Latest news with #DelhiSecretariat
New Indian Express
10 hours ago
- Automotive
- New Indian Express
Delhi government extends EV policy till March 26 amid ongoing public consultations on draft version
NEW DELHI: The Delhi Government on Tuesday extended the current Electric Vehicle (EV) Policy till 31st March 2026 or until the notification of a new policy, whichever is earlier, as the draft of the new policy will undergo public consultation, which is expected to take time The decision was taken in the cabinet meeting held by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta at the Delhi Secretariat earlier in the day. 'The extension will enable the Transport Department to conduct comprehensive consultations with all stakeholders — including citizens, industry leaders, academic experts, environmental groups, and both public and private institutions. These discussions will focus on enhancing EV charging infrastructure, reviewing existing incentives and subsidies, establishing robust e-waste and battery disposal mechanisms, and clearly defining public-private roles in Delhi's evolving EV ecosystem,' the government said in a statement. The current EV Policy has been extended multiple times under both the previous AAP government and the current government led by the BJP. In June, Delhi Transport Minister Pankaj Kumar Singh had said the government plans to roll out the EV Policy 2.0 by July.
The Hindu
15 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Delhi government hikes cash awards for Olympic winners, approves free laptop scheme for students
The Delhi government has hiked the cash awards for Olympic and Paralympic medallists from the national capital, Minister Ashish Sood said on Tuesday (July 22, 2025). Mr. Sood also announced the approval of the Mukhyamantri Digital Scheme to provide free laptops to meritorious students. The decisions were taken during a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta at the Delhi Secretariat in New Delhi. "Today, under the leadership of CM Rekha Gupta, a Cabinet meeting was held. Various important decisions were taken for Delhi's development, students and youth," Mr. Sood told a press conference. "There were historic decisions taken under the Mukhyamantri Khel Prothsahan Yojana. Olympic and Paralympic medal winners were awarded ₹3 crore, ₹2 crore and ₹1 crore earlier... to encourage the sports ecosystem, Olympic gold medallists will now be given ₹7 crore, silver medallists ₹5 crore and bronze medallists ₹3 crore," he said. Mr. Sood announced that the Gold and Silver medallists will be given Group A jobs while the bronze medallists will be given Group B jobs in the Delhi government. Mr. Sood also announced that under the Mukhyamantri Digital Scheme, free laptops would be provided to students to ensure the holistic development of the youth. "As many as 1,200 meritorious students who have passed Class 10 with good marks will be given i7 laptops. This will benefit students from underprivileged backgrounds," he added.
NDTV
18 hours ago
- Politics
- NDTV
Delhi Chief Minister Flags Irregularities In Widow Pension And Disability Aid
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Monday ordered a full review of the city's welfare schemes, citing "serious irregularities" in widow pensions and disability support handed out under the previous Aam Aadmi Party administration. Chairing a crucial meeting at the Delhi Secretariat, Chief Minister Gupta said government aid meant for the most vulnerable was being misused and promised corrective action. "Many women who were not eligible were granted pensions unchecked. Our government will not allow such malpractice," Chief Minister Gupta told senior officials from the Department of Social Welfare and the Department for the Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. "Those who truly need help will get it. But those found ineligible will be removed from the list." The remarks come amid rising concerns over transparency in the city's social safety net. The Chief Minister accused the former AAP government of "cheating the underprivileged" and turning a blind eye to lapses that allowed benefits to flow to ineligible individuals. A key reform discussed during the meeting was the rollout of digital ID cards for persons with disabilities (PwDs) to tighten beneficiary records. Officials were also directed to address long delays in issuing disability certificates and streamline coordination between departments. Among the schemes under review is the Financial Assistance for Senior Citizens programme, which pays Rs 2,000 - Rs 2,500 a month to over four lakh beneficiaries, mainly from scheduled caste (SC) and scheduled tribe (ST) and low-income groups. The PwD scheme, covering roughly 1.34 lakh individuals, also faces scrutiny over outdated records and inconsistencies in documentation. The Delhi Family Benefit Scheme (DFBS), which offers one-time assistance of Rs 20,000 to families who lose their main earning member, has supported around 1,100 dependants to date. SMILE, a scheme aimed at rehabilitating individuals involved in begging, offers shelter, medical help, counselling, skills training, and livelihood support. Ms Gupta said the government's role goes beyond direct cash aid. "Welfare is not just about handing out money, it also means rehabilitation, education, and livelihood support," she said. The Chief Minister has directed the departments to prioritise data accuracy, digitisation, and faster grievance redressal mechanisms. Officials now have two weeks to submit updated beneficiary lists, with field audits expected to follow. With budgets stretched and public scrutiny rising, the administration faces a key question- can it clean up the system and get support to those who truly need it?
