Delhi L-G, CM discuss governance, welfare
New Delhi, June 22
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta met Lieutenant Governor T.S. Sandhu and discussed matters related to governance, development and public welfare in the Capital, an official said on Monday.
The meeting assumes significance as it came close to the finalisation of the 'Delhi Slum and JJ Cluster Rehabilitation and Resettlement Policy-2026' during a review meeting chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
"A significant decision was taken today towards providing dignified housing to millions of families living in Delhi's slums and JJ clusters. In a review meeting chaired by Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah, the 'Delhi Slum and JJ Cluster Rehabilitation and Resettlement Policy-2026' was finalised," Delhi Home and Urban Development Ashish Sood had said.
Calling the decision "historic, he had said that such a step has been taken to make the city the capital of a developed India.
"In a developed Delhi, no one will have to reside in slums. Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, in the presence of Union Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs Manohar Lal and Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, Union Home Minister Amit Shah has finalised the policy to construct houses in places of slums in the national capital," the Delhi Minister had said in video messages.
"Till January 1, 2027, our government will provide houses to people in the same areas where they are currently living in slums," he said.
Lieutenant Governor Sandhu and Chief Minister Gupta's latest meeting also came in the backdrop of the latter recommending the reshuffling of 74 government doctors, including 39 posted in Tihar and Mandoli jails for more than 5 years, to improve healthcare services.
According to the Chief Minister, the recommendation has been made as part of efforts to strengthen the administrative framework of healthcare services and make human resource management more effective.
As recommended, the transfer of 39 doctors serving in Tihar and Mandoli jails for 5 years or more has been proposed. The list includes both specialist doctors and General Duty Medical Officers (GDMOs), said an official statement.
Available information indicates that several of these doctors have remained posted at the same location since 2014, with their tenure exceeding 11 years, the statement said.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Finally some action! As someone living near a JJ cluster in East Delhi, I can tell you the conditions are heartbreaking. People deserve proper housing with basic amenities like water and toilets. But I'm cautiously optimistic - "dignified housing" should mean more than just a concrete box. Also appreciate the CM pushing for doctor transfers in jails, the medical care for prisoners is often neglected. Hope the L-G and CM continue this collaborative approach instead of the usual power tussles.
I'm an Australian working in Delhi and it's encouraging to see the government taking slum rehabilitation seriously. The condition of some JJ clusters is shocking for a global capital. But I'm curious about the relocation plan - will people be moved to the outskirts or redeveloped in situ? The article says "same areas" which is better for their livelihoods. Hope the policy includes schools, healthcare centers within the new complexes. Doctors in prisons for 11 years - that's really bad management, good that's being fixed.
The slum policy is a welcome step but I have mixed feelings. First, the timeline - January 2027 is very tight for a city like Delhi given land acquisition hurdles, legal challenges, and the sheer number of slum dwellers (estimated 2 million+). Second, who decides the definition of "eligibility"? Often such policies leave out the most vulnerable. Third, will these houses have legal titles? Otherwise it's just another rehabilitation without ownership. Good that the CM is also focusing on healthcare administration - the jail doctors issue shows how bureaucracy gets stagnant.
From the UK and I've worked on urban development projects in India. Delhi's slum problem is complex but this policy seems comprehensive. The fact that both CM and L-G are meeting regularly is a positive sign - Delhi's governance has been too fractured historically. But I'm skeptical about the 2027 deadline. Similar projects in Mumbai and Bangalore have faced massive delays. The doctors transfer is a smart move - bureaucratic inertia is a huge issue in Indian public systems
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