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25,000 volunteers needed for Games: CM
It’s not only physical infrastructure like roads, bridges and flyovers that is going to make the 2010 Commonwealth Games a big success.
It’s not only physical infrastructure like roads, bridges and flyovers that is going to make the 2010 Commonwealth Games a big success.
What is equally important to make the sporting extravaganza an event to remember is active involvement of residents in various games related preparations.
Speaking at a conference “Delhi: A World Class City in the Making”, organised by Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) on Thursday, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit sought residents’ cooperation to make Commonwealth Games a success.
“Unless citizens become participants, as a government we will never be adequate, especially with the one which has to work with multiplicity of authorities. This is an area we are looking at very seriously,” she said.
“I do hope that multiplicity, which is not really required, is done away with.”
Dikshit said the Delhi government would organise a conference in January 2010, involving RWAs and senior citizens, to create awareness about specific roles they can play.
“In the coming months, we will start a series of campaign which will make citizens aware of their responsibilities,” said Dikshit.
Harpal Singh, chairman, CII (Northern Region), said, “Assistance in provision of services like security, transportation, health and hospitality would be required. For this we must engage the young, RWAs and senior citizens. We are willing to partner with the government in creating awareness among the people.”
“There is a huge demand for volunteers during the Commonwealth Games. CII is keen to partner with the government and help with identification and training needs of these volunteers,” said Rumjhum Chatterjee, chairperson, CII (Delhi State Council).
The city would need about 25,000 citizen volunteers during the Commonwealth Games. These volunteers will not only be lending a helping hand to authorities managing various aspects of the games like customer services, logistics, etc., but also act as cultural ambassadors. But with just 500 days to go, the Games Organising Committee is yet to start registering volunteers.
For the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, there were 15,000 volunteers helping officials during the games. The Australian government had started training them about two years before the Games.
