*Education is the foundation of progress – India can become a developed nation only by providing quality education to every child; we have initiated this in Delhi: CM Atishi*
*Countries that prioritized education are now global leaders; under Arvind Kejriwal's guidance, we have made education our priority in Delhi: CM Atishi*
*Talent transcends wealth and poverty; If we don’t provide opportunities to children, their talent will be lost: CM Atishi*
*CM Atishi felicitates students and schools for excellence in education during the ‘Excellence in Education Awards 2024’ ceremony at Thyagaraj Stadium*
NEW DELHI-06.12.24- At the Excellence in Education Awards 2024 ceremony held at Thyagaraj Stadium on Friday, CM Atishi rewarded the top-performing schools and 207 students from classes 10 and 12 for their exemplary achievements. She presented the Best School Award to GGSS Samaypur, recognizing it as Delhi’s best-performing school.
Students from government, aided, and private schools who excelled in their Class 10 and 12 board exams were honored with the Excellence in Education Award 2024. CM Atishi graced the event as the chief guest. She received a ceremonial guard of honor at the venue, escorted by NCC cadets to the stage. The event commenced with the lighting of the ceremonial lamp by the CM and other dignitaries, followed by a welcome song performed by DOE teachers.
*Why is India lagging despite Indians excelling globally?*
Addressing the audience, CM Atishi said, “Our country is brimming with talent. Indians are among the most successful individuals worldwide. CEOs and Presidents of major companies like Google’s Sundar Pichai, Microsoft’s Satya Nadella, Twitter’s former CEO Parag Agrawal, and World Bank President Dr. Ajay Banga are Indians. Be it in hospitals, engineering, or the arts, Indians hold prominent positions globally. However, this raises an important question: Why is our country still lagging behind despite such individual achievements?”
*Decades later, India remains a developing country in economics textbooks*
“When I was in school, our economics textbooks categorized countries as developed, underdeveloped, or developing. India was described as a developing nation and was predicted to become a developed country by 2020. However, even today, our textbooks label India as a developing nation,” the CM added.
*Countries that prioritized education are global leaders today*
She explained, “Several countries gained independence around the same time as India or were devastated by World War II, such as Japan, Germany, and South Korea. Starting from scratch, these nations prioritized education, becoming global leaders in just 75 years. Today, they are among the most developed economies because they focused on their children’s education.”
*Delhi government prioritizes education under Arvind Kejriwal’s leadership*
“It brings me immense pride to say that under the leadership of Arvind Kejriwal, we have prioritized education in Delhi over the past decade. Delhi is the only state in India that allocates 25% of its budget to education. In 2015, when we came to power, the condition of government schools was heartbreaking – no chairs or drinking water, broken windows, fans, and lights. Teachers were often assigned non-teaching duties, leaving no one to teach students,” said CM Atishi.
*Education revolution in Delhi over the past 10 years*
“Over the last decade, our teachers, principals, and the education department have initiated an education revolution in Delhi. Today, government schools have world-class infrastructure, better than many private schools. We have invested in teacher training at Harvard, Cambridge, and IIMs,” she stated.
*Teaching – the profession with the most impact on national development*
Addressing teachers, the CM said, “Among all professions, teaching has the greatest impact on a nation’s development. Our teachers’ efforts have propelled Delhi’s children forward. This year, over 2,000 students from Delhi government schools cleared the JEE and NEET exams. For the first time in India, parents are transferring their children from private to government schools.”
*Talent is wasted without opportunities*
“Talent knows no economic boundaries. A child from a poor family may have the potential to become the next Sundar Pichai, Satya Nadella, or AR Rahman. But without opportunities, their talent will be lost, harming not just the individual but the entire nation,” she emphasized.
*Special recognition for differently-abled students*
CM Atishi honored 58 differently-abled students for excelling in their board exams, calling them an inspiration for all.
*Awards for schools and students*
The awards were distributed in two categories – one for students excelling in Class 10 and 12, and another for high-performing schools at the state, district, and zonal levels.
Awards given:
1. State Best School: Chief Minister Trophy – 1 school.
2. District Best Schools: Education Minister Trophy – 13 schools.
3. Zonal Best Schools: 18 schools.
4. Best RPV School: 1 school.
5. Best Government Aided School: 1 school.
6. Best Recognized Private Unaided Schools: 4 schools.
A total of 207 students, including 58 differently-abled students, were recognized for topping various levels.
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*CM Atishi inspects Burari Electric Bus Depot; says, "with second-largest fleet of e-buses globally at present, Delhi will soon top the charts*
*Electric buses in Delhi are successful because AAP government has built robust charging infrastructure: CM Atishi*
*State-of-the-art charging infrastructure at Burari Bus Depot; fast charging stations enable buses to run 150 km with just 1 hour of charging*
*DTC is lifeline of Delhi; its drivers and conductors ferry over 4 million people daily; AAP government stands firmly with DTC drivers and conductors at every step: CM Atishi*
NEW DELHI -06.12.24-Delhi Chief Minister Atishi inspected the Burari Electric Bus Depot on Friday, reviewing the charging infrastructure and facilities available for buses.
Speaking at the occasion, CM Atishi remarked, “For the past 7-8 years, Delhi has been battling pollution, especially during October, November, and December when the air quality worsens significantly. When pollution levels began to rise, Arvind Kejriwal ji emphasized that while the stubble burning outside Delhi contributes to the issue, the city would take every possible step to combat pollution. Adopting electric buses was a major move in this direction.”
She further stated, “Under the guidance of Arvind Kejriwal ji, Delhi today boasts the world’s second-largest fleet of nearly 2,000 electric buses, playing a pivotal role in the fight against pollution. We are continuously adding electric buses to the DTC fleet, and the day is not far when Delhi will have the largest fleet of electric buses in the world.”
Highlighting the success of electric buses in Delhi, she added, “The AAP government ensured the necessary charging infrastructure to support the electric bus revolution.”
During the visit, CM Atishi also interacted with bus drivers and conductors in their common room at the depot. The staff expressed their satisfaction with the facilities available at the depot.
*DTC: The Lifeline of Delhi*
After the inspection, CM Atishi engaged with the bus drivers and conductors, stating, “DTC is the lifeline of Delhi. Its drivers and conductors not only operate buses but also ensure the city keeps moving by ferrying over 40 lakh people daily to their destinations, thereby sustaining the city’s economy.”
She added, “The job of our bus drivers and conductors comes with immense responsibility. The better they perform, the better the quality of life for Delhi’s residents. The AAP government stands firmly with DTC drivers and conductors at every step.”
*Special Features of Burari Depot*
The Burari Bus Depot, with a capacity to accommodate 160 buses, is fully electric and equipped with modern infrastructure.
* The depot houses 32 fast-charging stations, enabling buses to charge in just one hour and run for 150 km.
* An automated washing system is also available for cleaning buses efficiently.