TIMES NEWS NETWORK
New Delhi: In this election year, the government is willing to nudge Delhiites towards fitness with grants to their welfare associations for buying equipment. Under the proposal, RWAs will get onetime grants of Rs 1 lakh each if they offer space to install equipment like treadmills, undertake to maintain them, and let residents use them for nominal fees. The money for the RWAs will be part of ‘My Delhi I Care Fund’.
“It is a heartening development that many progressive RWAs of Delhi are organizing free yoga classes in nearby parks voluntarily. I propose to support such efforts,” said CM Sheila Dikshit in the assembly on Wednesday.
RWAs welcomed the announcement but sounded skeptical about its implementation. “The scheme sounds good but we are not sure how they expect RWAs to offer space? The land belongs to either DDA or the municipality. I hope the scheme does not get entangled in technicalities,” said M K Gupta, member, Greater Kailash-I RWA.
B S Vohra of East Delhi RWAs Joint Front also raised concerns over its implementation. “One can’t put a treadmill in a park. Government should ask MLAs or councillors to give money from their funds for construction of a room to be used as gym.”