Seeking to make them partners in the government's development programmes, the Centre will hold a run on Friday, exclusively for the youth residing in slums in the national capital.
The nearly 2-km-long run, hosted by the Ministry of Youth Affairs, which will end at the Delhi University's Rugby Stadium, will be flagged off by many dignitaries including boxing champion Mary Kom.
"As part of our outreach programme, we will hold our first 'Slum Run' on May 26 morning. This would cover six Delhi Assembly constituencies including Wazirpur, Model Town, Chandni Chowk, Timarpur and Burari.
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"Eventually, we will have a city-level final event, but that would be held in a stadium," Union minister of State for Youth Affairs Vijay Goel told reporters.
"The idea is to take development to slums and make them feel integrated... And not consider them as dirt-filled places.
"Also, we plan to have Rotary and Lions Club adopt slums here and then business houses and industries, but we will decide as to which slums would be given," he said.
The event is being held under the Centre's 'Adopt A Slum' programme.
Goel said that he has adopted Indira Basti in Timarpur under the programme.
"It (run) will be flagged by (Delhi BJP chief) Manoj Tiwari, (party leader) Bhupender Yadav and Mary Kom," Goel said.
"Under the Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS) of our (sports) ministry, slums would be adopted in the 11 districts of Delhi. We should work on developing these slums to such a degree that even PM Modiji appreciates it. Also, the NSS (National Service Scheme) volunteers would be working to make the scheme a success," the minister said.
Goel said the primary aim of the scheme is to galvanise these youth from the slum areas, into able partners of our various programmes -- Swachh Bharat, Smart City, Accessible India, Skill India. They would help take these programmes to the people, he said.
The age limit of the participants would be 15-29 and all of them would be given a t-shirt and a medal, he said.
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