Shri Sandeep Kumar joins Iftar with homeless and abandoned women of Sundinalay; distributes cloth and other items to homeless and abandoned women

-Delhi Social Welfare, Women and Child Development Minister Shri Sandeep Kumar joins Iftar with homeless and abandoned women of Sundinalay

-Shri Sandeep Kumar distributes cloth and other items to the homeless and abandoned women

Delhi, June 22, 2015

Sh. Sandeep Kumar, Minister of Social Welfare, Women and Child Development and SC/ST, Government of NCT of Delhi joined the iftar ceremony and distributed cloths and other household use items to the homeless and abandoned women of Sundinalay.

In the month of holy Ramzan, an Iftar ceremony was organized this evening by the homeless and abandoned women residents of Sudinalay, Delhi’s first and only shelter home which rescues and provides shelter to homeless mentally ill women. The Iftar concluded with a round of appreciation towards the humanitarian efforts of the shelter home staff and volunteers.

The Founder and Chairperson of Sudinalay Smt. Sreerupa Mitra Chaudhury, who is observing Ramzan, expressed her personal solidarity and support towards the persons residing in the shelter home.
Today, there are 30 women living here and currently recovering from serious mental illnesses such as Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorders and Depression. These women are homeless and abandoned. The shelter home provides hot cooked meals, clothes and bedding, medicine and hospitalization support free of cost. The shelter home staff are trained in safety, security and protection of mentally sick women as well as they know the method of rescuing violent women living on the streets.

Till date, this is the only such alternate home for such women which was started 25 years back with the support of Smt.Chaudhury (Nirbhoy Didi). It receives the support from the common man of Delhi by way of simple donations,such as food material, clothes and medicines.

AAP-led Delhi Government moves to elevate NSIT to the status of University; plans to improve infrastructure, pedagogy, curriculum and structure

NETAJI SUBHAS INSTITUTE :

Background : 

With a view to meet the growing demand for the manpower in the interdisciplinary and higher tech areas of Engineering and Technology, the then Delhi Administration, started a new College of Engineering with the name of ‘Delhi Institute of Technology’ in 1983.  In order to manage effectively the affairs of the Institute, it was granted administrative autonomy in 1986 with the ultimate goal of becoming a university.  The name of Delhi Institute of Technology was renamed as “Netaji Subhas Institute of Technology (NSIT) on 13.2.1997.

Over a span of 32 years, NSIT has carved a name for itself nationally and internationally by way of producing highly competent graduates, postgraduates and researchers who find place in leading universities and industries with in the country as well as abroad:

The features of the Institute:

v  Present intake at the Undergraduate level is 832, at the Postgraduate and Ph.D. level is 69 and 30 respectively, resulting into total strength about 3500 students.  The Institute intended to increase this intake to about 12,000 students, in phases

v  Over 1000 research papers have been published by the faculty members of NSIT in refereed International Journals and several hundred in national / international conference of repute.

v  MoUs signed with a number of International Universities/Institutes/ Organizations for exploring co-operation in Education, Research and Development.

v  As per the prestigious SCOPUS report, NSIT has over 600 publications in the refereed journals so far.

v  Placement record of the Institute is one of the best among the Engineering Colleges in the country, students find place in leading industries, Universities within the country and abroad.

v  Several NSIT students have scored 100 percentile in CAT/GRE.

v  Institute has consistently been featuring in various national level surveys conducted by reputed professional/ trade magazines.  In the recent Data Quest T-School Annual Survey released in May 2015, NSIT has been ranked at No. 6 among Government Engineering Colleges in India.

Statement Of Objects and Reasons for up-gradation into University

As per the vision document “Profile of Growth”, the Institute had been envisioned with the following sharply defined goals, to become:

1             an academic institution for the promotion of Undergraduate and Postgraduate Education, Continuing Education, Training and Research in Engineering, Technology, Sciences, , Humanities &Social Sciences and Management with multi-level entry vertically and a system of flexible migration in the various disciplines horizontally within or beyond the University;

2             a facilitator for the promotion of a co-operative program of education with industry and R&D organizations for offering tailor-made Courses keeping in view Societal needs;

3             a hub for integrated Undergraduate and Postgraduate programs in Engineering with Management, Design Engineering and Research Methodology supported by a System of  Counseling and Guidance;

4             a Research University encompassing a Chain of Advanced Laboratories/ Centers with a focus on Technology Transfer”, Research Methodology, Design Engineering, Ergonomics and Technology Forecasting;

5             as a supporting Agency for the Science and Technology Park and Technology Business Incubator  that would help to nucleate the “Technology Transfer” programme;

Benefits to NCT of Delhi

• Since Netaji Subhas University of Technology is a premier Technological Institute of Govt. of NCT of Delhi, elevation of NSIT to the status of university will be another feather in the cap of Delhi Government.

• Up-gradation to University status will result in considerable increase in the intake of students at UG, PG and Ph.D. levels over a period of time (approx. 12,000 students on the campus as against strength of around 3500 at present).

• This will, therefore, provide increase in opportunity to Delhi based students who other wise would have to seek avenues outside the Delhi State.
• Granting State University status to NSIT will result in full and efficient utilization of the excellent infrastructure facilities and the big campus available to the Institute.

• Granting the State University status to the NSIT shall be in consonance with the spirit of recommendation of the National Knowledge Commission (NKC), which has emphasized creation of synergy between Education and Research in the higher Technical Education Institutions.

• The growth of NSIT and its further expansion will result in the creation of a much larger pool of competent faculty, professional engineers and researchers which will result in achieving excellence and would make a significant contribution towards making Delhi the `Technological Capital‟ of India.

AAP-led Delhi Government moves amendment to DUSIB Act; facilitates rehabilitation of JJ Clusters

The Delhi cabinet, in its meeting on Monday, chaired by chief minister Shri Arvind Kejriwal, gave its approval to the following bills for being introduced in the assembly session beginning on Tuesday :

1)   Amendment to the DUSIB Act

Details are as follows :

DUSIB AMENDMENT : 

It has been decided to amend the Section 2(g) of DUSIB Act to facilitate rehabilitation of jhuggi jhopri basti.

Background:

Government of NCT of Delhi constituted Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB) in the year 2010 for the purpose of preparing a scheme for removal of any Jhuggi Jhopri Basti and for resettlement of the residents thereof.  Section 2(g) of the Act prescribes that:

‘jhuggi jhopri basti’ means any group of jhuggis which the Board may, by notification, declare as a jhuggi jhopri basti in accordance with the following factors, namely:-

(i)            The group of jhuggis is unfit for human habitation;

(ii)          It, by reason of dilapidation, overcrowding, faulty arrangement and design of such jhuggis, narrowness or faulty arrangement of streets, lack of ventilation, light or sanitation facilities, or any combination of these factors, is detrimental to safety, health or hygiene; and

(iii)         It is inhabited at least by fifty households as existing on 31^st March, 2002.

1. However, Section 3(1) of the National Capital Territory of Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Second Act, 2011 passed by the Parliament of India as amended in 2014 envisages preparing policies, strategies, guidelines, etc., for orderly arrangements for relocation and rehabilitation of slum dwellers and jhuggi-jhopri clusters in accordance with DUSIB Act, 2010 and MPD-2021 to ensure its development in a sustainable, planned and humane manner. The Act has been extended up to 31^st of December, 2017 and it envisages that by that time all slums clusters etc. will be rehabilitated.

2. Sector 3(2) of the Act, ibid, stipulates that the status quo has to be maintained for those encroachments existing on public land including slum dwellers and jhuggi clusters as on 1^stJanuary, 2006.  The relocation and rehabilitation can however, take place in terms of the approved policy and with the approval of the Administrator of NCT of Delhi.

3. Thus, the Section 2(g) of the DUSIB Act, 2010 contravenes the section 3(2) of National Capital Territory of Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Second Act, 2011, passed by Parliament to the extent that the jhuggies found after 31.03.2002 will not be eligible for relocation, as per DUSIB Act.

4. The council of Ministers of Government of NCT of Delhi on Monday decided to amend Section 2(g) of DUSIB Act to bring in conformity with Section 3(2) of Delhi Special Laws to facilitate rehabilitation of jhuggi jhopri basti. This amendment will cover the jhuggies which might have come from 31.03.2002 to 01.01.2006 for the purpose of rehabilitation.

