Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee

Elections to the four State Assemblies in Delhi , Madhya Pradesh, Mizoram and Rajasthan are being held on 25 November 1998 .

Although these are state-level elections, these are a number of important national issues, as relevant as local concerns, which the Congress wishes to place before the people.

In March 1998, a BJP-led coalition was sworn in on the promise of providing stable government and able leadership, instead of stable government, there has been only internal bickering; instead of able leadership, the country has suffered drift, dissension and discord. The government has stumbled from crisis to crisis, the entire energy of the political authority being taken up in self-survival to the neglect of good governance and the best interests of the people.

The last eight months have been a descent into the vortex of deepening economic disaster. Skyrocketing prices and a stagnant economy are pushing the country deeper and deeper into the throes of recession, Unemployment is rising; industries, big and small, are going bankrupt; trade is in the doldrums. An investment famine has gripped the country. There is growing discontent among farmers. The stock markets have crashed, jeopardising the hard-earned savings of lakhs of Indians.

In less than 200 days, the rate of inflation has more than doubled. There has been an unprecedented increase in the prices of food items and essential commodities like onions, salt, edible oil, pulses, fruits and vegetables. Onion prices have risen as never before. So also with salt. This rise in prices has taken place despite the satisfactory performance of agriculture in recent years. The BJP has not taken timely or adequate action to contain prices, perhaps because those who have profited from the misery of the ordinary people are its traditional supporters. It is a clear example or incompetence and insensitivity.

The worsening economic situation finds reflection in the worsening law and order situation. Rising crime, atrocities against women and the weaker sections of society, unchecked corruption and spreading nepotism, have rendered it impossible for the ordinary citizen to live a life of peace and security.

Abroad, the land of Gandhiji and Panditji , once held in the highest esteem of people everywhere, now stands isolated and disregarded. The statesmanship associated with Indiraji and Rajivji has been consigned to history; in just a few months, India has been marginalised in the international community. The Congress had carefully built up a consensus on nuclear, security and foreign policy issues over the past fifty years. The BJP government has destroyed that consensus. It has mismanaged the political, economic and international fallout from the nuclear tests and the consequent sanctions. Vital projects in infrastructure areas like power, roads and highways, and communications have had to be postponed. Relations with China have deteriorated sharply Kashmir is in danger of becoming an international issue. Even traditional friends of our country find it difficult to support our cause. Instead of attending to the problems of the people, the BJP is making systematic efforts to denigrate the Constitution, undermine the Presidency, and dismantle the very structure of our Parliamentary democracy.

The BJP's aborted attempt to invoke Article 356 has made a mockery of its socalled commitment to federalism. It has not seen fit to even constitute the Planning Commission, a vital link in our federal set-up. The Ninth Five Year Plan, the nation's agenda for economic and social development, has yet to be presented to the people. Programmes for education and health, and schemes for the welfare of our kisans and khet mazdoors have become a casualty. Farmers in many parts of the country are facing acute distress. In some states, the distress has even driven numbers of kisans to suicide.

The BJP and its sinister organizations, especially the VHP, have spread communal strife and social discord. The Congress that has consistently exposed their designs and brought them into the public arena. The Srikrishna Commission has revealed the nefarious role of the BJP and Shiv Sena in the ghastly events that occurred in Mumbai in the wake of the demolition of the Babri Masjid . Instead of accepting responsibility and making amends, the BJP- Shiv Sena government has dismissed the Report as "anti-Hindu". They are unable to understand that what is at issue is the rights of the citizen, to whatever community he or she might belong, and culpability of those, including activists of the party, who have been indicted for provoking and abetting heinous crimes against innocent citizens. The minorities are being deliberately targeted in BJP-ruled states like Gujarat . The VHP's reaction to the unspeakable atrocities inflicted on the nuns in Jhabua was outrageous.

Our secular heritage is constantly under threat from these purveyors of hate and antagonism. The true nature of the BJP was revealed by the way they sought to alter the syllabi and change the education system of the country in a manner that denies our plural and composite heritage. The country-wide indignation over the agenda papers prepared for the state education ministers conference showed that not even the BJP's allies were consulted. The BJP's endeavours to poison the minds of our children by inculcating in them a communal outlook through a sectarian education has , for the moment, been foiled. So has been foiled their attempt to rob the minorities of their rights. But all this has put the nation on guard that we have to exercise the utmost vigilance to protect our secularism which the BJP, the RSS, the VHP and their associates are bent on subverting. The New Policy on Education enunciated by Government of Shri Rajiv Gandhi must, in its essentials, be cherished and preserved.

