Not a single slum will be demolished: Sood

Marking 100 days in office, Delhi Minister for Home, Power, Education and Urban Development Ashish Sood on Wednesday presented a detailed account of the BJP-led Delhi Government’s achievements, stressing its commitment to “Antyodaya” — uplifting the poorest.

Advertisement

Speaking at a press conference, Sood said, “These 100 days prove that with service, commitment and dedication, transformation is possible.”

Among the key highlights was the allocation of Rs 700 crore to the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB), a record budget aimed at improving living conditions in the city’s slums.

Sood reiterated that “not a single slum will be demolished,” asserting the government’s intent to provide roads, electricity, toilets and water in all jhuggi clusters.

In the education sector, the government is establishing 75 CM Shri Schools with AI-based learning, robotics labs, digital classrooms and foreign language training. A Rs 100 crore budget has been set aside for the initiative. Additionally, Rs 275 crore has been released as the first installment of grant-in-aid to 12 Delhi University colleges and other state universities.

To enhance transparency in private school operations, the government introduced the Delhi School Education Transparency Bill. It aims to curb forced purchases of uniforms and books and restrict fee hike.

Sood said the government had also resumed disbursal of pending scholarships worth Rs 19 crore for technical students from families earning less than Rs 3 lakh annually. Online coaching for NEET and CUET aspirants has also been launched in collaboration with the MSTC and platforms like Physics Wallah.

On the power front, Sood cited data showing a decline in power cuts over the past five years, with 2025 recording the lowest number of interruptions (1,946 instances between February and May). He also announced an increase in the solar subsidy under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana — from Rs 6,000 to Rs 30,000.

The government has also made forensic investigation mandatory in certain cases and is setting up mobile forensic labs. Plans are underway to induct 100 new fire tenders for congested urban areas.

Touching on the controversy surrounding fee hike at Delhi Public School, Sood accused the previous AAP government of shielding fee mafias and alleged political interference in the issue.

Framing the 100-day report as a foundation for deeper transformation, Sood concluded that the government would continue working for the underprivileged, guided by the principles of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya and under the leadership of CM Rekha Gupta and PM Narendra Modi.