Kejriwal to kick-start public consultation for budget on April 19

NEW DELHI: To involve the common man in the preparation of the Delhi budget, chief minister Arvind Kejriwal will kickstart the public consultation process at a meeting in Patparganj constituency on April 19, which will be followed by 11 more such gatherings.

The AAP government will hold public meetings in 12 places to seek the people’s opinion for the city’s budget.

Earlier, the government had decided to start public consultation on April 12 but it was shifted to next week as the chief minister will hold a public rally in Karawal Nagar on Sunday to discuss the issue of unauthorised construction.

“The idea is to cover all 70 constituencies during the fiveyear tenure. This time we have chosen 12 constituencies where public meetings will be held and locals will come up with their issues. The chief minister will start the public meeting from deputy chief minister Manish Sidosia’s Patparganj constituency,” a senior government official said.

The AAP government has decided to sought public opinion for the budget preparation to decentralise decision making.

“Delhi has been divided in 12 constituencies and Rs 20 crore will be allotted to each. These constituencies will be further divided into 40 parts so each gets Rs50 lakh. People can raise their local issues and at the end of the day, voting will be done. Issue which gets maximum votes will be done on priority,” the official said.

Meeting of voters in will be held on April 19, 26 and May 3. The entire proceeding of public meeting will be recorded in the camera, the official said.

The government will put up advertisements seeking suggestions on the upcoming budget in the first week of June and those presentations selected from the suggestions received would be put before the cabinet for consideration between May 11 and May 20. PTI