New Delhi, March 29 (FN Bureau) Calling his government’s budget 2022-23 “historic”, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Tuesday that no state or central government in the history of independent India has ever been able to present an employment-centric budget. “So far, employment has always been a subject of poll promises. It is used in election rallies to woo voters. For the first time in independent India, a state government has made employment part of its policy and presented a budget keeping the focus. It’s historic,” he stated in the Delhi assembly today.
Kejriwal said that no political party in power dared to promise 20 lakh jobs in 5 years without an Assembly election around the corner. He also said that now that Aam Aadmi Party has set the precedence, other parties will have to discuss employment just like electricity and education. “AAP in Delhi and Punjab is setting a precedence of good governance and issue-based politics. It is forcing governments across the country to follow,” Kejriwal said. “No matter how much they (other parties) abuse us when mohalla clinics are established in Delhi, then it is pushing the narrative of strengthening the primary health system. Our free electricity policy is forcing other state governments to make it a poll promise. Our step to generate employment will also set a similar narrative,” he added. On Saturday, Deputy CM and Finance Minister of Delhi presented budget 2022-23 in Delhi Assembly and called it the “Rozgar Budget”. Sisodia said that the budget amounting to Rs 75,800 crores is aimed to create 20 lakh jobs in the next five years. The budget has prioritised sectors like retail, food and beverages, logistic and supply chain, travel and tourism, entertainment, construction, real estate and green energy to create new jobs.