New Delhi, 07 November (H.S.): Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has extended warm Diwali greetings to the people of the national capital, wishing them happiness, peace, prosperity and well-being. She said Diwali is not merely a festival of lamps and lights, but also a celebration of hope, faith, warmth and new resolutions. Associated with the worship of Goddess Lakshmi, the festival conveys a message of prosperity as well as service, cooperation and social responsibility.

The Chief Minister said Delhi is her family, and ensuring a better quality of life, a secure future and dignity for every member of this family remains the highest priority of her government. Inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of a developed India, the government is consistently working towards building a developed Delhi. She said its endeavour is to ensure that the benefits of development reach the last person in society and that Delhi emerges as one of the country's leading capitals, equipped with modern amenities, a clean environment, improved infrastructure and greater economic opportunities.

Gupta appealed to the people of Delhi to celebrate Diwali in an environmentally responsible and safe manner, using green firecrackers in accordance with prescribed standards. She encouraged residents to enhance the festive spirit through the traditional glow of earthen lamps, rangoli, sweets and social gatherings.

She said ensuring clean air is the government's responsibility, but citizens' participation is equally important in achieving this objective. To strengthen public transport in Delhi, metro expansion projects are being taken forward. The approval of three new metro corridor projects, spanning 16.076 km under Phase 5(A), is an important step in this direction.

Through the Delhi Electric Vehicle Policy 2026, the government is also encouraging clean and zero-emission transport. The Chief Minister said the government had surpassed its target of planting 70 lakh saplings this year. The next priority, she added, is to protect these saplings and nurture them into mature trees.

Gupta said her government's resolve is to transform Delhi into more than just the national capital by developing it into a modern, well-connected city with robust infrastructure and a better quality of life for its residents. She said connectivity is being improved through the expansion of public transport and modern traffic management systems.

Large-scale efforts are also underway to rejuvenate the Yamuna, modernise the sewerage network, ensure access to clean drinking water and address the problem of waterlogging, she added.

The Chief Minister said the festival of Goddess Lakshmi also conveys the message of economic prosperity and self-reliance. In keeping with this spirit, the Delhi Government is taking steps to economically empower women through the Delhi Lakshmi Yojana, under which eligible women are to receive financial assistance of Rs. 2,500 per month.

Similarly, the Delhi Lakhpati Beti Yojana seeks to ensure financial security for girls, from their birth through their education and higher studies.

Gupta emphasised that development does not merely mean undertaking large-scale infrastructure projects, but also bringing positive changes to the lives of every family. With this objective, the government has notified a new rehabilitation policy in keeping with the principle of 'Jahan Jhuggi, Wahan Makan' (homes where the slums are), aimed at providing eligible slum residents with dignified, permanent housing.

Facilities related to education, healthcare, roads, water supply, sewerage and public transport are also being continuously strengthened, she said.

The Chief Minister urged the people of Delhi to make love, harmony, cleanliness and environmental protection an integral part of their lives.

“Let us resolve this Diwali to work together towards building a Delhi where every household prospers, every daughter gets the opportunity to fulfil her dreams, every family enjoys a safe and dignified life, and future generations inherit a clean, beautiful and developed city,” she said.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar