With financial independence, women have the freedom to spend as they choose and empower themselves
Finance Minister Atishi shared insights with TOI a day after presenting her debut budget in the Delhi Assembly. During the conversation, she discussed the meticulous preparations leading up to the budget, the rationale behind introducing the hallmarking scheme offering monthly honorarium to women, the vision behind the concept of Ram Rajya, and various other pertinent issues.
CM Arvind Kejriwal’s Instructions for Budget Deliberations
It provides a comprehensive understanding of the operations of all government departments, the initiatives and programs they manage, and their overall performance. Given the numerous competing demands and finite financial resources, careful considerations are essential in determining the budget allocation for each.
In the AAP government, our focal points are crystal clear – prioritizing health and education, promoting infrastructure development as the driving force behind Delhi’s economic progress, and addressing the needs of slums and unauthorized colonies. This time, we also earmarked funds for rural development. Additionally, our flagship initiative, the Mukhyamantri Mahila Samman Yojana, took precedence. Following the directives from CM Arvind Kejriwal, our goal was to ensure sufficient funds for the women empowerment scheme, while also addressing our core priorities and developmental endeavors.
What prompted the idea of providing Rs. 1000 assistance to women?
For the past nine years, every budget presented by the Kejriwal government has revolved around empowering women. Our governance model mirrors the way women manage household affairs. By making electricity and water free, we reduced monthly expenses, and we safeguarded the future of children by enhancing education in government schools. Over 80% of Mohalla clinic patients are women, alleviating concerns about disrupting the household budget for medical expenses. True empowerment for women lies in financial independence, enabling them to make decisions and allocate resources according to their preferences.
The Scheme Generates Excitement: Women Eager to Learn About Launch Date and Eligibility Criteria
Notification of the scheme is scheduled after the Lok Sabha Elections, and we anticipate disbursing the first installment by September or October. Eligibility extends to all female voters in Delhi without tax obligations, lacking government employment, and not benefiting from a government pension scheme. Even if a woman files tax returns but falls outside any tax bracket, she remains eligible for the honorarium.
Considering the strained relations you have with the bureaucracy, do you believe the implementation of the scheme will proceed smoothly?
The scheme has undergone extensive discussions with officials from the women and child development, finance, and planning departments. However, its actual rollout will only be confirmed during the implementation phase.
It’s important to note that the city bureaucrats are not inherently problematic. These officials have previously successfully executed various government schemes, showcasing their competence and efficiency. The current situation has left them discontented, as it becomes challenging for a bureaucrat to endorse a file when faced with threats of vigilance inquiries, suspensions, or disciplinary actions.
The AAP government traditionally presented its performance report through the outcome budget until last year. Why was it not presented this year?
During my presentation on Monday, the initial segment of the budget served as a comprehensive report card on the government’s achievements over the past decade. I presented data on various departments, highlighting accomplishments such as the construction of classrooms, installation of sewer lines, and procurement of buses. The budget speech explicitly outlined both the quantitative and qualitative outcomes of the past 10 years.
However, the annual report provides an overview of the tasks accomplished in the most recent year.
Each year involves making plans, and while some succeed, others may not. It took until the fourth year of our government for us to initiate bus purchases, and now we are launching new buses every few days. This time, our emphasis was on highlighting the transformations that occurred over the past 10 years.
Is the inclusion of the name “Ram” in the budget by the AAP government during an election year influenced by the inauguration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya?
While the BJP seeks votes invoking the name of Ram, our approach is to embody the principles of Ram in and both our lives and actions. The concept of Ram Rajya has been at the core of our government’s endeavors. The Chief Minister has consistently emphasized the ideals of Ram and Ram Rajya in his speeches over the years. Each budget we present is crafted with a specific theme, and given that this year’s budget narrates the story of Delhi’s transformation over the past decade, it aptly carries the thematic essence of ‘Ram Rajya’.
Leading up to the 202 assembly polls, the AAP made a commitment to clean the Yamuna within five years, with the Chief Minister pledging to take a dip in the river before the 2025 polls. However, the budget this time does not contain any reference to the Yamuna.
The Delhi Jal Board (DJB) has been at the epicenter of our ongoing struggles with the Central government and bureaucracy, enduring a complete absence of funding for seven consecutive months. This prolonged financial constraint has inevitably affected numerous schemes and programs under the DJB’s purview. Despite these challenges, our commitment to addressing Delhi’s water management issues is evident in the budget allocation of Rs 7,195 crore for the DJB – the highest-ever funding for this crucial agency.
Over the past year, significant strides have been made in the expansion of sewage treatment plants, with several projects now reaching the final stages of completion. This proactive approach is already yielding positive results, as evidenced by notable improvements in the levels of biochemical oxygen demand and dissolved oxygen at the Yamuna’s exit point. The ongoing efforts signify our dedication to enhancing water quality in the region and ensuring the sustainable development of Delhi’s water infrastructure.
