STATES

DELHI

New Year Gift For Women and Elder

NEW DELHI : The New Year brought a gift for the senior citizens, women and girl child of Delhi. The Sheila Dikshit Government has launched ‘Smart Cards’ for senior citizens giving them a sense of respect and dignity. Through Stree Shakti, the aim would be to give best of medical facilities and lure back the girl child to schools.

Beginning January 1, Stree Shakti scheme has been launched covering women, irrespective of the economic status, in the city. The campaign aim at better health care but also encourage women especially the girl child into joining the literacy march. Stating that this was a New Year’s gift to the women of Delhi, the Chief Minister, Mrs. Sheila Dikshit, said on 25 December the idea is to keep up the momentum and cater to the welfare of women and the girl child. An integrated approach of the Social Welfare, Education and Health Departments would be ensured to make this concept successful.

Special cells would be created in all the government hospitals which would be designated as Stree Shakti cells.

As for the senior citizens, any person above 65 years of age would be given this Smart Card. The Smart Card is expected to cost Rs. 15 to Rs. 20 per card. After being issued the Smart Card, senior citizens would get preference in reservations in public transport system. They would be entitled to jump the queue and deposit the telephone, power, water bills and other such activities by flashing their Smart Card.

Rajiv Gandhi Sports Festival Organised

Congress president Sonia Gandhi honouring former Sports Authority of India DG Maj Gen. Narinder Singh and world judo champion Umesh Kumar at the 10th All India Rajiv Gandhi Sports Festival in New Delhi

NEW DELHI : The 10th All India Rajiv Gandhi Sports Festival was organised by the Sports Association of India here in January. Thousands of athletes from schools and colleges of Delhi participated in the sports festival which was held at various stadia of the Capital where Karate, Taekwando, darts, aerobics, arm-wrestling and judo competitions were held.

The Congress president, Mrs. Sonia Gandhi, gave away the prizes. Smt. Sonia Gandhi also honoured former Director General of Sports Authority of India and president of the Sports Association of India, Maj. General Narinder Singh and former world judo champion, Mr. Umesh Kumar.

The Chairman of AICC Freedom Fighters Cell, Mr. Shashi Bhushan, released the following statement to the press on 30 January, 2002 :

On the 54th anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi’s martyrdom, the AICC Freedom Fighters Cell organized an exhibition at the AICC office, 24 Akbar Road. On display were postage stamps on the Mahatma and portraits of Freedom Fighters who laid down their lives for the country. As many as 85 countries brought out stamps on Gandhiji - a world record followed by Einstein with 70 countries.

The exhibition was inaugurated by Shri Motilal Vora, Treasurer AICC. Present on the occasion were Shri Oscar Fernandes, General Secretary AICC, and other AICC functionaries. Floral tributes were paid to the Father of the Nation. Throughout the day, Congress leaders and workers visited AICC to see the exhibition.

Congress Bags Top Posts

MANDYA : The Congress members, T.L. Purushotham and B.R. Indira, were elected unopposed as president and vice-president of the Mandya City Municipal Council respectively here on 6 January. The Congress has won 23 wards in the 35-member council. Mr. Dayashankar and Ms. Vijayalakshmi, were elected unopposed as president and vice-president of the Nagamangala Town Panchayat. Nagaraju and H.R. Varadaraju were elected president and vice-president of the Krishnarajpet Town Panchayat.

'BJP Not Serious on Delegation Tour'

Following is a statement issued by Dr. Manmohan Singh, Leader of Opposition, Rajya Sabha on behalf of the Congress Party, on January 10, 2002 :

The Congress is distressed at the cavalier manner in which the Government has gone about planning for all-party delegations to go abroad to explain India’s position on cross-border terrorism.

The Congress President has extended the Congress’s full support to the Government in this initiative. The least that was expected in return was consultations and dialogue with the leadership of the Congress Party about the composition of the delegations and the places to be visited. That has not happened despite assurances having been given to that effect and the Congress Party has had to read about the composition and itinerary of the delegations from newspapers. This indicates the non-seriousness of the BJP in dealing with vital national affairs and in sustaining a national consensus on crucial issues

Appointment

NEW DELHI : The former Union Minister and senior Congress leader, Shri Satpal Maharaj, was appointed as the secretary by the All India Congress Committee on 4 February.

Shri Satpal Maharaj was a Minister of State for Railways and is a Lok Sabha member from Uttranchal.