Smt. Sheila Dikshit, Chief Minister of National Capital Territory of Delhi is leading a six member delegation on an official visit to Russia from 23^rd -26^th September, 2002. During the visit, the delegation is expected to have interactions with the leadership of Moscow and Saint Petersburg.

Delhi and Moscow, as national capitals, have on going multifarious cooperation. It is the desire of both the leaders to further expand and give new dimensions to this cooperation. Major areas of exchange of views relate to Urban Development and Cultural cooperation. Both the capitals are expanding and using newer technologies to address various issues of fast expanding urbanization. Discussions are expected to cover issues relating to use of newer and more appropriate technologies. Both the capitals are vibrant centers of economic growth and development. It is the desire of the leadership of both the capitals to promote cooperation between the economic bodies of Moscow and Delhi such as Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Enterpreneurs Associations, Artisan Chambers, Social Organizations etc.

Mayor of Moscow and the Chief Minister of National Capital Territory of Delhi are expected to discuss these and other issues during their meeting on 25^th September 2002 in Moscow. Smt. Sheila Dikshit is also expected to visit various enterprises and institutions dealing with urban issues, prominent cultural sites of Moscow and Saint Petersburg, have interactions with intellectuals at a prominent University in Moscow, meet the members of the Indian diaspora and pay floral tributes to the leaders of India whose statues adorn Moscow.

A profile of Smt. Sheila Dikshit is enclosed.

Smt. Sheila Dikshit took over as the Chief Minster of the Government of NCT of Delhi on 3^rd December 1998. She is the second woman Chief Minister of Delhi. She represents Gole Market constituency in the Assembly.

Smt. Sheila Dikshit was born on March 31, 1938, in Kapurthala, Punjab. She is the eldest of three sisters. Holder of Master of Arts degree in History, she received her education at Convent of Jesus and Mary School, New Delhi and later in Miranda House, Delhi University. She was married into the family of Shri Uma Shankar Dikshit, noted freed fighter, a former Governor and Union Cabinet Minister. Her late husband Shri Vinod Dikshit was a widely respected member of Indian Administrative Service. She has two children, one son and one daughter.

Smt. Sheila Dikshit brings to the administration vast experience in administrative and parliamentary matters. She was a member of the Eighth Lok Sabha and represented Kannauj Parliamentary constituency in Uttar Pradesh from 1984-89. As a Member of Parliament, she served as a Minister in the Union Government during 1986-89, first as the Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs and later had additional charge as Minister of State in the Prime MinsterТs office. She also chaired the Implantation Committee for commemoration of forty years of IndiaТs independence and Jawaharlal Nehru Centenary.

Ion May 1998, she was appointed President of the Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee. She led her party to a sweeping victory in the Delhi Assembly elections in 1998.

As Chief Minister of Delhi, she is determined to make Delhi truly Capi8tal city of the World. Democratic decentralization and peopleТs partnership in governance are her major planks of administration. She has established District Development Committees with public representatives and RWAТs at the District Level and has initiated through СBhagidariТ a peopleТs and Government partnership in governance. This partnership is being specially encouraged to make Delhi a cleaner and greener city. The problems of the slum-dwellers and the unauthorized colonies are foremost in the priorities of her government. A well-enunciated policy including low cost housing for their settlement is on the anvil. Pollution is an area of utmost concern of her government and several steps have been initiated to control this menace in the field of better fuel for transport, in drastically reducing pollution emanating from industry and in restricting the use of hazardous plastics. Amongst her priorities is also to make Delhi a first rate УCyber CityФ by the year 2003 and bring in E-Governance for a transparent & corruption free government.

Smt. Sheila Dikshit has championed the cause of women at various fora and in various capacities. She has also been a leading figure in the movement for granting of equal rights to women. She represented India on the UN Commission on Status of Women for five years (1984-89). In Uttar Pradesh, she along with her 82 colleagues were jailed in August 1990 for 23 days by State government when she led a peopleТs movement against the atrocities being committed on women. Inspired by this, lakhs of citizens all over UP joined the movement and courted arrest. IN the early 1970s, she was Chairperson of the Young WomenТs association and was instrumental in setting up two of the most successful hostels for working women in Delhi.

She is also the Secretary of the Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust. The trust has come to play a leading role in promotion of international understanding. It presents the Indira Gandhi award for peace disarmament and development and organizes conferences on issues of global concern. Under the aegis of Environmental Center has been set up at the Trust.

She has been especially interested in the promotion of handicrafts and of rural artisans all over the country. Promotion of folk theatre has been one of her abiding commitments over the years. Between 1978 to 1983, her capacity as the Executive Secretary of the Garment ExportersТ Association, she played a leading role in taking garments exports to unprecedented levels.

She is strongly committee to Secularism and has from every platform fought the rise of communal forces. She practices the belief that if democracy is to truly survive in India, the basic norms of correct behavior and rectitude and mutual respect for the opinions and beliefs of others have to form an integral part of public life.

Moscow
September 21, 2002