New Delhi, Apr 24 (PTI) The Indian Youth Congress on Friday launched a ‘Behtar Delhi’ campaign to highlight a range of urban issues, including pollution and garbage management.
At a press conference here, party leaders said the initiative, which begins in Delhi, would eventually be expanded to cities across the country as part of a broader push to foreground urban concerns in political discourse.
Launching the campaign, AICC treasurer Ajay Maken said, “Indian Youth Congress has initiated a comprehensive program aimed at resolving the difficulties faced by people in urban areas across the entire country. Today, people in urban areas face a multitude of problems; however, it is unfortunate that these issues often remain absent from political discourse, and they do not receive the level of attention they truly deserve.” He added that the campaign would function as a “comprehensive mass movement” focused on issue-based politics, with party workers engaging directly with citizens to gather suggestions and work towards “practical solutions”.
Youth Congress national president Uday Bhanu Chib said the initiative would specifically target the everyday struggles of urban residents.
He said the organisation would also continue to engage with gig workers and push for legislation to support them.
Announcing a conference in Delhi next month, he said, “Through this initiative we will demand that the government introduce specific legislation to provide much-needed relief to these workers.” Chib described the campaign as a city-focused effort to address pollution and civic challenges.
“This campaign is dedicated to the residents of Delhi, particularly the children who grappled with the severe issue of pollution, a crisis that the government has completely neglected,” he said.
He alleged that Delhi, once known for its green cover, was now being referred to as a “pollution capital” and a “gas chamber”, blaming both the BJP and the erstwhile AAP government for the situation.
Highlighting seasonal challenges, he said, “During the summer months, there is an acute scarcity of potable water. During the monsoon season, Delhi’s streets become inundated with floodwaters. In the winter months, the city is choked by pollution,” adding that the Youth Congress would “engage them in dialogue, and wage a determined struggle against the government”.
The campaign’s demands include the removal of garbage dumps, tackling waterlogging, ensuring a 24-hour clean water supply, improving school safety with CCTV cameras, curbing pollution, relocating industrial units outside the city, and making the MCD’s financial accounts public.
Delhi Congress chief Devender Yadav said the initiative comes at a time when the capital is grappling with multiple civic issues.
“Delhi that once scaled magnificent heights of progress, today faces a reality where its dire condition is evident to all,” he said, pointing to garbage accumulation, pollution, waterlogging and power cuts.
He also flagged the emergence of new garbage dumps in areas such as Kirari, Bawana and Narela, alleging that authorities had failed to address waste management despite repeated assurances.
A poster for the campaign and a missed-call number (9811867474) were also launched to enable public participation, party leaders said, adding that the initiative would rely on citizen engagement to shape its agenda. PTI VBH VBH APL APL
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