Kejriwal govt. promises pakka houses to 78,000 jhuggi dwellers in Delhi
Move aimed at puncturing Delhi BJP’s ‘Jhuggi Samman Yatra’ that concluded in Nov.
New Delhi, March 22 (Delhi Crown): The Arvind Kejriwal government in Delhi will provide pakka houses to nearly 78,000 families presently living in jhuggis in the national capital, announced the Delhi unit of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Tuesday (March 22).
According to a tweet from party’s Twitter handle, the decision to provide pakka houses to jhuggi dwellers was taken at a meeting chaired by CM Kejriwal during the day.
The announcement assumes significances even as it comes weeks ahead of the forthcoming MCD polls.
In the first phase, as many as 16,000 such families (living in jhuggis) will be provided pakka houses. “Within 3 years 16,000 flats will be constructed in place of the jhuggis. The scheme is called Jahan Jhuggi Wahin Pakka Makaan,” said a party source.
Subsequent to the first phase, other jhuggi dwellers across Delhi will also be given pakka houses, added the party source.
This move of the Kejriwal government is also seen as an attempt to counter Delhi BJP’s “Jhuggi Samman Yatra” which it undertook in the recent months in a bid to reach out to the jhuggi-dwellers ahead of the MCD polls.
Though the local body polls’ schedule is yet to be announced, hectic political developments are seen in the national capital in the run up to the elections. Last month the Delhi Election Commission had released a new list of MCD wards after rotation in terms of reservation of wards for Women and SCs.
Soon after the new list of MCD wards was announced, prospective candidates began their political campaigns seeking their respective parties’ tickets. However, on March 9 the State Election Commission suddenly announced that the local body polls have been delayed by a couple of weeks at the pretext of unification of local bodies.
Today (March 22) the Central Government passed a proposal to unify the three MCDs into one. Now, a Bill has to be passed in both the Houses of Parliament, before a law is enacted for unification of the three local bodies.