In an effort to address the financial issues of the people of Delhi, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia presented the Delhi government’s Rozgar Budget in the Delhi Assembly with an outlay of Rs 75,800 crore for fiscal 2022-23. The Budget focuses on creating around 20 lakh jobs in a year. Addressing a press conference after the budget session, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal lauded the Budget and called it innovative and bold. He said that the Rozgar Budget will not only address the issue of unemployment but also price rise.
The CM said, “The first budget that we brought out in 2014-15 was Rs 31,000 crore. Today, the budget is Rs 76,000 crore which is nearly 2.5 times higher.”
According to CM Kejriwal, as many as 1.68 lakh people in Delhi are fit for employment. To open up opportunities, the Government of Delhi has identified eight sectors including tourism and construction. The government will be taking up new initiatives with a two-pronged approach to improve the economy and employment generation.
Speaking of one of the initiatives, the CM said, “Delhi shopping festival will attract tourists and create jobs. Dilli Bazar portal will cover all shops in markets and boost the economy.”
CM Kejriwal spoke on the benefits that his government extended to the citizens of Delhi. He said that the Government of Delhi has ensured “unparalleled” health security to Delhiites. Also, government schools have been transformed into better facilities for education with smart classes and better infrastructure. More than 3.75 lakh parents have shifted their children to government schools, he added.
In addition, Rs 10 crore has been earmarked for a residential school for homeless children that will have state-of-the-art facilities, the CM said. Further, he pointed out that efforts are being made to provide free water supply and free power, health, transport, education. Such a setup would make people’s lives easy, considering the soaring prices.
Delhi Government’s Take on MCD Merger
CM Kejriwal said that the Government of Delhi could take legal action to counter the Centre’s Bill to merge the three MCDs in Delhi. “We will study the MCD Bill and if needed, challenge it in court,” he said.