Bedi’s governance gems were minted at her two NGOs

The India Vision Foundation (IVF) works with children of prisoners, focussing on their reform and rehabilitation. Since 1994, it has engaged with 200 children whose parents are lodged in Tihar and Gurgaon jails, and has now expanded its area of focus to Dasna and Faridabad jails.

Much of the priorities Bedi has listed so far, including the 6P and 6S formulae, have been included in the mottos of her NGOs. Even the issues she has been stressing on — women’s security and cleanliness — have been areas of operation introduced in the last three years in the two NGOs, staff members said.

“All her ideas have proved successful in our areas. They can be a success when expanded to the state level,” Neetu Sharma Joshi, executive director of the Navjyoti India Foundation, said. “Navjyoti’s 3S model — shiksha, sanskar and skills — are included in 6S (sakshar, swasth, sakshum, surakshit, sanskari and sabki Delhi),” she said.

The 6Ps on women’s security have been implemented as part of teacher sensitisation programmes and family counselling units being run by Navjyoti in Bawana.

In September last year, the NGO began advocating the cause of Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. Around 62 children went to door-to-door to promote the campaign. “We distributed dustbins in Tihar Jail and sensitised prisoners on the initiative. In Bawana, where most children the NGO is working with live, we engaged the youth to visit houses in the community and spread awareness,” Monica Dhawan, organising secretary of IVF said.

Days after Bedi was declared the CM candidate, the NGOs was abuzz with activity. Several young people enrolled in the training programmes such as stitching, makeup and automobile repair.

Her decision to contest from Krishna Nagar invited a few tongue-in-cheek comments. “Maybe we clean up the area, like we did in other areas, before madam begins her campaign,” a staff member joked.

However, the NGO’s maintained that the organisation functions independently. “We are excited about Dr Bedi’s decision to join politics but we will not participate in the election campaign. We will remain apolitical,” Joshi said.