The BJP has been pleading with voters to give them a chance. They have had their chance. And everywhere, whether at the Centre or in the States, the BJP has failed the people's expectation. The BJP and its allies need to be taught a lesson. The forthcoming assembly elections in the four states of Delhi , Madhya Pradesh, Mizoram and Rajasthan, provides voters the opportunity of registering their protest against such gross misgovernance .

The contrast between the situation obtaining in the Congress-ruled states of Madhya Pradesh and Mizoram , on the one hand, and the BJP-ruled states of Delhi and Rajasthan, on the other, is instructive.

While Madhya Pradesh and Mizoram have experienced five years of stable governance under the same Chief Minister, Delhi has been inflicted with a succession of incompetent, self-seeking, quarrelling leaders who, for five long years, only hoodwinked the people and failed to govern. Rajasthan has achieved the dubious distinction of being the state with the worst administration and the worst record of the treatment of women.

Where Panchayati Raj in Madhya Pradesh and Village Councils in Mizoram have give the people a sense of involvement in shaping their own destiny, the people of the rural areas of Delhi have been deprived of their panchayats and their village identities, and, in Rajasthan, of real authority, real responsibility and adequate funds for discharging their duties.

Where Madhya Pradesh and Mizoram have enjoyed the fruits of growing prosperity and dedicated development, for the people of Delhi the last five years have been an unmitigated disaster of prolonged power-cuts, dry taps, uncleared garbage, choked sewers, dengue and dropsy, corruption and nepotism, and deepening economic recession. In Rajasthan, the kisan has been burdened with rising debt and unremunerative prices, waterlogging and soil salinity, and poor quality seeds, fertilizer and pesticides. Industry is in recession and trade stagnates.

While each state going to the polls has its own set of challenges, the Congress would like to make the following general commitments as they relate to priorities in policies and programmes .

First, the Congress rededicates itself to the task of improving the well-being and welfare of our kisans . Farmers will get better seeds, adequate credit, more reliable power, assured irrigation, remunerative prices for farm produce and responsive marketing support. Farmers cooperatives will be given full managerial autonomy and be professionalised . Credit cooperatives will be nursed back to health over the next two to three years.

Second, the Congress pledges itself to a more regorous programme for spreading primary education and public health, particularly among dalits , adivasis , minorities and the backward classes. Education, health and nutrition programmes will be revamped, paying special attention to the needs of women and children belonging to the disadvantaged, vulnerable and weaker sections of our society. Non-governmental organisations will be involved in implementation. The noon-mid-day meal programme will be implemented, particularly in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.

Third, the Congress promises to provide full administrative, legal and financial powers to panchayats and nagarpalikas , as envisaged in the Constitution. Rural development schemes will be transferred to the village and intermediate panchayats and Zilla Parishads ; urban poverty alleviation programmes will be entrusted to the nagarpalikas and nagar nigams . The Congress is committed to the direct financing from the centre of programmes devolved for implementation to the Panchayat Raj institutions and the Municipalities.

Further, the Congress will forestall and oppose any move to dilute reservations for Schedule Caste/Schedule Tribes or in the filling of vacancies, promotions and preference in government employment for these sections, as established by the constitution and by law.

Fifth, the Congress commits itself to restoring law and order to normalcy in Rajasthan and Delhi , as it has done in Madhya Pradesh where its achievements on law and order hav drawn accolades from the head of the state. The police system in all states will be given a new look so that the law and order machinery is made both an effective and humane instrument of responsible administration working for the good of the people and of the communities it is intended to serve.

Sixth, the Congress will bring prices under control. There is much that state governments can do to control inflation. Tough measures will be taken against blackmarketeers , hoarders and speculators. The public distribution system will be made to work in an effective manner with the focus on the truly poor and needy.

Seventh, the Congress will provide good governance and ethical governance, governance that has a sense of social purpose and that is accountable to the people. Every effort will be made to root out corruption at all levels. A Freedom of Information Act will be enacted to make the functioning of government more transparent.

