CM launches NDMC’s ‘Vikas Bhi, Virasat Bhi’ educational initiative, felicitates 15 teachers

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Thursday launched the New Delhi Municipal Council’s (NDMC) flagship educational initiative ‘Vikas Bhi, Virasat Bhi’ at the Talkatora Stadium.

The programme, set to benefit more than 28,000 students across NDMC schools, aims to integrate development with heritage values. On the occasion, the CM also felicitated 15 teachers from Atal Adarsh and Navyug Schools on the eve of Teachers’ Day.

The event was attended by Delhi Government Minister Parvesh Verma, New Delhi MP Bansuri Swaraj, NDMC Chairperson Keshav Chandra, Vice-Chairperson Kuljeet Singh Chahal, Council Members Anil Valmiki and Dinesh Pratap Singh, OSD (Education) Ranjana Deswal, along with senior officials, teachers and students.

Unveiling the new curriculum, CM Gupta said teachers were the “true painters of our nation” and stressed that the values they instilled in children today would shape the country’s future. “Under the new curriculum, we are not only teaching development but also heritage — ensuring our students connect life values with cultural values,” she said. She also underlined the importance of the notion of swadheenta and environmental conservation, adding that it was a sacred duty to preserve natural resources for future generations.

Lauding the NDMC’s efforts, Minister Verma said the initiative demonstrated how development and heritage could work in tandem.

He pointed out that frequent floods in the Yamuna reflected society’s failure to treat rivers as heritage and stressed the need to restore and preserve them.

MP Bansuri Swaraj, while extending Teachers’ Day greetings, outlined the NDMC’s plan of integrating heritage into the curriculum as a milestone aligned with the Prime Minister’s vision.

NDMC’s Chandra termed the launch a historic day for the civic body. Kuldeep Singh Chahal added that courses inspired by the “Panch Pran”, Indian knowledge traditions, yoga and environmental stewardship had been included to foster holistic development.

A specially curated booklet outlining the vision and pedagogical approach of the initiative was also released.