DILLI KI AWAAZ PEOPLE’S MANIFESTO 2025

"DILLI  KI  AWAAZ PEOPLE'S MANIFESTO 2025" : TOWARDS AN INCLUSIVE, SUSTAINABLE, AND RESILIENT FUTURE!

Released at a Press Conference in the Press Club of India, New Delhi. 

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This reflects the aspirations of those often excluded from policymaking, including working-class communities, informal workers, youth, women, children, LGBTQIA++ individuals, and climate activists. It addresses critical issues like affordable housing, sustainable infrastructure and environmental challenges such as air pollution, climate crisis, extreme heat, water scarcity and urban flooding. The manifesto prioritizes livelihoods for informal workers, housing, transport, waste management, and universal access to clean water, sanitation, healthcare, and education. We are in the process of giving this manifesto document to all political parties contesting elections in Delhi," stated Soumya Dutta, a senior member of the National Alliance of People's Movement.

"Air pollution in Delhi is at crisis levels, causing respiratory diseases, heart conditions, and premature deaths, especially among children, the elderly, and vulnerable communities. The People's Manifesto 2025 calls for a transition to cleaner fuels, phasing out private diesel vehicles, ending diesel subsidies, imposing a moratorium on new waste-to-energy plants and phasing out existing waste incineration plants in a time-bound manner due to their high toxic emissions," said Neelam Ahluwalia, People for Aravallis group.

"For effective waste management, the manifesto calls for enforcing Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016 focusing on decentralized segregation, collection, and processing of waste. It also advocates establishing ward-level recycling centres managed by waste picker cooperatives, recognizing informal waste workers with ID cards, safety equipment, and health checks," stated Azim, a waste picker associated with Delhi Round Table and Lokadhikar.

"To safeguard incomes of marginalized workers during heatwaves, pollution days, and climate disasters, the manifesto demands compensation plans for lost workdays, mapping of high-risk work areas, and integrating heatwave action plans with health and medical systems," said Aravind Unni, urban researcher and practitioner.

The People's Manifesto 2025 also calls for halting forced evictions and prioritizing in-situ rehabilitation with secure tenure and freehold rights for slum residents. 

"A ward-wise census of the homeless is essential to address vulnerabilities based on age, gender, disability, and family status," stated Meenakshi of Humse Hai Dilli.

"Central to the 'Dilli Ki Awaaz' campaign is the commitment that citizens will continue to engage with our elected leaders even after the elections in the spirit of participatory governance to ensure that Delhi's development reflects the voices of its people. At the moment there are no measures to ensure participation of youth in the city. There is not even a youth policy at the state level," said Vijay Sehrawat, Youth for Climate India.

"It is crucial to expand Delhi's bus fleet to 12,000 electric and CNG buses by 2025-26 and provide free or subsidized fares for marginalized groups, including women, children, the elderly, and persons with disabilities. The manifesto also proposes reintroducing the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system, expanding last-mile connectivity with feeder buses, shared auto-rickshaws, and bike-sharing systems, while promoting car-free zones to reduce congestion," stated Vaishali from Greenpeace India.

"Implement the Street Vendors Act, 2014, by completing the partial and incomplete survey to correct the certification of vending issued, ensuring designated vending zones, fair representation in Town Vending Committees, and protection from harassment. Provide shaded kiosks, sanitation and secure storage facilities. Offer financial assistance, training in hygiene and digital payments, and partnerships for broader market access. Strengthen grievance redressal mechanisms and support women entrepreneurs with dedicated spaces," mentioned Anil Bakshi, Street Vendors Leader.

"Grant legal recognition to domestic workers, ensure minimum wages and extend social security benefits like health insurance and pensions. Establish formal agreements for accountability, helplines for redressal and skill development programs. Promote union formation and subsidized childcare facilities. Conduct inspections to improve working conditions and provide affordable housing options," stated Jaya, Delhi Gharelu Kamgar Sanghtan (DKGS).

"Recognize gig workers as formal laborers with defined rights. Ensure minimum wages, transparent algorithms and social security benefits. Develop grievance mechanisms and access to financial services. Provide mental health support, training for skill diversification, and promote collective bargaining. Introduce portable benefits to enhance stability and fair treatment," said Md Mukhtar Alam, Gig Workers Association (GIGWA).

"Improve Delhi's green cover by planting native and locally useful species to replace exotic invasive species like 'Vilayati kikar' etc, which have spread all across, create urban forests in underserved areas to improve biodiversity and reduce urban heat build-up, restore and protect all forests, wetlands, lakes, and water bodies to enhance natural ecosystems, reduce flooding and promote groundwater recharge and declare the Yamuna floodplain as a no-development zone," stated Tannuja Chauhan from Save Dwarka Forest group.

The People's Manifesto 2025 is a collective vision for a more inclusive, sustainable, and equitable Delhi, capturing the aspirations of diverse communities. Framed as both a blueprint for policy change and a call to action, the manifesto underscored the necessity of collaboration among citizens, policymakers, and stakeholders to transform Delhi into a more just and equitable city.

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