5. This is a step in the direction of facilitating the rehabilitation the jhuggi jhopri basti in Delhi.

AAP-Delhi Government cracks down on illegal encroachment on Vikas Marg in Lakshmi Nagar

ENCROACHMENT REMOVAL DRIVE FOR FREEING UP VIKAS MARG FOOTPATHS

Regular complaints were being received from the general public about encroachment on footpaths on Vikas Marg, Laxmi Nagar stretch by four wheelers unlicensed hawkers etc. Due to the encroachment the commuters were getting harassed especially female commuters and children who were forced to commute on main roads often resulting in mishaps etc. The East District Administration took up this issue in the meeting of District Task Force and decided to remove the encroachments and free the footpaths on vikas marg.

The exercise started today on Saturday 20^th June 2015 from 11.00 Am. Various agencies like PWD, EDMC, Traffic police and Delhi police participated in the drive. The anti encroachment drive was supervised by Sh. Rajanish Singh, ADM (East), Ms. Asha Choudhary Malhotra, SDM (preet vihar) and Sh. M.G. Sathya, SDM (Mayur Vihar).

The Traffic Police and EDMC had pressed cranes and personnel into service. The PWD also provided manpower to ensure maximum results of the drive. Repair work of the footpaths is also being carried out simultaneously by the PWD.

13 cars, 41 two wheelers which were illegally parked on footpaths on vikas marg were towed away by the Traffic police & EDMC. Besides, 14 challans were also issued by traffic police. The drive concluded at 3.00 PM. The East District Magistrate office will ensure that such drives are undertaken on regular basis.

Delhi Chief Minister Shri Arvind Kejriwal celebrates Ch. Brahm Prakash’s birthday; vows to fight for his dream of a strong state

• DELHI CELEBRATES 97^TH BIRTH ANNIVERSARY OF 1^ST CHIEF MINISTER OF DELHI CH. BRAHM PRAKASH.
• CHIEF MINISTER, DELHI SHRI ARVIND KEJRIWAL PAYS FLORAL TRIBUTES TO THE VETERAN LEADER.
• LIFE SIZE STATUE OF CH. BRAHM PRAKASH WILL BE ERECTED IN BRAHM PRAKASH AYURVEDIC SANSTHAN AT KHERA DABAR – SHRI ARVIND KEJRIWAL.
• THE DREAM OF CH. BRAHM PRAKASH FOR A STRONG STATE OF DELHI WILL BE FULFILLED – SHRI KEJRIWAL.
• YEAR 2018 WILL BE CELEBRATED AS CENTENARY YEAR OF CH. BRAHM PRAKASH – SHRI RAM NIWAS GOYAL.

Dated : 16/6/2015

The Chief Minister of Delhi Shri Arvind Kejriwal today led the Delhilies in paying tributes to the veteran freedom fighter and first Chief Minister of Delhi late Choudhary Braham Prakash in a function organized by Delhi Legislative Assembly at Old Secretariat. Shri Kejriwal paid floral tributes at the statue of Ch. Braam Prakash at Old Secretariat complex. Speaker, Delhi Assembly Shri Ram Niwas Goyal, Dy. Speaker Ms. Vandana Kumari, Health Minister Shri Satyendar Jain, eldest son of late Ch. Braham Prakash Shri Suresh Chaudhary, freedom fighters and followers of the late leader also paid tributes to Ch. Brahm Prakash.

Remembering the role of Ch. Braham Prakash for overall development of Delhi, Shri Kejriwal said that Ch. Braham Prakash strived and struggled for   upliftment & development of Delhi as a ‘Greater Delhi’ and make it a State with full powers. He tried his best to make Delhi by adding some of the areas from the neighbouring States for making Delhi – as a bigger State in size but his dream for the same could not be fulfilled as the ‘States Reorganization Commission’ rejected the proposal and gave its adverse report. He wanted to make Delhi a State with full powers. Shri Arvind Kejriwal said that his Government will fight for making his dream true for making Delhi as a strong State with full powers.