Eighth, the Congress will take firm steps to improve the quality of life in towns and cities and initiate a programme of urban renewal. Special efforts will be made to improve the living conditions of slum and squatter settlements, jhuggies and jhompries . Immediate measures will be taken to improve the distribution of electricity, to expand electricity generating facilities, make the Electricity Boards accountable and responsive to the needs of the people.

The BJP is a divisive force. It creates tension between Indian and Indian on communal considerations, to politically profit from such tensions. It has little understanding of, or sympathy for, the oppressed, the disadvantaged and the deprived. It is essentially a party of the privileged sections of society. It has a narrow outlook and a narrow agenda. It is incapable of providing good governance either at the Centre or in the States.

The Congress, on the other hand, is a uniting force. Like the country, it draws its strength from unity in diversity. Because the Congress not belong to any one segment of society, it belongs to the nation as a whole. Under its new leadership, the Congress has equipped itself at Pachmarhi with a constructive programme of action.

The Congress has always worked for the good of the nation and the welfare of the people, irrespective of caste and creed. The BJP, on the other hand, embodies the forces of rank communalism and parochial religious divisions. In this fight between the Congress and the BJP, Indian history, Indian civilisation and the Indian ethos of religious tolerance are all on the side of the Congress. Therefore, notwithstanding the last electoral setback, victory is ultimately bound to go to the Congress.

The Indian National Congress, under the dynamic leadership of Smt . Sonia Gandhi, appeals to voters in all four states to rally round the banner of the Congress, the Party which brought the nation to freedom, the nation's natural party of governance.

The Congress is entering the Assembly electoral battle with the utmost humility but with full confidence.

The BJP has been in power for five years. Because of its continuous misrule and mismanagement of the administration, there has been an unparalleled deterioration in every sector of life in the Capital.

Delhi is the nerve centre of India . The world judges India from the quality of life in Delhi . What Delhi experiences is experienced throughout the length and breadth of the country. It is unfortunate that today it has become a model of maladministration.

Today, it is more insecure, more polluted, more disease prone and more chaotic than ever before. Every section of its population - civil servants, traders, industrial workers, teachers, students, daily wage earners are seething with discontent. Vulnerable segments of society-minorities, SC/ST, backward classes and women are the worst sufferers.

Prices of all essential commodities and more so, of vegetables have touched the sky. As a grim reminder of the situation, onions - the symbol of the poor man's diet have touched an unprecedented high of Rs . 60/- a kilo, making it unaffordable even for the middle class.

Power failure and load-shedding has been continuous for hours and even days in all parts of the city.

Water scarcity has been prevalent all over the city. People were so furious that they had to come out on the streets in protest. Instead of getting relief they were lathi -charged.

Delhi has been a city of gardens but during the BJP's five years of non-governance, it has turned into a city of garbage. Sewer lines in many colonies have been over flowing spreading vicious diseases.

Insanitary conditions have made Delhi a city of epidemics. Dengue which had been eliminated a long time back from India , has appeared again. Dropsy, another deadly disease occurred because the administration never cared to check it although experts had warned of the coming epidemic. Over 65 persons died and about 3,000 were hospitalised .

Even major roads are full of pot-holes causing traffic hazards. The BJP government has not bothered to get even ordinary repair work done.

The law and order situation has been dreadful. All kinds of crimes, from chain snatching to day-light murders to robberies in buses and the kidnapping and harassment of women & children, have been the order of the day.

The standard of education in government run schools has been the lowest this year.

In this manifesto, the Congress has dealt with almost all the problems that the people of Delhi are facing. This document presents to you our vision and commitment. It also proposes remedies to undo the wrongs done by the BJP.

This situation must change. Delhi must regain its status as model of efficience and democratic governance, a capital worty of this land, which has set before the world, standards of peaceful and harmonious living, as also of balanced and equitable development.

The Congress party, your tried servant, once again seeks your support for its endeavours towards the betterment of Delhi .

The Congress hopes that the intelligent, industrious and peace-loving people of Delhi , will give a chance to the Congress to serve them and make Delhi once again the proud and prosperous Capital of our great country.

A healthy, clean, transparent, efficient and responsive administration is the basic need of a civil society. Congress commits itself to provide that. With that end in view it will adopt the following strategy.

