Welfare schemes target all sections of Delhi society

Italian Doctor Roberto Anfosso (L) checks the heartbeat of his patient Ignazio Fortino during a working day in Verduno, near Alba, Northwestern Italy on January 31, 2018. It could be a scene from a 19th century literary classic, but in the hills of Italy�s northern Piedmont region Roberto Anfosso is just commuting to work. For the last 10 years, the slight 63-year-old doctor, with white hair, glasses and a neat moustache, has been making his house calls to patients on horseback. / AFP PHOTO / Marco BERTORELLO

A slew of welfare schemes focussed on target groups from students to senior citizens were part of budget 2018-19.

At a proposed outlay of ₹4,155 crore, the amount earmarked constitutes 8% of the total expenditure proposed. These included the implementation of a new scheme, the “Mukhya Mantri Tirath Yatra” for the people in the age group 42 of 60 years and above.

“Around 77,000 senior citizens who are bonafide residents of Delhi, will be sent on various religious trips, for which, the entire cost is to be borne by the government including the insurance of pilgrims,” Finance Minister Manish Sisodia announced.

The government also proposed to enhance the level of services in 10,897 Anganwadi centres under the ICDS project, which provide services of nutrition, health services, vaccination and pre-school activities to around 12 lakh children and women.

Anganwadi centres

CCTV cameras in all Anganwadi centres and mobiles to workers were also proposed and two more Halfway Homes were sought to be operationalised in 2018-19. It was also proposed to implement a new scheme, “Prevention of Alcoholism and Substance (Drug) Abuse”.