NEW DELHI: Taking forward his plan for systemic reforms and to cut down on unnecessary expenditure, chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday began a fresh round of review of departments, starting with the many schemes under those of urban development and welfare of SC/ST/OBC. The challenge thrown up by the CM to departments this time round is to justify their existence before him.

This is being seen as the first step by AAP to relieve government machinery of unnecessary burden. There are currently over 50 major departments, boards, commissions and corporations. A total of 2-3 departments will be reviewed by the CM, deputy CM and respective ministers every day.

Departments have been asked to give its history, schemes, projects and the number of people working there. “I will be accepting presentations from three departments everyday. There will be roughly 70-80 departments who will make presentations. In all of these, the department will have to come up with an explanation as to the purpose of its existence. It should tell me about the ongoing projects and schemes. There is a possibility that we will remove some of those projects and schemes. This process will go on till May 10,” the chief minister had said in his speech at the conference of Confederation of Indian Industries earlier this week.

After Thursday’s review, chief minister Kejriwal is learnt to have sought a separate review of the National Urban Livelihoods Mission as it’s critical to the government’s plans in order to generate employment opportunities.