NEW DELHI : After AAP leader Atishi addressed the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal praised her on Friday and said the world is looking at Delhi for solutions in many areas of urban governance. In her address, Atishi, who is an Oxford graduate, highlighted the governance model of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).
“A moment of pride for India. Delhi and AAP make Indians proud. The world is now looking up to Delhi for solutions in many areas of urban governance. We all will learn from each other to make world a better place,” Kejriwal said in a tweet while re-tweeting a post by Atishi containing her speech at the UNGA.
“In a city of over 20 million residents, we have shown that we can do both — provide high quality public services while running a fiscally responsible government. We faced many challenges. Delhi had some of the highest electricity tariffs in the country. The financial health of power distribution companies was poor. Power cuts were frequent, the government water utility was facing losses, government schools and hospitals were failing, and families were shifting to private providers for the same,” said Atishi.
“However, in the last seven years, the Delhi government has turned all this around. We now have 24×7 electricity, some of the lowest electricity tariffs in the country. Four million households get zero electricity bill… More than 1,500 residential areas in the city of Delhi have got piped water supply for the first time,” she said. She also stressed on the performance of the government schools under the AAP government.
Mr Kejriwal, who is the national convener of the AAP, also congratulated Atishi for the feat. “Well done Atishi. This is a very proud moment. Many congratulations on making the world aware of the potential of the country, including the sentiments of the people of Delhi and the nation on such a big international platform. The nation wants such progressive thinking. India now wants to move forward,” he said in another tweet in Hindi.
Previously too, the AAP government’s mohalla clinic initiative and reforms in school education had earned accolades internationally.Atishi shared the video of her speech at the UNGA on Twitter and said the “Delhi model” can offer insights for solving problems.
( Bureau Report with Agency Inputs).
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