Delhi govt in talks with NAFED to provide cheaper food

New Delhi, Jan 25 (UNI) Delhi government is in talks with NAFED to provide essential commodities to people at cheap prices, Delhi Chief Mininster Sheila Dikshit said here today.

''We are making efforts to provide food at cheaper rates than the market. We are also in talks with NAFED to provide such a service and the decision will be taken within few weeks,'' Ms Dikshit said at the State Republic Day 2010 function in Ambedkar stadium.

Speaking at the function, she played down her earlier remarks during an interview about people coming to Delhi from other states and asserted that Delhi is the capital of India and it belongs to all Indians.

''Anybody can come here. We welcome and are bound to make available all facilities for everyone coming from other states,'' she added.

The Delhi government had undertaken the task for organisingCommonwealth Games here and would fulfil its commitment with all Indians. ''I can say that work is going very swiftly. The Delhi, which we see today as a dug-out place, would be ofinternational standard soon,'' she observed.

The Chief Minister was confidence personified about the successful organisation of the CWG and said by October, Delhi would have 15-16 world-class sporting facilities ''which will also help oursportspersons in future to enhance their skills and perform at the highest level''.

In her address to Delhiites, Ms Dikshit said in 12 years of Congress rule in Delhi, several commendable works have been done by the government.

''The passing percentage of students in schools has risen to 90 per cent which was earlier between 40 and 50 per cent,''she added. ''Ladli scheme also fared good as it has helped in improving the education standards of girls in Delhi,'' she averred.

She further noted that there is a significant improvement in the girls-boys ratio in schools after Ladli. Last year, 1,004 girls over 1,000 boys applied for admission in schools in the capital.

Saying that around 5.5 lakh students were given scholarships last year, she said the government is planning to increase this number.

The government has specially focused on the educational infrastructure in Delhi as several schools, colleges and universities were opened in Delhi during the Congress regime, the Chief Minister stated.

Praising the health services available in Delhi, Ms Dikshit said, ''We have best health facilities in the country and around 35 per cent of the total patients in Delhi come from other states which shows the quality of service we provide.''

She also mentioned about her government's resolve to improve the basic amenities including water, electricity and transportation in Delhi as per the increasing needs of the people.

''As the water and electricity demands were increasing day-by-day, we have been continuously endeavouring to match the demands,'' she noted.

She added the green cover of the capital has registered a significant improvement despite the ongoing construction work all over and stands among world's best cities in terms of green cover.