The Hindu : New Delhi News : “No dearth of funds for promoting sports”

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“No dearth of funds for promoting sports”

Staff Reporter

Govt. to provide world class training to budding sportsmen ahead of the Games: Sheila

- Photo: Sushil Kumar Verma

Celebration time: Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit taking the salute during the 62nd Independence Day celebrations at Chhatrasal Stadium in New Delhi on Friday.

NEW DELHI: Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit on Friday stated that the Delhi Government would provide world-class training to its students and budding sportspersons ahead of the Commonwealth Games in 2010 so that they win the maximum number of medals in the event.

Affirming that there would be no dearth of funds for promoting sports, Ms. Dikshit, who was speaking after unfurling the National Flag at the State-level Independence Day function at Chhatrasal Stadium here, also congratulated shooter Abhinav Bindra on winning the first individual gold in the Olympics.

Ms. Dikshit, who also became the first Delhi Chief Minister to unfurl the Tricolour at the function for 10 consecutive years, expressed confidence that the feat of Abhinav Bindra would inspire many more to endeavour hard for excellence.

The Chief Minister also honoured 212 meritorious students, including 123 girls, of government schools who had scored 90 per cent and above marks in their CBSE examinations. Of these, 44 were of Class XII and 178 of Class X. Ms. Dikshit said it was a matter of pride that the government schools of Delhi were today performing better than even the public schools. She said this was because through the Education Department, her Government had taken certain initiatives that have brought a sea change in education scenario.

Ms. Dikshit, who inspected the parade and took the salute, also honoured Manoj Vats, a mountaineer of Indian Navy, who was included in the expedition to North and South Pole. She presented him with a cash prize, a memento and a citation. The Chief Minister also awarded medals to four best National Cadet Corps cadets.

The Chief Minister also used the opportunity to state that the Indo-US nuclear deal would go a long way in providing adequate nuclear power and making the country move ahead of the super powers. “It would also accelerate pace of development and progress,” she asserted.

Ms. Dikshit also spoke about various initiatives taken by the Delhi Government to improve the lives of the people.

She said “Ladli” girl child scholarship scheme, “Mamta” and “Asha” health schemes would all improve the lot of women in Delhi, which has also been providing highest pension in the country to the aged, handicapped and widows.

In all, she said, 42 welfare schemes were being implemented by nine departments involving an amount of Rs.650 crores per annum.

Insisting that her Government wanted to make Delhi a slum-free city, Ms. Dikshit said the Rajiv Ratan Awas Yojana would soon provide 10,000 flats to slum dwellers and urban poor at highly subsidised rates.

She said it would also help fulfil the goal of “housing for all’.

On the issue of regularisation of 1,639 unauthorised colonies, she said the process is on the cards and all formalities have been. Noting that regularisation would dispel all fears of demolition and other strict action, Ms. Dikshit said it would also change the housing scenario in Delhi and usher in an an era of planned development.

The Chief Minister also declared that an action plan has been finalised to provide a reliable, fast, comfortable, affordable and modern public transport system.

Besides, working on the expansion of Delhi Metro, she said the Government has decided to add 6,000 new low-floor buses in DTC fleet of which 25 per cent or 1,500 would be air-conditioned red buses. “These are really being liked by even the common man,” she said.

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