Pranav Jain: His contributions as an integral part of the Aam Aadmi Party

Pranav Jain, a Computer Science major and Economics minor graduate is a long time supporter of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). He participated in activism and election campaigns since his college days. Along with other commitments, Pranav is working on election machinery of the AAP and strengthening the party at booth level. The machinery will help to run the election campaign smoothly from top to bottom. He is also shaping party campaigns and converting general public to be valuable AAP voters. Interest in policy and economics, encouraged him to join Jan Lokpal movement. Pranav, who was skeptical about public movement was inspired by the only ideology of AAP which is the welfare of the man on the street. Pranav started working with Dy. CM Manish Sisodia on administrative reforms, information technology, skill education and then worked closely with CM Arvind Kejriwal on the issues of environmental sustainability including air pollution, solid waste management, unauthorized construction and urban development in Delhi; water issues and public healthcare.

Pranav was a member of mohalla clinic project team along with former health secretary Dr. Tarun Seem. Dr. Seem was one of the member who conceptualized mohalla clinic. He is also facing FIR registered by CBI. The case was registered in 2014 when doctors at LNJP hospital were attacked by hired goons and went on strike demanding more security. Followed by demand, health department wrote a proposal to hire a security firm via tendering process. Later CBI found that security firm was not needed and more than required money was given to the security firm which lead to registration of FIR at the time. The case was popular during the time but its progress or results are unknown. Similar incident is also in making with IAS association, cases are being filed against each other and debate on needed issues is avoided. Some of the IAS officers facing the culture of fear might be facing risks of transfer or denting their careers, but this scenario is delaying the govt in reaching its goals.

The idea of mohalla clinic was conceptualized based on feedbacks received from practitioners from government hospitals. The situation was very bad as they were dealing with more than 10x the number of patients in a day where 90% of them were OPD patients. These hospitals with limited infrastructure and doctors were designated for tertiary tier treatments such as surgeries and other speciality healthcare, not meant to serve OPD patients. So the idea of mohalla clinic was conceptualized to provide OPD services at community level. It was proposed to build small community clinics for every 10,000 citizens in an area, where patients from nearby areas can get prescriptions for small problems like flu, cold, stomach ache etc. Qualified doctors working in clinics are making the bond with local communities by providing consultations and prescriptions. Later government also provided free medicines and some basic blood tests performed at these clinics.

Left to right: 1. Spatial distribution of first 103 Mohalla Clinics across Delhi 2. Doctor at checking patients in Mohalla Clinic equipped with medicine vending machine 3. Consultation and medicines received at Mohalla Clinic 4. Doctor creating patient profile using tablet in Mohalla Clinic 

Health and Education reforms done by AAP government are widely discussed in India as well as abroad. Residents of Delhi are recognizing the work done by AAP govt. Policies are tailored towards providing fundamental necessities of the city. Apart from health and education reforms, AAP is also working on water and sanitary issues and leaving its impact in the lives of Delhi citizens. 

1. Water Line Mapping: Delhi doesn’t have water shortage, but an existing problem of water loss. Lots of water is lost in leakage. A water audit of entire network of Delhi was ordered after Arvind Kejriwal became water minister, and every pipeline and opening are going to be mapped in next 6 months. This mapping will help in finding water storage and leakage. The map and data will be for better water management and its routing based on shortage in a specific area or areas at higher elevation.
2. 300 out of 1600 unauthorized colonies of Delhi have water pipeline and receiving water at regular intervals.
3. Sewage Treatment Plants: 1000 sewage treatment plants are being built in a  decentralized manner in local communities. The plants will treat sewage locally and will be functional in one year. These decentralized sewage plants will be under community ownership.
4. Community Toilets: Delhi Shelter and Urban Development Board is doing good work in Delhi. Along with night shelters, around 15000 community toilets have been built in different parts of Delhi. These free community toilets also have facilities for taking bath and washing clothes. People with lack of washing facility used to wash clothes on the roadside which lead to erosion due to water flow. Erosion has been reduced after the introduction of washing areas in the premises of community toilets.
5. Public Works Department (PWD) has executed many infrastructural projects within the limits of the allocated budget.

Left to right 1. Sewer lines inauguration in Roshan Garden and Dharmpura group of colonies 2. DJB installing flowmeter at Deer Park 3. DJB repairing heavy leakage at Lodhi Road  4. Sewage line inauguration in Wazirabad  

Pranav also helped Vidhan Sabha secretary in drafting citizen charter bill. The bill gives rights to citizen for various services; if a citizen doesn’t receive a public service, he/she can go to a government office and get a refund and/or penalty. Time bound service was introduced where if responsible official has failed to provide service within the given period of time, refund/penalty will be deducted from officer’s salary periodically in small amounts. Along with many other bills, this bill is still waiting to be passed by the MHA department. Other popular pending bills are Jan Lokpal and Swaraj bills.

Everyday is full of challenges and one has to keep their expenses to a minimum if they want to survive on a limited paycheck. Pranav who is working full time could have joined any software firm after graduating and possibly would be heading in a different direction. But he continued with something which felt right to him. He is chasing his dreams with the support from his family and friends. Pranav also believe that the world is full of opportunities, one just need to take the first step. He writes for different websites and advise civil society think tanks. So hey, if you come across any article from Pranav and liked or disliked it, support Pranav which might help to make his resolution stronger and make him more determined. If you are working on anything or want to bring a change in your society; continue working and give it your best, you will be heard.

Read more stories of AAP Volunteers.