(i) Introduce an Administrative Code : Setting out objective criteria rather than personal discretion in decision making. It will go a long way in making administratin corruption-free, transparent and efficient. Procedural bottlenecks will be removed at all levels.

(ii) A Responsive Administration Replacing Rudeness with Civility : In keeping with Shri Rajiv Gandhi;s stress on a responsive administration, the Congress will ensure that civil servants are polite and responsive to the general public. Inturn , the Congress will ensure that the civil servants are protected from undue political interference and pressure. Congress believes that firmness, tempered with politeness, goes a long way in making the administrative machinery work smoothly and thereby, prove to be an effective instrument of service for the society.

(iii) People's active association: Legitimacy of government depends on its active and continuous interaction with the people. Congress government will put into operation a system of consultation with people through:

(a) Functional committees which will be constituted with representatives of commerce, industry, trade unions, social and cultural organisations , teachers and students. The respective ministers will frequently interact with these functional committees to find solutions to their problems.

(b) Constituency committees : In every assembly constituency a watch dog (Vigilance) committee consisting of local residents, welfare associations, social and cultural organisations , labour unions will be set up. They will ensure speedy solution of grievances.

(iv) Care for the employees : To get the best out of government employees they must be, as far as possible, provided with anxiety-free living conditions. The Congress party will; prepare a comprehensive scheme of housing for state government employees with the necessary cooperation of the private sector and the involvement of the employees themselves.

(v) Problems of employees : In autonomous undertakings of Delhi government like DVB, Jal Nigam and DMC will be attended to on a priority basis and quick solutions found.

(vi) Facilities for the Media : Delhi government under Congress will make sure that media persons covering Delhi face no difficulties in performing their duties. To help better interaction with public, media personnel covering Delhi will be provided facilities to communicate fair and objective information.

(vii) Panchayati Raj is a basic commitment of Congress since the days of Mahatma Gandhi. Towards the realisation of the dream, Part ix on the " Panchayats and Municipalities" was added to the Constitution on the basis of proposals introduced by Sh . Rajiv Gandhi in Parliament. The party will strive to restore Panchatats in the rural areas of Delhi for the benefit of the rural masses.

There has been an unprecedented spurt in incidents of murder, rape, theft, kidnapping and extortion which have put Delhi on top of the crime graph of the nation. No area, no section has felt secure during the 5 years of BJP rule. Women, children, old & young, even bus passengers have not been safe. Congress proposes to initiate the following steps to improve the situation.

(i) Civil Defence Committees will be reactivated to resist criminal activities in the respective areas.

(ii) Special Women Police Force : The urgent need for this is to look after the security of women and to speedily tackle crimes against women, will be stressed and taken up with the central government.

(iii) Augmenting Police Force : The question of augmenting the police force in proportion to the increase in Delhi 's population will be actively taken up with the Government of India.

(iv) Problems facing Delhi- Police : These will be brought to the notice of the Union Home Minister to seek quick redressal , special priority will be paid to housing for the police.

(v) 1984 riots : The Congress, if voted to power, will take appropriate action according to the law against all those involved in the 1984 riots.

DPCC is acutely aware of the sufferings caused to citizens by the shortage of electric power supply and water. People were made to sweat in the heat; teachers and students find it difficult to pursue their studies, industrial establishments bear losses because of frequent power cuts.

BJP government's criminal neglect of Delhi 's energy needs has rendered the capital an area of darkness, a veritable haven for thieves and murderers. No only have the energy augmentation schemes of the Congress government remained unattended, no attempt has been made to devise any new schemes to meet the growing shortage.

The functioning of the Delhi Vidyut Board will be reviewed and its efficiency improved. The Plant Load Factor of DVB is the lowest in the country. While the installed capacity of Delhi 's own projects is 2000 MW, only 700 MW is being generated. This will be rectified as a matter of priority, grids already constructed will be immediately commissioned and dysfunctional grids repaired and restarted.

(i) Replacement of out-dated IP Thermal Plant by a new gas-based Power Plant which will produce double the present power without polluting emissions.

(ii) Setting up three new naphtha-based Power Plants with 50-100 MW capacity at Dwarka , Kondli-Ghroli and Narela .

(iii) Putting into immediate operation 400KV Ring around Delhi to draw the already allocated power from the Northern Grid. It was scheduled to be operational in 1997 but remains neglected.

(iv) Construction of 400KV gas-based Power Plant and Bawana and the 220 KV transmission lines for power distribution which have been delayed without valid reason.

(v) Construction of more gas-wells like the one at Sanitary Fill site at Timarpur which the Congress government had constructed in 1986.

(vi) Billing will be streamlined and paying centres provided in each on constituency.

(vii) To avoid delay in fault repair (including that of street lights), mobile vans equipped with telephones will be utilized.

(iii) The proposal for Gas Turbine Power Station at Bawana with cooperatin of private sector is awaiting completion of formalities. Steps will be taken to commission this project expeditiously.

(iv) Citizens will be encouraged to use Solar Energy and steps will be initiated to promote alternative sources of energy.

(v) Citizens will be motivated to avoid wastage and economise electric power consumption through a campaign "Power Saved is Power Produced".

(vi) WATER SUPPLY : In the last 5 years of BJP rule the rates increased while availability of water went down, drastically. To end the scarcity of drinking water prevalent today the Party has a comprehensive plan including short term and long-term measures.

(i) About 150 tube-wells to yield more than 20 MGD (Million Gallons Daily) will be dug along the marginal bandh on the Alipore area.

(ii) More water-taps will e provided in scarcity prone JJ and unauthorised colonies.

(iii) Old water-pipes will be changed to stop leakage and contamination of water.

(i) Construction of the 40 MGD treatment plan at Nangloi and persuading the Haryana Government to release raw water from the Western Yamuna Canal .

(ii) Construction of the 200 MGD Water Treatment Plant at Bawana will be speeded up. Besides, two other such plants will be constructed; a 60 MGD water treatment plant for Dwarka and 40 MGD plant for South Delhi at Okhla and another treatment plant of 140 MGD in Sonia Vihar in the Trans- Yamuna area.

Negotiations which were initiated by the Congress and later neglected by BJP with the Haryana and U.P. Governments will be reactivated to make more raw water available for the new treatment plants, urgently.

(iii) The Delhi Jal Nigam will construct underground reservoirs, wells and boosting pumping stations in the areas where water distribution system does not work satisfactorily.

(iv) Old lakes of Delhi will be recharged through scientific water conservation plans.

(v) The Congress Government will also pursue the release of additional water supply from Tehri Bandh and Kausanwala (H.P.).

Other priority areas for Congress government would be ensuring consumer goods, especially food items, at reasonable prices and improving transport system. Both have been neglected to help vested interests make profit at the cost of consumers. DPCC envisages the following steps to safeguard the interests of consumers, especially middle class citizens and the economically weaker sections.

(ii) Public Distribution System will be improved and expanded to ensure supply of good quality essential commodities at reasonable prices. Corruption and harrassment in the rationing department will be dealt with severely.

(iii) Sanctioned monthly quota of wheat and rice the Food Corporation of India godowns will be lifted on time to guard against artificial scarcity and black marketing.

(iv) In all localities where there is no Ration Shop outlet owing to excessively high rent, the Congress, if voted to power, will earmark atleast one shop in shopping centres for a Ration Shop outlet at nominal rates.

(v) Representatives of consumer bodies and women organisations and other welfare bodies will be associated with Fair Price Shop owners so that consumer grievances are removed on the-spot.

(vi) Supermarkets by Cooperative Societies will be encouraged & promoted for providing clean, fresh and hygienic food items, cooking oil, milk and other daily provisions to the common people at standard prices.

(vii) Coffee Home Scheme will be improved and expanded to provide at reasonable rates, quality refreshments to the city's vast working population.

Transport syste : It needs early drastic improvement to end the present chaos and to facilitate commuting. Congress envisages the following steps to augment means of transport and to improve roads by :

(i) The Congress will constitute a body of experts to prepare within a year a masterplan to cope with the present and expected increase in traffic over the next 20 years. The new plan will include :

(ii) Setting up a unified Delhi Transport Authority to ensure coordination of DTC, road-building agencies and railways.

(iv) Courteous behaviour of bus drivers and conductors will be ensured while, at the same time, their problems and legitimate demands will be looked after.

(v) Railway Minister will be persuaded to extend the Ring Railway and coordinate it with DTC.

