AAP government lists achievements in first month

New Delhi, March 13 (IANS) On the eve of completing its first month in power in Delhi, the AAP government on Friday listed its achievements like slashing electricity tariff and steps taken to ensure women's safety in the national capital.

Outlining the steps taken by various ministries and departments, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said: "Our experience in one month has been great. This month was also about understanding how information technology can be used for good governance."

Winning 67 seats in the 70-member Delhi assembly, the AAP assumed power on February 14. On the same day last year, AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal had resigned as the chief minister over the stalling of the Jan Lokpal bill in the assembly.

Sisodia, who was talking to the media after a cabinet meeting, announced the amendment to the VAT (Value Added Tax) Act to allow the carry forward of input tax credit for traders.

Sisodia said the government has already fulfilled its big ticket promises of slashing electricity tariff and providing 20,000 litres of free water to those who have metered connections.

On women's safety, Sisodia said his government has asked Delhi Police for a list of dark spots across the national capital.

He also said that an exercise to ensure marshals in DTC buses was also on.

Talking to reporters, the minister said the Kejriwal government has already given driving licences to 20,800 e-rickshaw drivers in a month.

Sisodia, who also has the charge of education department, said the AAP government has begun the process for the installation of CCTVs in schools.

The honorarium for Anganwadi workers has already been increased from Rs.750 to Rs.4,000 to Rs.5,000 per month.

Redesigning of hospitals to increase their bed-capacity to allow poor people access to health care was also one of the decision taken by the government, he said.