New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday inaugurated 3,024 flats for families falling under the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) category in the capital, handing over keys to beneficiaries at a landless camp in south Delhi’s Kalkaji Extension.
Part of the ‘In-Situ Slum Rehabilitation Project’, the flats are meant to rehabilitate slum-dwellers—a key votebank the BJP’s Delhi unit aims to win ahead of municipal elections in the city.
The slum dwellers have long supported the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in the Delhi government. AAP is trying to grab municipal bodies from the BJP, which has run them for more than 15 years.
Leaders of the BJP’s Delhi unit say they are “convinced” that handing over the flats will help the slum dwellers connect with them. The party has started a door-to-door contact exercise this month during which it will campaign for the inauguration of the flats.
“These flats are part of our regime and we will be highlighting the launch. At the same time, the work in Kathputli Colony is also almost complete and will be handed over (flats here) soon. We will highlight the work done by us not only at the central level but also at the municipal level.
The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) has launched three such housing projects in Kalkaji Extension, Jailorwala Bagh and Kathputli Colony.
The EWS flats have been constructed at a cost of around Rs 345 crore and are equipped with civil and public facilities like community park, electric sub-station, sewage treatment plant, dual water pipeline, lift etc.
“In-situ Slum Rehabilitation in 376, in line with Prime Minister’s vision to provide Housing for All” slum The clusters are being run by the Delhi Development Authority. The rehabilitation project aims to provide a better and healthier living environment to the residents of slum cluster, with proper facilities and facilities,” a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office said.
“The allotment of flats will provide a sense of ownership as well as security to the people,” it said.
Another senior BJP leader said, “The BJP government at the Center is making various policies for them (slum dwellers) and unlike AAP, which keeps making big promises, our government fulfills it. We will go out and seek votes on the basis of our achievements.
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‘Our efforts will pay off’
The slum dwellers of Delhi constitute a vote-bank that is watched by all political parties. close to estimation 20 million people live in the slums of the city,
He was traditionally a supporter of the Congress, especially during the tenure of former Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, but the AAP managed to win him over through a series of targeted policies such as mohalla clinics, power cuts during the 2013 and 2015 Delhi Assembly elections. achieved. Water bills and provision of basic amenities in slums.
The BJP is also making efforts to connect with the slum dwellers, and leaders from Delhi have started visiting their residences.
Another senior BJP leader said the slum dwellers “supported us in the Delhi Municipal Corporation (MCD) elections (2017), which helped us win the civic bodies.”
“We are confident that once again our efforts will be successful and they will continue to vote for us,” the leader said.
A third BJP leader said, “If someone is living and working in South Delhi, they will not shift to Bawana or Narela. Hence, this project assumes more importance as people are willing to relocate from their location as the flats are in the vicinity.
He said: “These EWS flats show the commitment of the party. We will also make the slum dwellers aware of the various welfare schemes of the Center and expose the tall claims of Arvind Kejriwal (Chief Minister and AAP chief) through our door-to-door voter connect program.
‘the big day’
Inaugurating the EWS flats meant for the rehabilitation of slum dwellers, Modi said: “Today is a big day for hundreds of families, thousands of poor, our brothers and sisters of Delhi. Families who were living in the slums of Delhi for years. In a way, this is going to be a new beginning in his life.”
He said, ‘The things I have pointed out (for the welfare of the poor section), you tell me how much money I should have spent on advertisements? How many newspapers should have been used, and how many pictures of Modi? We have done so much more than what I am saying right now because we live to make a difference in your life.”
“When security is ensured in the lives of the marginalized, they are encouraged to fight poverty themselves. They feel more empowered than ever,” Modi said, adding, “At this point, there were a lot of differences among the residents of Delhi. But now the country has moved towards Amrit Kaal and Mantra Everybody’s company will help in everybody’s growth And everyone’s effort Ensuring welfare for all”.
The PM also spoke about the work of the central government to regularize unauthorized colonies and its impact on the people. “The protection insurance cover has been extended to over 40 lakh marginalized people. In addition, Jan Aushadhi Kendras have been set up to reduce out-of-pocket expenditure,” he said.
ThePrint had earlier reported how the BJP’s Delhi unit is facing a challenge from AAP and anti-incumbency wave after the MCD has been in charge for three consecutive terms. The party has now decided to launch a positive campaign by highlighting its achievements in the capital.
To help the poor and needy in Delhi get the benefits of central schemes, the state unit of the BJP decided earlier this year to open ‘NaMo Seva Kendras’ across the city, especially in slums.
party last year launched A ‘Jhuggi Samman Yatra’ under which it identified 32 constituencies with high density of slums, which were visited by senior leaders.
The AAP, on its part, is also confident of garnering the support of slum dwellers as it claims they are some of the major beneficiaries of reforms in government schools, mohalla clinics and free water and electricity.
The upcoming elections will be the first to be held since the three municipal corporations of Delhi were re-merged into one municipal corporation of Delhi this year. After the delimitation, the total number of wards in the capital has been reduced from 272 to 250.
(Edited by Nida Fatima Siddiqui)