(viii) For pilersof vehicles rendered off the roads, particularly auto-rickshaws, soft loans will be provided so that they can continue working for their livelihood.

To ensure citizens right to health care, Congress envisages a comprehensive scheme including health education, augmentation of facilities and preventive measures Towards this end the Congress government will take the following steps :

(i) Health education through systematically spreading awareness about hygienic and healthy living, particularly in areas inhabited by the poor.

(ii) Well-equipped mobile dispensaries will be regularly sent to slum areas, resettlement colonies and jhuggi jhompri clusters.

(iii) Number of beds (20,000) in existing hospitals will be increased to meet the growing need.

(iv) More hospitals and dispensaries will be provided, especially in rural areas. Government will approach and facilitate charitable and philanthropic agencies for taking up the task.

(v) Private nursing homes will be regularised after suitably modifying the rules and regulations governing them.

(vi) Food adulteration, the biggest health hazard, will be stopped by frequent checking and strict enforcement of punitive laws. Provision for summary trial of offenders will be made. Arrangements for checking food items will be made in each constituency.

(vii) Recommendation will be made to amend anti-drug laws to provide for capital punishment to drug peddlers.

(viii) All systems of medicine will be encouraged and discrimination against practioners of Ayurvdic , Unani , Siddha , Homeopathic, Naturopathic, Yogic and other indigenous systems will be ended by integrating them into an equitable health-friendly policy ensuring the health of the patient.

(ix) Adequate supply of medicines will be ensured. The number of T.B. Hospitals will be reviewed. In case of epidemics, free medical aid will be given to the residents of Delhi .

(x) Ultra-modern accident and trauma relief system will be expanded and private sector hospitals will be encouraged to participate in it.

(xi) Effective steps will be taken to check air and water pollution in consultation with experts.

(xii) Indiscriminate installation of tube-wells, expecially for farm houses, will be stoped to protect ground water.

Shortage of houses is one of the major problem that plagues the Capital. The present shortage is estimated to be over 2.50 lakh units. If the problem is not solved, the shortfall in housing is likely to go up by over 4 lakh units. If the problem is not solved, the shortfall in housing is likely to go up by over 4 lakh housing units by the year 2001. The greatest demand is from the lower income group.

To meet this challenge, the Party envisages a comprehensive policy and augmentation of land availability and its planned utilisation .

The Congress government will impress upon the Centre to allocate more funds for development and also help in the expeditious implementation of the National Capital Region Plan and build satellite towns.

(ii) Inviting reputed private sector companies to undertake housing schemes especially meant for weaker sections, including the fixed income group of employees.

(iii) Encouraging Cooperative Group Housing Societies by expeditious land allotment and provision of easy housing loans. Pending applications of societies will be expeditiously cleared.

(iv) Popularising low cost housing technique which gives twice the space at half the cost.

(v) Efforts to get recognition for house construction activity, the status of an industry.

(vi) DDA houses already constructed will be immediately allotted and necessary provision of water and electricity for them will be ensured.

(vii) Steps will be taken to develop plots to meet growing housing requirements.

(viii) Steps will be taken for the landless but bonafide residents in the villages, so that a plot for housing and residential purposes is alloted to them. We shall revive the 20 point programme of Smt . Indira Gandhi whereby land was to be given to the landless and pattas not yet alloted will be given.

(ix) To cover shortage of cremation grounds and burial places, civic authorities will be asked to make additional provisions in various parts of the city.

Planned utilisation of land will be undertaken to end haphazard building activities.

(i) A Land Atlas will be prepared indicating which land belongs to which authority. The authority concerned will be asked to fence its area to avoid encroachment which result in confusion caused by multiplicity of land owning authorities.

(ii) Centre will persuaded to revise the Master Plan and bring it in tune with present needs. The party will propose necessary amendments in this regard.

(iii) To augment area for housing the Congress government will approach neighbouring states of Haryana and Uttar Pradesh to allot land to Delhi .

(iv) In order to stop growing congestion and air pollution, efforts will be made to develop around Delhi Satellite Cities provided with good hospitals, educational institutions and efficient transport system. These Projects for Satellite Cities will be financed with the cooperation of LIC, GIC, HUDCO and private sector construction companies.

(v) National Capital Region Scheme will be revised in consultation with Centre and concerned state government and implemented speedily.

