Exactly a year ago, on February 14, Arvind Kejriwal took his oath as Delhi chief minister after a sweeping victory of 67 out of 70 seats. It has been a year of highs and lows for the party that ended BJP's winning streak and uprooted Congress from the National Capital. AAP pretty much stayed in the news throughout this period for all the right and wrong reasons. From implementing odd-even rule to providing the much-needed electricity subsidy and tussle with the Centre, it was a roller-coaster of a year for Kejriwal government. But did they keep their promises? Did they deliver? Is there hope for more?
Here's a report card of Aam Aadmi Party's first full year in power:
Power
Thanks to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government for offering ‘tangible’ benefits to the people with its 50 per cent subsidy on power bills, Delhiites aren’t complaining, even as its other poll promises in this sector are yet to take off.
>AAP’s popularity peaks on power policy
On top of the 50 per cent subsidy on power bills, AAP gained more support from the people due to fewer power outages last summer.
>Good news for consumers: 50% subsidy to stay
"The power subsidy is a commitment that we have made to our people and I am happy to say that the scheme is going to stay beyond the stipulated one year,” Power Minister Satyendar Jain
>Getting power to the people is the problem
The situation was so grim that the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) clearly stated that the outages were not because of lack of power supply but due to poor maintenance of transmission lines.
Water
Giving free water to all households; scrapping the annual hike in rates that the Sheila Dikshit government had introduced; and cracking down on the tanker mafia that thrived because of the city’s unplanned nature – these were the promises. A year later, the government’s record on water has been mixed.
>Capital’s glass finally looking half full
Water supply has been increased by 60 MGD on average and 205 colonies have been added to the network, but projects like installing GPS on all tankers and setting up drinking water kiosks have been delayed.
>'Summer of 2016 will be the best so far'
Delhi Jal Board Chairperson and Cabinet member Kapil Mishra on how the AAP government’s pre-election focus on water has sustained a year on.
>‘Difficult to wean away those getting free water’
Of the 1,639 unauthorised colonies in Delhi, 1,105 colonies have piped water now
Anti-corruption
The Aam Aadmi Party has its origins in the India Against Corruption movement organised by Anna Hazare. But what has the party done in a year to make Delhi 'corruption-free'?
>Delhi Jan Lok Pal Bill yet to sweep out ‘dirty politics’
The legislation is credited with triggering an electoral tidal wave that would bestow upon AAP a never-before ‘historical mandate’ but the road to delivering it has been a turbulent one.
>Much has been done, but much still needs to be done
Delhi Assembly passes the resolution for restoration of Anti-corruption Bureau, which the AAP govt alleged had been diluted through "interference" from the Centre
>‘Give me eight months and I can rout out corruption from the Delhi govt’
Surender Singh Yadav, a 1997-batch IPS officer, was hand-picked by Kejriwal to head the Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) as its additional commissioner, on his tumultuous maiden year in office.
Transport
As Delhi's car population increased, number of elevated roads, signal-free corridors tried to keep pace but failed. However, AAP took a different path to tackle the issue of transportation in Delhi.
>AAP takes a different route to solve congestion
Though it didn't really promise new roads or flyovers for Delhi, the government has been proactive in finishing such work left by the previous government
>Last-mile connectivity continues to be a problem
The govt’s. plan on last-mile connectivity includes a combination of shared autos, metro-feeder services and e-rickshaws, and by fixing and delimiting routes. However, no concrete steps have been taken yet.
>Mover of aam aadmi left limping
In the past five years, the DTC’s daily ridership rose by 17 lakh, but only 1,500 buses were added
Education
From promises of making government schools better, to regulating private schools and increasing the prospects of higher education, the AAP had pledged a lot to Delhiites.
>AAP gets its homework right
While initiatives have been taken for primary education, higher education is yet to see a transformation. A year on, the government plans to do exactly the same.
>Model schools to set an example
The government identified 54 pilot schools that were to be developed as model schools. The ultimate plan is to develop all government schools on the lines of these model schools.
>More needs to be done for children with disabilities
The AAP had promised to help students with special needs when it comes to getting admission and also provide them financial support.
Governance
The AAP's power tussle with the Centre has regularly made headlines in the one year it has been in power. Here's how it affected governance in the due course of the year.
>Delhi’s grey status remains a bone of contention
The root of this escalating political tussle between the AAP government and the BJP-led Centre is the city’s peculiar administrative status.
>Taking the digital road to greater transparency
AAP has brought in some digital solutions to ensure greater transparency and limit the interaction of bureaucrats with citizens. But stil there's a long way to go.
>‘BJP is stupid to think that dumping garbage on roads will help them’
Delhi's deputy Chief Minister speaks on how the Centre is provoking them and when they react, they are called autocratic and combative. But AAP government will not sit quiet and is prepared to fight their way out
Here's a complete break-down of the Aam Admi Party's 70-point Action plan to pin-point where the party scored and where it stumbled.
