Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Wednesday highlighted the long-standing issues and neglect faced by poor families living in the slum settlements of the national capital for decades, alleging that the residents were treated as just vote banks.
Gupta accused the previous governments of failing to provide basic amenities such as toilets, parks, roads, drainage systems, and housing to the slum dwellers, alleging that their approach was to “keep the poor poor and keep them frightened.”
She announced that the process of issuing new ration cards, which had been halted for nearly 15 years, will be restarted, with cards of ineligible beneficiaries cancelled and new ones issued to genuinely needy families.
Similarly, she said that the discontinued pension schemes are also being revived. After her government came to power, all suspended processes related to ration cards, pensions, and other welfare schemes have been reactivated.
She emphasised that development can only be sustained when all public representatives, Members of Parliament, MLAs, and councillors work in the same direction and coordination.
Sharpening her attack on the previous government, Gupta alleged that they spent crores of rupees to build 50,000 flats; however, they never allotted them to the poor, leaving them to deteriorate and crumble.
According to the CM, Prime Minister Narendra Modi understood the hardships of the poor as his own. He launched nationwide welfare initiatives such as the construction of toilets, the Ujjwala gas connection scheme, permanent housing, free ration, and several other schemes, benefiting millions of poor families.
Gupta said that previous governments allowed ready-built government flats to lie unused for years, causing them to decay, whereas her government is now ensuring that every poor family receives a dignified permanent home.
Gupta has stated that her government is committed to the welfare of poor families living in slum clusters, which is why a dedicated budget of Rs 700 crore has been allocated for their development.
According to CM, Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, Atal Canteens, Basti Vikas Kendras, road and drainage improvements, and other essential facilities are being developed in slum areas through the allocated fund.
Gupta on Wednesday took part in the Jhuggi–Jhopdi Swabhiman Sabha held at B-Block in Wazirpur Industrial Area, attended by a large number of slum dwellers, local residents, and public representatives.