The Delhi government on Saturday said that under the SC Basti Re-development Scheme of the SC/ST Welfare Department, 114 development works amounting to Rs 65.55 crore have been approved so far. Alongside this, the Delhi Government is spending nearly Rs 700 crore for the improvement and rehabilitation of slum and JJ colonies across the city. Delhi’s Social Welfare minister Ravinder Indraj Singh was speaking at the event of Dr BR Ambedkar’s Mahaparinirvan Diwas on Saturday.
The Minister also paid floral tributes to Baba Saheb at Rajiv Nagar in Bawana, Rohini Sector 20, and the Dr Ambedkar National Memorial located on Alipur Road. Indraj said that the Social Welfare and SC/ST/OBC Welfare Department is also working on scholarships, hostels, coaching, and skill-development schemes for students belonging to poor and disadvantaged communities.
“Under the vision of Antyodaya and the mission of Developed India–Developed Delhi, basic civic facilities such as cleanliness, footpaths, drinking water, drainage/sewer lines, and parks/play areas for children are being developed in areas that were neglected by previous Governments,” he said. The Social Welfare Minister said that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has always presented Baba Saheb’s contributions as guiding principles for the nation. It was under his leadership that the tradition of celebrating Constitution Day began in 2015. He also developed the key sites associated with Baba Saheb’s life — Mhow, 10 King Henry Road in London, Deekshabhoomi in Nagpur, Chaityabhoomi in Mumbai, and the Parinirvan site on Alipur Road in Delhi as “Panchteerth”.
Other significant initiatives have been undertaken, such as the Delhi Ambedkar International Centre, new hostels, skill training centres, coaching schemes, doubling of the Post-Matric Scholarship budget, and promoting Dalit entrepreneurship through the Mudra and Stand-Up India schemes, which have provided affordable loans to lakhs of SC/ST entrepreneurs.
He said that the life of Baba Saheb inspires us to remain dedicated to equality, self-respect, education, and social justice. The Delhi Government will continue to work with full commitment to take his ideals to every citizen.