(vi) The Congress government will make a mini-master-plan for every urban village for its development and will improve civic amenities in these areas.

Trans- Yamuna Development Board, which was setup by the privious Congress Government and later ignored by BJP, will be re-activated for looking into the specific problems of people residing in the those areas and for expeditious solutions of the same. This will help in rapid and all-round development of the Trans Yamuna area. For beautification of the area, extensive landscaping of Yamuna will be undertaken.

vigorous implementation of Rajiv Gandhi Plan for de-polluting Yamuna and ensuring that only treated and not polluted water is discharged into it.
stopping tilling of pavements so that trees may grow there.
by promoting forests around the city.

To encourage cleanliness, inter-constituency competitions will be started with annual award for three cleanest consitutencies .

One of the biggest sources of corruption, congestion and crime has been the illegal grabbing of government land and unauthorised construction for fraudulent sale by unscrupulous elements to invary people. It will be the formost task of the Congress, if voted to power, to take necessary legislative and administrative measures to eliminate this evil, including holding the officials concerned liable for acts of ommission and commission and ensuring full coordination between the Police, D.D.A. and M.C.D. to ensure that illegal encroachment, construction and sale or disposal is ended.

A proliferation of unauthorised colonies, and the miserable condition of slums, jhuggi-jhompries and resettlement colonies is a shameful aspect of Delhi 's housing. Congress envisages the following steps to tackle the problem :

(i) Regularisation of colonies and construction which have come into existence upto March 31, 1998 . If required, rules or regulations or bye-laws which stand in the way would be changed. Provision of civic amenities will be expedited. We shall ensure that future palnning for land development and housing obviates the growth of unauthorised colonies.

(ii) Jhuggi - Jhompri clusters, presently existing, will be provided with water, electricity and sulabh shauchalays to improve living conditions.

(iii) Planning for resettlement will be directed to stop further increase of these clusters.

(iv) Conditions in slums will be improved by proper provision of water, electricity and public conveniences while sewerage system and drainage will be improved and parks renewed. Slum dwellers will not be removed but resettled. There will be no charge for ownership in the Settlement Colonies. To accomplish this task a Statutory Slum Board will be set up.

(vi) Proper work places will be provided for service sector like washermen , barbers, potters .

Due to lack of vision of BJP government and their apathy towards the future of Delhi 's children, there is an acute shortage of teachers and principals. Consequently, the student community is suffering for no fault of theirs.

In the context of human resource development, special attention will be paid to children and youth, particularly girls. Adequate educational, cultural and sports facilities will be ensured.

(i) More schools and colleges will be provided; the possibility of establishing another university will be persued .

(ii) Government schools will be provided with proper buildings and teachers. Vacancies will be speedily filled.

(iii) The dignity of teachers will be ensured, with proper emoluments fully paid directly into their bank accounts, time-bound promotions and housing facilities. In recruitment and promotion, discrimination of all sorts will be ended.

(iv) Schools will be encouraged to introduce computer-training to modernise minds and work.

(v) Literacy campaign will be stepped-up and teachers, students and voluntary organisations will be encouraged to participate in it.

(vii) Atmosphere in colleges will be improved by providing better facilities for students and teachers and improving teacher - student relationship through enlightened management.

(viii) Rationalised postings and transfers of teachers between rural and urban areas with special scales.

To ensure vibrant cultural life cosmopolitan character of Delhi will be kept in mind and therefore :

(ii) All linguistic groups will be ensured facilities on the lines of Hindi, Urdu, Sanskrit, Punjabi and Sindhi languages.

(iii) Folk dances and music of various regions will be ensured adequate engouragement .

(iv) Artists and writers will be provided adequate facilities and budding artists and writers will be specially encouraged.

(i) Providing more play-grounds and well equipped training facilities for up-coming sportsmen.

(ii) Helping Resident Welfare Associations to establish Sports and Cultural Clubs.

(iv) Youth hostels will be provided in each constituency, including hostels for girls.

The Congress Party pledges to infuse confidence and vigour in the Capital's economic life keeping in mind that trade is its life line. In Industrial sector small and cottage industries will be our main concern. Policies will be framed to minimise friction with government machinery and with employees.

The Congress will work towards removing the scope for harassment and corruption, including reforming the system of Sales Tax. The Congress will do its best to insure that Sales Tax in Delhi on different items is less than in the neighbouring states.

