‘Vote-catching’ decisions likely today

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The Moscow band Ladies in Jazz performs at the Russian embassy in New Delhi on the occasion of Russia’s National Day recently. S

With Delhi Assembly elections approaching fast, the Sheila Dikshit government has also gone into an overdrive, frequently taking “voter friendly” decisions.
Hoping to garner votes from 360 villages in the city, the government is considering to abolish Rule 81 of the Land Acquisition Act. The government is also planning to regularise buildings on the extended Lal Dora (farming land) area. These issues were in the manifesto of both Congress and BJP since many years.
The government is also planning to expand the criteria of its much-hyped direct cash transfer scheme — Dilli Annashree Yojana.
All these decisions are likely to be taken in the Cabinet meeting scheduled at 11 am on Saturday at chief minister’s residence. It is understood that Ms Sheila Dikshit will announce these decisions at the Vishal Gramin Sammelan, scheduled just half-an-hour after the proposed Cabinet meet.
A senior government official said that the direct cash transfer scheme, Dilli Annashree Yojana, which is being billed as a “game changer” by senior Congress leaders, will be expanded and registered labourers, homeless people and JJ slum dwellers will be included in the list of beneficiaries.
“The rules for eligibility for Dilli Annashree Yojana will be the same. We are planning to expand it. A Cabinet note has been prepared in this regard and the proposal will be brought in the meeting,” said Delhi food and civil supply minister Harun Yusuf.
Bowing to the rising protests of villagers against Rule 81, the government had in April restricted its use. Now the government has decided to abolish the rule to help residents of these areas to get their building plans cleared.
The government will send a request to the Union urban development ministry for the regularisation of colonies on extended Lal Dora areas after the Cabinet meet.