New Delhi, August 31
Delhi may have climbed in terms of overall quality of life, but the concerns over ensuring a safe environment for women and vulnerable groups, tackling the depleting groundwater and sluggish implementation of the Yamuna Action Plan among others still remain.

These were some of the significant findings of the second Human Development Report for Delhi titled "Improving Lives, Promoting Inclusion" released by Vice President Hamid Ansari here in the Capital today.

The report, based on a survey of about 8,000 households conducted by the Institute of Human Development, highlights people's perceptions about Delhi and what it offers to its citizens.

Even as the report paints a happy picture of Delhi's life, it reveals that the prevalence of a high degree of informalisation of employment has increased the vulnerability of a majority of workers, resulting in poor working conditions. Delhi lags behind other metros in respect of childhood mortality while two-thirds among the respondents view safety in Delhi a big issue.

However, citizens of Delhi are satisfied with the quality of life they lead, as assessed on the basis of critical indicators like employment, education and healthcare as well as personal attributes. Even among the lower income group, 64 pc of the households and a huge proportion of the respondents, 90 pc were found to be satisfied with their children's education and their satisfaction increased with the rising level of income.

The report says that in the city access to most of the basic services and means of transport have also considerably improved. The people surveyed gave a thumps up to living in Delhi, expressing their satisfaction about most aspects of a life in the city. Delhi now has near-universal electrification and poverty levels have been reduced substantially in recent years.

The city's per capita income grew at about 7 pc per annum, enabling it to become the richest state in the country. The sustained growth in per capita income resulted in reduction in poverty from 13 pc in 2004-05 to 9.9 pc in 2011-12. The tightening of labour market has contributed to the lowering of poverty.

On the occasion, the Chief Minister stated that the report will be instrumental in guiding social measures in Delhi in the years to come.

"Delhi ranked second in terms of Human Development index in 2011. The city-state is highly placed vis-a-vis other states in India in terms of the indicators involving per capita income and education," she added.

New Delhi, August 31
The state BJP today slammed the Delhi Government for turning a blind eye to the problems of more than 10 lakh workers of the unorganised sectors in the national Capital. The government has pushed a huge mass of such workers to the margins of socio-economic development in the past 15 years.

Launching the "Majdoor-Mitrata Abhiyan", organised under the leadership of Delhi Pradesh Unorganised Workers' Morcha president Anand Sahu, Delhi BJP president Vijay Goel said, "The government has been insensitive to the issues and problems of these workers. It has not made any effort to uplift the living conditions of the workers, the vast majority of whom are bereft of adequate housing, access to basic civic amenities, quality education, good health facilities and requisite financial support."

"The unorganised workers are crucial to Delhi's economy. All the households situated in the city benefit from the services that they offer, like selling of vegetables, newspapers, ice-cream, household items, drinks and eatables either on hand carts or at some fixed places. But, these workers, who sustain the daily life of the city, face multitude problems themselves and the government continues to be unsympathetic to them," he added.

The minimum wages of the these workers should be increased as the last revision done by the government was inadequate to meet the needs of the household in the wake of unabated rise in prices of all essential commodities.

"The monthly minimum wages of the unskilled workers has been fixed at Rs 7,722 while per day wage has been fixed at Rs 279. Both need to be revised upward to accommodate unabated inflation," said Goel.

Delhi has the presence of, at least, 10 lakh such workers. Out of the total persons employed, 47.86 per cent were working owners, 47.03 per cent hired workers and the rest of 5.11 per cent fall in the category of other workers which includes un-paid house hold workers, helpers, etc. Out of the total workforce in the unorganized sector, 15.50 per cent are women.

Anand Sahu, Unorganised Wokrres' Morcha president, said, "There is urgent need to provide medical insurance, education, healthcare and pension for the families of these workers.

New Delhi, August 31
Following a Delhi Court order regarding the filing of an FIR against Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit under the Prevention of Corruption Act, the Delhi BJP today said she must step down immediately while announcing that it will hold a cycle rally for her ouster.

The Special Court's order came in a case of misuse of public fund of nearly Rs 22 crore from the state exchequer for political campaign in the run-up to the 2008 assembly polls filed by former Delhi BJP president Vijender Gupta. Dikshit was also the minister in charge of information and publicity at that time.

"The BJP stand has been vindicated by this court order today. Dikshit has lost moral right to continue.," Delhi BJP president Vijay Goel said. 

New Delhi, August 31
Two minor girls, including the daughter of an inspector in the East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC), have been rescued from Faridabad after they went missing from Pandav Nagar, east Delhi, yesterday.

The police said they had lost their way while visiting a maternal uncle in Faridabad.

Yesterday, EDMC inspector Vijay Kumar informed the police that his 11-year-old daughter Asha had left home with her classmate Pooja, but they did not return.

"The girls had left home about 4.30 pm to get some items from a nearby market for school practical work," said Deputy Commissioner of Police (East) Ajay Kumar.

Vijay suspected that they had been kidnapped. On his complaint, a case of kidnapping was registered at the Pandav Nagar police station.

During investigation, the police were told that Pooja was carrying a mobile phone.

They used technical surveillance methods and traced its location to Bata Chowk in Faridabad.

"Immediately, a wireless message was flashed to the Faridabad Police Control Room. A Delhi Police team, along with the parents of the two girls, left for Faridabad," Kumar added.

The police were repeatedly dialling Pooja's mobile phone.

The girl received one of the calls and informed the police that she and Asha were standing near Hyundai Showroom in Bata Chowk.

The police post in charge of Faridabad Sector 11 was contacted. He reached the spot and found the girls.

Soon, the Delhi Police reached the spot and handed over the girls to their parents.

During questioning, Asha replied that her maternal uncle Bijender lives in Old Faridabad Sector 21. Since Saturday and Sunday were holidays, she wanted to stay with him. Therefore, she and her friend took an autorickshaw from Samaspur for New Delhi railway station and further took a train to Old Faridabad.

"But they alighted at New Faridabad and lost their way," Kumar added.

The girls have been produced in a court for recording their statements under Section 164, CrPC. As no involvement of any gang is found, the kidnapping case will be cancelled, said a police official.