Shri Kejriwal said that Ch. Brahm Prakash participated in the freedom movement and was imprisoned many times during freedom struggle.   He was known for his co-operative movement in Delhi. He struggled a lot for the upliftment of the villages and for improving the conditions of the farmers and that is why he was known as ‘Lion of Delhi.’ The cause of depressed sections of the society, rural development and empowerment of the weaker sections were issues which were very close to the heart of Chaudhary Brahm Prakash. He was quick to realise the potential of cooperative societies in mitigating the hardship of the village folks. As early as in 1945, he started organizing village and agriculture cooperatives. He was also a proponent of the Panchayati Raj institutions. He organized the National Union of Backward Classes, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Minorities in 1977 to work for the welfare of these weaker sections.

Shri Kejriwal announced that a life- size statue of Ch. Brahm Prakash will be erected in Brahm Prakash Ayurvedic Sansthan at Khera Dabar in Delhi. He issued instructions to the Health Minister Shri Satyendar Jain for the same.

Speaker Delhi Assembly Shri Ram Niwas Goyal said that the year 2018 will be celebrated as the Centenary year of Ch. Brahm Prakash to perpetuate his memory.

Shri Kejriwal also visited the exhibition of rear photographs of Ch. Brahm Prakash organized by the Directorate of Information & Publicity in the Old Secretariat – the venue of the function.

Delhi Chief Secretary convenes high-level meeting for compliance of NGT orders and asks for coordination with NHAi on overloaded goods vehicles

• Chief Secretary, Delhi convenes a high level meeting of representatives of States of Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Rajasthan.

• Chief Secretary Shri K.K. Sharma asked representatives of the States to devise a comprehensive plan to implement the directions of the National Green Tribunal for installation of weigh-in-motion systems in the NCR region in a time bound manner.

• Major entry points of goods vehicles in the NCT of Delhi are through National Highways
  

• Request made to NHAI to play a pro-active role in coordination with the respective State Governments for time bound installation of weigh-in-motion systems on national highways to check over-loaded goods vehicles.

• It was resolved that concerted efforts will be made by all stakeholders to restrict entry of overloaded vehicles in the NCR region through wide use of technology and automation.

Dated : 17/6/2015

A high level meeting of the top Officers of States of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan & Delhi was today convened at Delhi Secretariat under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary, Delhi Shri K. K. Sharma regarding implementation of the direction of the National Green Tribunal to reduce the vehicular pollution in Delhi/NCR as well as to restrict the entry of the overloaded vehicles in Delhi at the entrance/border of the Delhi itself particularly through installation of Weigh-in-Motion System.

The Meeting was attended by the Addl. Chief Secretary, and Addl. Transport Commissioner, Haryana ; Commissioner of Transport, UP; Special Secretary, PWD(UP); Addl. Transport Commissioner, Rajasthan; Representatives of National Highway Authority of India, Director(Toll) of Ministry of Road Surface Transport, Govt. Of India and Jt. Commissioner of Police(Traffic), Delhi. The Principal Secretary (Finance), Principal Secretary (PWD), Secretary (Environment & Forest), Secretary-cum-Commissioner (Transport), ; Principal Chief Engineer (Mech), PWD and other officers have also attended the meeting from Govt. of NCT of Delhi.

It was also observed that 90% of the goods vehicles pass through the National Highways and NHAI is planning to set up the Toll Plaza with WIM system in all the leading National Highways all over the country. It was emphasised that NHAI should play a pro-active role to install WIMs in all the main entry points to Delhi/NCR region in Line with MORTH notification dated 16.12.2013 and policy circular dated 05.05.2014.

It was unanimously decided that all the three states & GNCTD will put in concerted efforts to curb the menace of ingress of overloaded vehicles in NCR region.

The orders of the Hon’ble National Green Tribunal were discussed mainly to set up the Weight –in –Motion (WIM), Bridges at the entry points of Delhi as well as other neighbouring states, especially in Haryana and UP in order to prevent overloaded, polluting and non-destined Heavy Vehicles. The members have shown deep concern about the ingress of overloaded vehicles in the NCR region, particularly in Delhi further compounding the problem of vehicular pollution.

