LG lists health, education plans

Plans with targets pertaining to the education and health sector and initiatives taken during the last one year dominated Lt Governor Najeeb Jung's address on the inaugural day of the Delhi Assembly's Budget session here today. Stating that the Delhi Government has made major budgetary outlays last year, Jung said construction work is in progress for 25 new school buildings, with sanctions being issued for constructing 7,289 additional classrooms and 700 toilet blocks in existing schools. Proposals for construction of school buildings on 4 vacant plots have been approved while around 50 Gram Sabha sites identified for opening new schools, he stated. "The feasibility of opening new schools in the evening shift in the existing schools has been explored and five single shift schools have been identified for opening schools from the academic session 2016-1017," said the LG in the House. Further, he said sanctions have been conveyed to the Delhi Jal Board for new water connection in 205 schools and CCTV cameras are being installed in all the class rooms of government schools to promote security and enhance accountability. 9,623 additional teaching posts Aiming to improve the teacher-pupil ratio, the government has approved creation of 9,623 additional teaching posts in the Directorate of Education. Following which, recruitment to fill up all vacant posts of teachers is in full swing and 12,585 guest teachers have been appointed in government schools, the Lt Governor informed the Delhi Assembly. As a pilot project, the government has given approval for upgrading 54 existing schools to model schools with modern facilities, infrastructure and impetus on quality education apart from promoting sports culture by steps such as opening use of school playgrounds by the local community after school hours and on holidays and allowing access of stadiums, sports complexes to people on nominal costs with effect from July 1 last year. The LG also enumerated various schemes rolled out by the Kejriwal government, including Chief Minister's Super Talented Children Scholarship Scheme for providing free training to medical and engineering aspirants. A loan of Rs 10 lakh for higher education The first Pharmaceutical University of India, namely pharmaceutical Sciences and research University, has been made functional. Also, the government has launched a Higher Education and Skill Development Guarantee Scheme under which a loan of Rs 10 lakh is provided to a student in Delhi for pursuing higher education. A Bill on Netaji Subhash University of Technology has been passed by the Assembly and awaiting approval of the Centre. Skill development initiatives Under the Multi-sectoral Development Programme, ITI Nand Nagri for women has been set up which became functional from the 2015-16 academic session with a total intake capacity of 167 trainees, he said. ITI Mangolpuri has now been made fully functional with 500 admissions in the current academic year and similar upgradation at ITI at Ranhola, Bakkarwala and Chhatarpur is in pipeline. Further five new polytechnic institutes are being established in North, North-east, West, Central and New Delhi districts. Land has been identified in these districts while existing nine polytechnics have been upgraded to institutes of technology. Steps for affordable healthcare In a major pro-people initiative, the AAP government waived user charges for all diagnostic services in health facilities and ensured availability of free medicines and consumables mentioned in the essential drug list (EDL) in the government hospitals and centres. On the lines of a clinic launched in Peeragarhi, the city government aims to set up 1,000 Aam Aadmi Mohalla Clinics for providing quality primary healthcare. Cabinet approves several major proposals In several major decisions, the Cabinet today decided to constitute Fifth Finance Commission, extend free travel in AC and Non-AC buses of DTC and Cluster Scheme to persons with any disability, strengthen Enforcement Wing of Transport Department and deploy ex-servicemen against the vacancies of foot constables on regular basis for six months or till the vacancies are filled in a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal here. The Cabinet approved the constitution of the Fifth Delhi Finance Commission that shall consist of a chairperson and three members including a Member Secretary. The chairman and members shall be appointed by the Lt. Governor on the recommendation of the Council of Ministers of Delhi. The Cabinet also approved the free travel facilities for differently abled in accordance with Disabilities Act in AC & Non-AC buses of DTC and Cluster Scheme. The government said of the 6055 buses (4555 DTC & 1500 Cluster), 1275 are AC buses and additionally, the number of AC buses is going to increase substantially in the near future. "The plight of the people with disability can well be understood once they are on the bus stop but cannot board an AC bus as they were till now having passes only for Non-Ac buses. Now, with the extension, they can board the AC buses too," said the government. The proposals for strengthening the Enforcement Wing of the Transport Department and the deployment of ex-servicemen against the vacancies of foot constables were also passed by the Cabinet today.