L-G Anil Baijal Approves AAP Government's 'Doorstep Delivery' Scheme

New Delhi: Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal on Monday approved the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government's 'doorstep delivery' scheme, which aims to ensure home delivery of 40 government services to residents of the national capital. The move had hit a roadblock last month when the L-G had sent a note to the Delhi Government with a list of objections, which had sparked a war of words between the L-G and Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia. With the L-G's nod on Monday, the scheme looks to move full steam ahead. But what is the 'doorstep delivery' scheme all about?

"Hon'ble Lt. Governor, Delhi Sh. Anil Baijal has approved the Cabinet decision pertaining to "Door Step delivery of public services" as Hon'ble Chief Minister assured that the government will simultaneously work to plug the gaps in the digital delivery of services from the 'application' to the 'delivery' stage in the present system of providing services 'on-line' by enabling young entrepreneurs to come up with 'internet kiosks' with adequate safeguards, from where the services can be accessed. Hon'ble CM also assured that a suitable financial model will also be worked out to provide soft loan, if needed, to the educated unemployed to set up these 'kiosks'," a statement from Raj Niwas on Monday read.

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, in a tweet, thanked the L-G for approving the scheme. "Hon'ble .@LtGovDelhi approves Delhi govt's scheme for "Doorstep delivery of services". All citizens of Delhi are grateful to u sir. Thank u," Kejriwal tweeted on Monday.

According to the Delhi government, over 25 lakh transactions take place annually for the 40 services in question. On average, each person has to visit a government office at least four times to get their work done. Delhi government's scheme aims to relieve citizens of this commute by offering them doorstep delivery of such services.

Deputy CM Manish Sisodia, in a press conference last month, had said citizens can now call a Delhi government call center, after which a 'Mobile Sahayak' will come to their house. "Under our doorstep delivery system, all people have to do is place a phone call. Someone from Delhi Government will come to your house and help you with all your paperwork. You don't even have to fill a form yourself," Sisodia had said.

He added that the 'Mobile Sahayak' would ask the concerned resident for the time best suited to them and schedule his visit accordingly. A nominal fee would be charged and immediately after the visit, the resident will receive a feedback phone call that will confirm whether the Mobile Sahayak has charged them the correct amount or not.