With no Jung', L-G clears major govt proposals

New Delhi: Contrary to what was expected, the administration in the national capital has smoothened after Anil Baijal took over as the lieutenant-governor (L-G) of Delhi on December 28. Mr Baijal has cleared some of the major proposals of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government, including revision of the minimum wages of the contractual workers by about 37 per cent in various categories, revision of the salaries of the guest teachers, and the proposal to open over 300 mohalla clinics in the government schools. The crucial delimitation of 150 of the 272 civic wards was also cleared by Mr Baijal in the run up to the municipal polls due next month, soon after he took oath as the new L-G of Delhi.

This is in departure from Mr Baijal’s predecessor, Najeeb Jung, with who the AAP government was locked in a perpetual confrontation over approval of several projects.

Incidentally, Mr Baijal, in his first speech to the Delhi Assembly on March 6, had mounted praises on the AAP government’s initiatives in health and education sectors, and other development works in the unauthorised colonies in the city.

In his 25-minute long speech, Mr Baijal had highlighted AAP government’s efforts in the education and healthcare sectors of Delhi. He had said that over 100 mohalla clinics have come up in Delhi and their number will increase to 1,000 in the next six months. He also said that Delhi’s economy grew at 8.34 per cent in 2015-16, with per capita income rising to three times the national level. He underlined the government’s measures like slashing power tariff by half and making a certain quantum of water supply free to improve the living standards of the city residents.

The proposal to hike the minimum wages of the workers in the city was the third major proposal of the AAP government cleared by Mr Baijal within a month. The development is striking in comparison to the tenure of Mr Jung, with whom the Delhi government proposals either remained pending or were returned for reconsideration or further clarification. After clearing AAP government’s proposal to open over 300 mohalla clinics in Delhi government schools on February 8, Mr Baijal had cleared the proposal to increase salaries of about 17,000 guest teachers in the city.

CM Arvind Kejriwal and his deputy, Manish Sisodia, had exuded hopes of maintaining a “good working relationship” with Mr Baijal, who replaced Mr Jung in December.

However, though the start has been positive, Mr Baijal faces a challenging task of taking policy decisions on a range of issues as the administrative head of the NCT of Delhi. The contentious issues on which Mr Baijal will have to take decisions include the recommendations made by the three-member Shunglu Committee, which were given after reviewing 400 files of the AAP government. The committee had among other decisions reviewed the premium bus aggregator scheme for running luxury buses, dedicated lanes for the buses in the city, 400 per cent hike in wages and perks of the city legislators, revision of circle rates, appointment of an IRS officer as the chief of DERC, and posting of health and PWD secretaries.

These decisions had been taken by the AAP government without seeking prior approval of the then LG, Mr Jung.