There is an acute shortage of commercial accommodation for which bold steps will be taken to promote more commercial structures including the regularisation of unauthorised use of residential and other areas (at least on adhoc basis including that for the nursing homes and schools and other public institutions).

More over, new wholesale markets will have to be established in consultation with representatives of the trade.

Issuance of licences to Khokas and Patriwallas , (at least for some fixed period) will have to be taken. They will be protected from unnecessary harassment.

For strengthening the pre-eminent trading character of Delhi the party will:

(i) Take steps to protect legitimate interests of traders, both whole-sellers and retailers.

(ii) Ensure that there is no harassment or impediments from government officials.

(iv) Constitute an Expert Committee to expand the network of retail shops and prepare a blue print to tackle the problem of non-conforming shops and sale markets.

(v) Weekly bazaars and haats will be arranged as sale outlets for products of artisans and handicraftsmen.

The Congress Party considers working class as the key factor in the economy. For their betterment Congress Party proposes the following steps:

(i) Ensure full protection for Trade Union rights while making worker-management relationship cordial through proper education of both.

(iii) Establish training centres for workers to improve skills and employability.

(iv) Wage Boards and Welfare Boards will be set up to ensure just emoluments and facilities like housing, health-care and recreation.

(vi) Free medical check-up for manual workers, thela and rickshaw pullers, construction labour and loaders will be arranged.

Tourism is another important feature of contemporary economic activities. Delhi attracts visitors, from within the country and abroad, because of its historical sites, its importance as a trading centre and because of it being the national capital. It provides employment for a variety of people and also gives a fillip to cultural activities. Fully aware of this, Congress government will encourage tourism, particularly for modest income groups by :

(i) Providing transit camps and rest houses with good facilities at affordable costs.

(ii) Tackling the problem of stray cattle which are a deterrent for tourists as also a nuisance for traffic.

Congress party commits itself to attending to the welfare of all segments of society irrespective of religion, caste gender or region to which they belong. The weaker and vulnerable sections - women, minorities, backwards and unorganized working population will be the special concern of a Congress government.

Women will get due protection, opportunities and facilities for work; equal wage for equal work, and will be provided sufficient accommodation and congenial working conditions.

Effective steps will be taken to end educational and economic backwardness among the minorities; there will be no outside interference in the management of WAKF properties.

(i) Revise the Land Acquisition Policy for minimising acquisition and ensuring compensation or alternative plots within the zone for acquired land within a specific period. The policies laid down by Smt . Indira Gandhi in 1982 to give compensation at the prevailing rates will be followed.

The Congress Party will ensure that compensation and alternative plots are provided to the affected owners at their door-step, within a specified time.

(ii) Make adequate provision for roads, drinking water, education, hospitals (particularly veterinary hospitals) to bridge the urban - rural gap in quality of life.

(iii) Congress will endeavour to start more colleges and educational facilities in rural areas.

(v) Suggest to Centre the amendment of Land Reform Act to reduce the limit on sale of land from eight acres toone acre.

(i) Arranges permanent settlement of regular pavement dwellers, vendors, rehriwalas .

(ii) Provide free education for scheduled caste and backward classes upto university level, particularly to the girls.

(iv) Construct poor homes and work centres for beggars and destitutes and take stern steps to check begging in Delhi .

(v) Crash programmes for the construction of a number of multi- storeyed night shelters having appropriate facilities for health care and recreation.

The number of unemployed youth in the city has reached alarming proportions. In order to provide employment, cottage industries and handicraft centres would be established. Oportunities for self-employment in various household and small scale industries would also be provided. Procedures for that purpose would be simplified so that more and more young people take advantage of these.

Congress will endeavour to encourage the youth to take up self-employment and thus be gainfully employed towards this end, we will:

(i) Give special incentive to women to start cottage industry and handicraft projects.

Delhi is a cosmopolitan city - a mini-India resides here. The Congress party shall accord official status/official use for specified purpose in administration, education and information to Urdu & Punjabi.

Our plans and aspirations are for restoring the faded glory of India 's capitl , our proud historic city. Given your support and cooperation we will accomplish these tasks and even more, Give us a hand and let us get together to make Delhi more beautiful and life more livable.