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Sheila Dikshit’s 85th birth anniversary: Woman who modernized Delhi’s infrastructure | India News

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Today is 85ht birth anniversary of Sheila Dikshit, who is often referred to as the “architect of modern Delhi” because of her significant contributions to the development and transformation of the city during her tenure as Chief Minister of Delhi from 1998 to 2013.
Dikshit, born on March 31, 1938, was the longest-serving Chief Minister of Delhi, having held the post for 15 years. She played a crucial role in transforming Delhi into a modern city with improved infrastructure and services.
Some of her key achievements include:
Infrastructure development: Sheila Dikshit is credited with transforming Delhi’s infrastructure. She initiated several projects, such as the construction of the Delhi Metro, the construction of flyovers and underpasses to reduce traffic congestion, and the development of the Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway.
Focus on education and healthcare: Dikshit was also instrumental in improving the education and healthcare facilities in Delhi. She set up several new schools and colleges, and also worked towards improving the quality of education in existing institutions. Additionally, she established several new hospitals and upgraded existing ones to provide better healthcare facilities to the people of Delhi.
Women’s safety: Under her leadership, the Delhi government took several steps to improve women’s safety in the city, including setting up the Delhi Commission for Women, launching the “181” helpline for women in distress, and setting up the “Sakshi” centres for victims of domestic violence.
Green initiatives: Dikshit also focused on environmental sustainability and launched several green initiatives, such as the “Delhi Metro Green Drive” and the “Green Delhi Clean Delhi” campaign to promote clean and green living.
Overall, Sheila Dikshit’s tenure as Chief Minister of Delhi was marked by a focus on development, modernization, and improvement of public services. Her efforts transformed Delhi into a world-class city and made it a better place to live for its residents.
Here are some lesser-known facts about Sheila Dikshit:
Early life and education: Sheila Dikshit was born in Kapurthala, Punjab, in 1938. Her father was a prominent Indian National Congress leader, and her mother was the founder of the Women’s Indian Association. She completed her education from Delhi University, where she studied history and later pursued a master’s degree in philosophy.
Career before politics: Before entering politics, Sheila Dikshit worked as a school teacher and later served as the Chairperson of the Young Women’s Association in Delhi.
Love for Urdu poetry: Sheila Dikshit had a great love for Urdu poetry and was a keen admirer of the works of famous poets like Mirza Ghalib and Faiz Ahmed Faiz.
International recognition: She was honored with the “Legion of Honour” by the French government in 2013.
Passion for gardening: Sheila Dikshit was an avid gardener and had a keen interest in horticulture. She is said to have personally supervised the development of several parks and gardens in Delhi during her tenure as Chief Minister.
Contributions to social causes: Apart from her political career, Sheila Dikshit was also actively involved in several social causes, such as the empowerment of women, education, and healthcare. She was the founder of the NGO “Navjyoti India Foundation”, which works towards the rehabilitation of drug addicts and their families.
Health issues: In 2018, Sheila Dikshit underwent heart surgery at a hospital in Delhi, but she suffered a cardiac arrest and passed away on July 20, 2019, at the age of 81.


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