Chief Minister Rekha Gupta saluting a Delhi Police contingent.
| Photo Credit: SUSHIL KUMAR VERMA
In her maiden Independence Day address, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta referred to herself as Delhi’s “mukhya sevika (chief servant)” and said that the Delhi government will open ‘Atal canteens’, offering subsidised meals, on December 25, the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
The CM also said that the government will provide every slum dweller with a house and reiterated her pledge to clean the Yamuna river.
Pledge to clean Yamuna
“Mother Yamuna is Delhi’s soul and is in the heart of every Delhiite. Over the years, it has become polluted. Several promises were made [to clean the Yamuna], but not much was done. Today, I’m not just promising but pledging to rejuvenate the Yamuna,” Ms. Gupta said at an event in Chhatrasal Stadium, where she hoisted the tricolour and presented awards to several Delhi government officials.
In her budget speech, the CM had announced ₹100 crore for 100 Atal canteens, where meals would be offered at ₹5.
Recalling the promise made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi that “every slum dweller in Delhi will get a house”, Ms. Gupta said the government won’t just provide houses to poor people, it will give them the right to live with dignity. “I will ensure security for my sisters and a better future for their children,” she said.
Students performing at the Independence Day event organised in Chhatrasal Stadium.
| Photo Credit:
SUSHIL KUMAR VERMA
The CM said her government is working towards making Delhi’s infrastructure the best in the country. “As soon as we formed the government, we started working on waterlogging and potholes. Today, water gets drained from the roads much faster,” she said.
Ms. Gupta added that the government will free the national capital of garbage, filth, corruption, red tape, and the “mindset of servitude”.
She accused the previous government of depriving Delhi’s residents of the benefits of Ayushman Bharat, the Central government’s flagship health insurance scheme, and said that she implemented the programme in the city on the very first day of taking the oath.
“So far, 4.5 lakh people have enrolled in the scheme and started receiving treatment. Under the Ayushman Vay Vandana Yojana (AVVY), 2.26 lakh senior citizens above 70 years of age have been provided free treatment of up to ₹10 lakh,” said the first-time MLA from Shalimar Bagh. AVVY allows those aged 70 and above to avail of free secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation of up to ₹10 lakh. Currently, around 100 hospitals in the Capital are registered under the scheme.
She said that to strengthen the healthcare infrastructure, the government has set itself the target of setting up 1,100 Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, of which work on 166 has been completed so far.
Expansion of hospitals
Later this month, work on five major hospitals will start, through which Delhi will get 1,300 new beds, new outpatient departments, and state-of-the-art medical equipment, the CM said.
Ms. Gupta also paid tribute to freedom fighters and hailed the armed forces for their role in Operation Sindoor.
Later, she interacted with the children and personnel from Delhi police and Delhi Fire Services.
Published – August 16, 2025 01:18 am IST