Delhi Government cracks down on illegal certificate making racket; arrests 2 persons immediately

• DISTRICT MAGISTRATE SOUTH, NIHARIKA RAI ORDERS FOR CONDUCTING SECRET RAID IN SAIDULAJAB AREA OF SAKET ON ILLEGAL CERTIFICATES MAKING RACKET
• PLETHORA OF DOCUMENTS WERE FOUND LYING INCLUDING THE APPLICATION FORMS OF THE PERSONS FOR GETTING VARIOUS KINDS OF CERTIFICATES MADE SUCH AS INCOME CERTIFICATE, CASTE CERTIFICATES, VOTER CARDS ETC.
• TEAM OF TWO SDMS HEADED BY SDM, SAKET CONDUCTS RAID
• TWO PERSONS NAMELY SH.GOVIND RAM AND AMIT HAVE BEEN ARRESTED BEING KINGPINS IN THE ACTIVITY AND HANDED OVER TO THE POLICE
• DISTRICT MAGISTRATE SOUTH STREAMLINES FUNCTIONING OF CERTIFICATE BRANCH, PATWARKHANAS, LAND RECORDS SEGMENTS FOR QUICK DELIVERY IN SERVICES
• TAKES INITIATIVES FOR KEEPING STRICT VIGIL OVER THE BRANCHES DEALING WITH PUBLIC
• DECOY PERSONS FORM PUBLIC HAVE BEEN ROPED IN TO GIVE SECRET INFORMATION OF ILLEGAL AND CORRUPT ACTIVITIES OCCURRING, IF ANY

New Delhi: 18/06/2015

On the receipt of complaint of running  an illegal certificates making racket in Saidulajab area of Saket subdivision of the district, the District Magistrate, South, Ms Niharika Rai ordered for conducting a secret raid for busting the racket. After the initial survey done in the area which showed some evidence of truth, a team two SDMs headed by SDM, Saket, Sh. Vikas Ahlawat conducted the raid today and found plethora of documents were found lying including the application forms of the persons for getting various kinds of certificates made such as income certificate, caste certificates, voter cards etc.

The raid was conducted under the leadership of young and newly appointed SDM of Saket subdivision Sh. Vikas Ahlawat. He was assisted in the operation with another dynamic officer of the district, the SDM of Hauz Khas subdivision Sh.Shivam Teotia who burst the fake Adhaar cards racket a month ago. During the raid of a one storey house in the dingy corner adjacent to Azad Chicken Shop in Saidulajab on IGNOU road, plethora of documents pertaining to various districts were found lying including the application forms of the persons for getting various kinds of certificates made such as income certificate, caste certificates, voter cards etc. Certain certificates ready for distribution seemingly original certificates were also found stacked in the place. Also, certain documents being utilised to produce forged documents in various cases were also found. One electricity bill of 1988 was found which is apprehended to be forged for names of different persons and was allegedly shown as a proof of residence of before 1993 for making an OBC certificate. Certain stamps and seals of various designations were seen that could be used to attest the documents with forged signatures.

Two persons namely Sh.Govind Ram and Amit have been arrested being kingpins in the activity and handed over to the police. Two CPUs alongwith lot of documents and other materials have been seized which will divulge lot of information in the matter. They are being sent for forensic examination.FIR is being lodged in the matter and an inhouse inquiry has been marked to SDM Saket by District Magistrate South Smt. Niharika Rai to assess the role of official staff in the matter. She further advised public to refrain from approaching such illegal persons to get certificates issued. The District Administration has assured suitable action shall be taken against all the persons found/involved in racket and request public to provide information so that more such raids can be carried out in future.

The District Magistrate South, Ms Niharika Rai informed that the operation was successful. She said that she has streamlined the office functioning and public dealing in the DM and the SDM offices is taking various initiatives including keeping of strict vigil over the branches dealings in public domain such as certificate branch, patwarkhanas, land records segment etc.

She informed that the complaints being received through PGMS and in the office separately are being taken very seriously and attempts are made to verify the same at the earliest. Also, various decoy persons from public and informers have been roped in to give secret information of illegal and corrupt activities occuring if any in the district administration offices.