Time of India
21 hours ago
- Health
- Time of India
Delhi to get over 100 new Ayushman Arogya Mandirs by August: Health Minister
New Delhi: Delhi Health Minister Pankaj Singh on Monday said more than 30 new Ayushman Arogya Mandirs will be inaugurated across the national capital by the end of this month, and 75 more by August. A study is underway to identify and establish these centres at over 950 locations in the city, Singh said during a meeting at the Delhi Secretariat. The minister ordered identification of vacant spaces in community centres, banquet halls, market shops, polyclinics, and other unused government facilities for the expansion. A total of 429 sites under the MCD have already been identified, with 98 getting the no-objection certificates. "The government is committed to setting up 1,139 Ayushman Arogya Mandirs to ensure affordable and accessible healthcare for every citizen of Delhi," the minister said, adding that rural clusters and under-served areas would be included in the roll-out. The mandirs, or clinics, are a central government initiative, envisaged to deliver non-communicable diseases, palliative and rehabilitative care, oral, eye and ENT, and mental health care.
Time of India
a day ago
- Politics
- Time of India
CM announces rollout of digital ID cards and review of welfare schemes
New Delhi: In an effort to improve welfare delivery and transparency, chief minister Rekha Gupta on Monday announced the rollout of digital ID cards for persons with disabilities. Gupta said her govt was fully committed to helping the poor, the elderly, and those who receive financial support. She also ordered a review of all existing welfare schemes to ensure aid reached only the truly deserving beneficiaries and those who are not eligible are removed. "Our aim is to establish a robust, inclusive and sensitive support system. We will ensure that no deserving individual is left out, and public funds are used responsibly," she said. Noting that some schemes had been misused earlier, Gupta pointed to "serious irregularities" in the disbursement of widow pensions during the previous administration's tenure. "Many women who were not eligible were granted pensions unchecked. Our govt will not allow such malpractice. Those who are truly eligible will receive financial assistance under all circumstances, but those found ineligible will be excluded from these schemes," she said. You Can Also Check: Delhi AQI | Weather in Delhi | Bank Holidays in Delhi | Public Holidays in Delhi Gupta gave the instructions after chairing a meeting at Delhi Secretariat, attended by senior officials from the department of social welfare and the department for the welfare of SC/STs. The meeting focused on reviewing several key welfare schemes aimed at supporting economically and socially marginalised communities. CM said Delhi govt is not only providing financial assistance, but also extending support in the form of rehabilitation, skill development, education and other essential welfare services. For instance, the scheme for senior citizens provides monthly financial aid to individuals aged 60 and above, especially those from SC/ST communities or economically weaker backgrounds. Depending on their age, eligible beneficiaries receive between Rs 2,000 and Rs 2,500 per month. Over four lakh senior citizens have already benefited from the initiative, which is designed to help them live with dignity, she added. Another key initiative, Gupta pointed out, was to provide assistance to persons with disabilities who are unable to support themselves. These individuals are granted Rs 2,500 per month. So far, over 1.3 lakh people have received aid under the scheme, which is aimed to promote their social and economic empowerment, CM said. Moreover, to help families who have lost their primary breadwinner cope with sudden financial hardship, the Delhi Family Benefit Scheme offers a one-time assistance of Rs 20,000, stated the CMO. About 1,100 dependents have been provided aid through this scheme. Additionally, the Support for Marginalised Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise (SMILE) scheme focuses on rehabilitating those involved in begging by providing essential services like shelter, medical care, counselling, skill training and livelihood opportunities and reintegrate them into mainstream society with dignity and purpose. The meeting also addressed key issues, such as delays in disability certification and digitisation of beneficiary data. CM directed various departments to resolve these challenges swiftly and present a clear action plan for better coordination and service delivery.
