Arvind Kejriwal is an Indian politician and social activist who is the current Chief Minister of Delhi, India's capital city. He was born on August 16, 1968, in Siwani, Haryana, India. Kejriwal is known for his role in social activism, particularly in the areas of corruption and transparency in governance. In this article, we will delve into his background, career, and achievements.
Background and Early Life:
Kejriwal was born into a middle-class family in Siwani, a small town in Haryana. His father, Gobind Ram Kejriwal, was an electrical engineer, and his mother, Gita Devi, was a housewife. Kejriwal grew up in a joint family with his parents, three siblings, and his grandparents.
Kejriwal completed his schooling from Campus School, Hisar, and then went on to pursue a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur. After completing his degree, he joined Tata Steel in Jamshedpur, where he worked for a few years before quitting to prepare for the Civil Services Examination.
Career:
Kejriwal's first foray into social activism was during his college days when he became involved in the Narmada Bachao Andolan, a movement to save the Narmada River from being dammed. After quitting his job at Tata Steel, he joined the Indian Revenue Service (IRS) in 1995 and served in various capacities until 2006.
In 2006, Kejriwal took a sabbatical from his job to work on a project called Parivartan, which aimed to improve the living conditions of the people in the slums of Delhi. The success of this project inspired him to quit his job in the IRS and focus on social activism full-time.
In 2011, Kejriwal and Anna Hazare launched a nationwide anti-corruption movement called India Against Corruption (IAC). The movement gained momentum and led to the enactment of the Lokpal and Lokayukta Act in 2013. The same year, Kejriwal formed the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which aimed to provide a clean and transparent alternative to mainstream political parties.
Kejriwal contested the Delhi Assembly elections in 2013 and led the AAP to a stunning victory, winning 28 out of 70 seats. He became the Chief Minister of Delhi, but his first stint in office was short-lived as he resigned after 49 days due to a lack of support from other political parties.
In the 2015 Delhi Assembly elections, Kejriwal led the AAP to a landslide victory, winning 67 out of 70 seats. He was once again sworn in as the Chief Minister of Delhi and has held the position since then.
Achievements:
Kejriwal's tenure as the Chief Minister of Delhi has been marked by a number of achievements. One of his first initiatives was to introduce the Delhi Jan Lokpal Bill, which aimed to create an anti-corruption ombudsman in the national capital. The bill was passed by the Delhi Assembly in 2015 but was later struck down by the central government.
Kejriwal's government has also launched several schemes aimed at improving the living conditions of the people of Delhi. These include the Mohalla Clinics, which provide free healthcare services to the people, and the Delhi Jal Board's scheme to provide free water to households with a metered connection.
Under Kejriwal's leadership, the Delhi government has also taken steps to reduce air pollution in the city. These include the Odd-Even scheme, which restricts the use of private vehicles on alternate days based on their license plate numbers.
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