घरेलू कामगारों की समस्या के समाधान के लिए दिल्ली सरकार ने किया कमेटी का गठन

• घरेलू कामगारों की समस्या के समाधान के लिए दिल्ली सरकार ने किया कमेटी का गठन
• विधानसभा उपाध्याक्ष श्रीमती वन्दना कुमारी की अध्यक्षता में कमेटी का गठन
• कमेटी घरेलू कामगारों की न्यूनतम मजदूरी, सामाजिक सुरक्षा, स्वास्थ्य लाभ, प्लेसमेंट एजेंसियों के
• शोषण से मुक्ति एवं आश्रयगृह इत्यादि विषयों पर अपनी रिपोर्ट सरकार को देगी

  दिल्लीः 16/06/ 2015

  दिल्ली सरकार ने घरेलू कामगारों की समस्या के समाधान के लिए विधानसभा उपाध्यक्ष श्रीमती बन्दना कुमारी की अध्यक्षता में कमेटी का गठन किया है यह बात आज  दिल्ली के श्रम मंत्री श्री गोपाल राय ने ’’विश्व घरेलू मजदूर दिवस’’ के अवसर पर  नेशनल प्लेटफोर्म फाॅर डोमेस्टिक वर्कर्स-दिल्ली यूनिट द्वारा आयोजित घरेलू मजदूरों के सम्मेलन में कही है।  इस समिति में श्रम विभाग के संसदीय सचिव श्री नरेश यादव, श्री कृष्ण कुमार एवं नेशनल प्लेटफोर्म फाॅर डोमेस्टिक वर्कर्स-दिल्ली यूनिट के प्रतिनिधि एवं श्रम विभाग के अधिकारी होंगे।

  श्री गोपाल राय ने कहा  कि कमेटी घरेलू कामगारों की न्यूनतम मजदूरी, सामाजिक सुरक्षा, स्वास्थ्य लाभ, प्लेसमेंट एजेंसियों के शोषण से मुक्ति एवं आश्रयगृह इत्यादि विषयों पर अपनी रिपोर्ट सरकार को देगी. उन्होंने आगे कहा कि इस रिपोर्ट के आधार पर सरकार घरेलू कामगारों की सहायता के लिए सभी तरह के कदम उठाएगी. श्री राय ने यह भी कहा कि देश में लाखों घरेलू कामगार स्त्रियों के श्रम को पूरी तरह से अनदेखा किया जाता है. हमारी अर्थव्यवस्था के भीतर घरेलू काम और उनमें सहायक के तौर पर लगे लोगों के काम को बेनाम और न दिखाई पड़ने वाले, गैर उत्पादक की श्रेणी में रखा जाता है.

  श्रम मंत्री ने कहा कि घरेलू कामगारों के लिए जल्द ही सरकार द्वारा नए कानूनों का प्रावधान किया जाएगा जिससे कि उनकों न्यूनतम मजदूरी, साप्ताहिक छुटटी, सामाजिक सुरक्षा एवं उनके स्वास्थ्य लाभ की व्यवस्था हो सके साथ ही प्लेसमेंट एजेंसियों के शोषण से मुक्ति हो सके.
  श्री राय ने बताया कि घरेलू कामगारों के पंजीकरण की व्यवस्था की जाएगी ताकि सरकार द्वारा प्रदत्त लाभ उनको प्रदान किया जा सके. उन्होंने कहा कि कामगार होने के बावजूद औपचारिक रूप से कानूनी हक से वंचित श्रम शक्ति की यह बड़ी संख्या कई चुनौतियों को झेल रही है. काम के दौरान जोखिम से गुजरती इस स्त्रियों को दिल्ली सरकार इनके काम से जुड़ी कानूनी सुरक्षा, छुटटी, मातृत्व अवकाश, बच्चों का पालनाघर, बीमारी की दशा में उपचार जैसी सुविधाओं को उपलब्ध कराने के लिए बचनबद्ध है.

AAP-Delhi Education Minister Manish Sisodia interacts 110 School Principals; announces pilot project for improving schools

• EDUCATION MINISTER INTERACTS WITH 110 PRINCIPALS

• TAKES THEIR INPUTS TO RESOLVE COMMON PROBLEMS FACED BY SCHOOLS

Dated : 17/6/2015

A meeting of the department of Education was held at the Delhi Secretariat on June 17. The meeting was attended by the Education Minister Mr. Manish Sisodia, Secretary Education Ms Punya S. Srivastava and Director Education Ms Padmini Singla with 110 Principals of Government Schools of Delhi.

The meeting was a follow-up of the dialogue with Principals of Government Schools held at Thyagraj Stadium. In the meeting at the Thyagraj Stadium, the Principals were asked to come up with their vision to upgrade and make schools of Delhi Government better. In total, 110 Principals submitted their proposals to the Ministry of Education with their ideas and vision to transform their schools.

