Satyendar Kumar Jain is a Cabinet Minister in the Government of Delhi and a politician from Aam Aadmi Party. He is one of the seven cabinet ministers in the Government of Delhi led by Arvind Kejriwal. His portfolio includes Health, Industries, Home, Public Work Department, Power, Urban Development, and Transport. He is currently in his second term as Delhi Health Minister, having previously served as Health and Industries Minister from 28 December 2013 to 14 February 2014 in the previous AAP Government. Jain is an architect by profession.
Jain began his foray into politics after becoming involved with Anna Hazare's movement against corruption. Prior to his involvement with politics Jain worked at the Central Public Works Department, later quitting the job to set up an architectural consultancy firm. Jain has also been involved in work with social welfare organizations; he has been involved with Drishti, an organization working to help the visually impaired and SPARSH, an organization dedicated to the empowerment and welfare of the physically and mentally challenged. He served as Health and Industries Minister in the first AAP Government from 28 December 2013 to 14 February 2014. He was re-elected from Shakur Basti Assembly Constituency in the recent Assembly elections and is presently serving as Minister of Health, Power, PWD, I&FC, Urban Development, Industries, and Home, Government of NCT of Delhi. Recently the Shunglu Committee report accused Jain of nepotism and procedural misconduct. CBI investigated his hiring of his daughter to help support AAP's healthcare initiative. AAP has called this harassment by CBI to derail development in the sector. CBI relented and closed the case as it discovered that his daughter worked for free and did not use any government resources. Jain won for the third time in a row from Shakur Basti Assembly with a margin of 7,592 votes. He is also said to be a close aide of Arvind Kejriwal.
Personal life
Jain lived with his family in Saraswati Vihar in North West Delhi, and now lives in a government bungalow in Civil lines. His father is a retired teacher who moved to Delhi after Jain's birth from his hometown Kirthal in Baghpat tehsil, in the state of Uttar Pradesh.
Other honours
Jain was conferred with the ‘People Who Inspire India Award 2019-20’ for Innovation in Health Care by DKODING.
Covid-19 pandemic
On June 17, 2020, Jain tested positive for COVID-19. On June 17, 2020, his father-in-law died after a brief illness. On June 18, 2020, all Jain's departments were temporarily taken over by the Dyt. C.M Manish Sisodia, citing his health issues as he himself was battling the COVID 19 virus. However, Jain retained the status of a minister without any department. Earlier, Jain travelled from one hospital to another and was keeping a close look on the circumstances and developments in the hospitals while treating COVID patients. On June 20, 2020 he was administered plasma therapy at the hospital in Saket, and on June 24 it was reported that his condition had improved considerably.
