and aims at improving the standard of living, women empowerment and promoting yoga across the city.
He emphasised on the fact that Delhi continued to have a surplus budget despite surviving the Covid-19 pandemic, and added that education will be turned into a mass movement in the city.
“Every educated person should become such a great patriot that they refuse to take any form of bribe. They should question their own patriotism even when they violate traffic rules or mistreat women,” he said.
When asked to explain further, Kejriwal said, “It is about inculcating good behaviour. You must have come across stories of people who go abroad and come back with good experiences especially with the kind of help that they get from people there. We have to inculcate such good behaviour among our children. This is my vision of patriotism.”
He said ever since the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government took over, they have only drafted surplus budgets. “Even the CAG says that Delhi does not make loss budgets. Today’s budget is also a surplus budget. We have often noted in budgets of other states and budgets of the previous Delhi governments that establishment costs are often around 70-80%. In our budget, establishment costs are only 45%, this means 55% can be redirected towards our subsidy schemes and programmes such as social security and other pro-people measures. This displays efficient financial management on part of the Delhi government,” he said.
Kejriwal said as India celebrates 75 years of independence, Delhi will make education a people’s movement. “While continuous efforts are being made by the government, this is not enough. We need people to get involved. The youth of the city, of the country, will join hands and work towards educating the masses. If students without means, studying in 10th and 12th have queries about future careers and career prospects, they will be connected to those who are already in colleges and working, so guidance can be given over the phone. Through this education will be made people’s movement,” Kejriwal said.
He added that yoga will also be a people’s movement.
“Wherever people come forward and tell us that they want to do yoga as a community, we will create facilities for them - in their colonies, parks, etc. Yoga won’t be a single event in the day but a part of their daily life,” he said.
Talking about the health sector, the chief minister said the Delhi government’s Mohalla Clinic project will be extended and exclusive clinics will be set up for women.
“Additionally, in the health sector, every citizen of Delhi will be given a health card. There will remain no need to carry previous X-rays, MRI records — all your health data will be stored on the cloud so that you can go to any hospital and avail facilities. Initially, it will be done through government hospitals, later it will be extended to private hospitals as well. We are creating an elaborate Health Information Management System. Through your health cards, you will be able to take appointments and skip the long queues as well,” he said.