The 110 Principals participated in the meeting today and their proposals were discussed. Discussions were held on ways to better the infrastructure, upgrade the teaching standards, curriculum support and other ways for betterment of schools. `Inputs were taken from Principals regarding possible solutions for common problems faced in government schools. The meeting was a significant step in making Principals an important stakeholder in the process of improving schools, and making education policy formation a two-way process, instead of a top-down approach.

Further meetings would be held to start the pilot project for improving schools. The pilot would be run in selected schools for a year and then based on the results and the feedback, would be extended to more schools in the following year. This project is the first step in the current government’s commitment to transforming the government school system and providing access to high quality education to children from all sections of society.

AAP-led Delhi Jal Board begins helpline; reaches out to 3 lakh consumers and uses insights for future DJB planning

• Customer Care Helpline No. 1916 reaches out to 2,88,379 consumers
• Customer Care Centre data provides valuable insights for DJB’s planning
• Focus of funds and human resources to be on the most vulnerable areas
• Senior DJB officials now receive real time information of the complaints

DJB has been making sustained efforts to reach out to its consumers and provide speedy redressal to the problems faced by them. Its focus has been on effective consumer grievance redressal. Towards this end, the Toll Free Customer Care Helpline Number 1916 was launched in September, 2014 which has met with a positive response from the consumers. From September 15, 2014 to June 14, 2015 the Customer Care Helpline No. 1916 has received 2,88,379 calls out of which 1,06,127 were complaints. The maximum number of complaints catered to was in the Water tanker related complaints category, followed by no water availability/ short supply of water category. Observing the speedy redressal mechanism of DJB, consumers were encouraged to send their complaints; consequently, over a period of 9 months, starting from September 2014 to May, 2015 the average number of complaints received per day has increased to about 679 complaints.

DJB has made use of the Geographical Information System (GIS) to locate the areas with the maximum number of complaints. Using the grievance data as an urban planning tool, DJB will be able to allocate funds and human resources to the areas where they are needed the most. In addition, the GIS system has enabled the DJB to bring in suitable changes in its summer action plan, which identified vulnerable areas for water shortage etc.

At present, DJB is conducting Quarterly Review to see how many complaints are being escalated to the senior officials’ level. Thus, this has served the need to check efficiency of the grievance redressal system. Through the receipt of complaints, DJB has been able to do a profiling of the consumers, constituency- wise and ward-wise. Real time monitoring of the complaints has been made possible by the 24X7 Call Centre. In fact, the Consumer Redressal Management has been designed in such a way that the complaints can be tracked at any time by the concerned senior officers.

DJB has designed the 24X7 Call Centre, keeping in mind that the multiple avenues of registering complaints lead to difficulty in fixing responsibility. Therefore, in order to provide instant relief to the consumers the Board had launched its IT based 24×7 Call Centre. The Call Centre is based on the Customer Relationship Management Software and is accessible to the consumers through the Toll Free Customer Care Helpline Number-1916, mobile application and facility to lodge complaints online also.

To facilitate the increase in number of calls from the consumers, DJB has further upgraded the Call Centre by increasing the number of operational telephone lines from 10 to 25. By using the Helpline Number, the consumers can register any complaint concerning water, wastewater and billing related issues through the available platform. Once the complaint is registered, the complainant receives an acknowledgement through an SMS, Email or a Phone Call. Apart from this, SMS alerts can also be sent to the consumers to warn them about the likely shortage of water which may arise in future in an area. The Call Centre data provides a track record of all telephone calls, mails and SMS for follow-up. There is a provision for automatic escalation of complaints, if the complaints are not redressed in a time-bound manner. If a consumer is not satisfied with the solution provided, he/ she can reopen the complaint. All reopened complaints are automatically escalated to the next higher level and are categorized as Reopened Complaints.

DJB encourages its consumers to register their complaints regarding no water/ short supply of water, sewer blockage, water tanker related, contaminated water, sewer overflow, leakages of water pipe line or billing related issues etc. DJB is providing a one stop destination to the consumers to register their complaints related to water and sewerage which will in turn result in better efficiency in the system and an enhanced experience to the consumers.