The 'Aadhar' programme was launched in Delhi today by Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit who distributed unique identification numbers to a few residents from vulnerable sections of the society.

"Our collaboration with Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) will yield positive results and people will have their identity numbers along with all relevant and crucial details," Dikshit said after distributing the numbers and unfurling the tricolour at the state-level Republic Day function organised at Chhatrasal Stadium here.

Bank passbooks were also handed over to the residents who received UID numbers. The UID numbers will enable people to establish their identity while applying for bank accounts and will also help them get SIM cards from MTNL, officials said.

Delhi government had started giving out UIDs to the city's 40 lakh homeless people in October 2010. Officials said the government will now start enrolling the rest of Delhiites.

Addressing the gathering, Dikshit congratulated school children and citizens for rendering their constructive cooperation in hosting the Commonwealth Games, "which turned out to be the best ever international sports event".

"An apprehension was being reported over the success of Commonwealth Games, but we managed to make it a magnificent event. We were able to gear up all our resources for the success of Games despite being involved in overcoming flood-like situation," she said.

The chief minister said the hosting of Games provided an opportunity to take up a large number of developmental works on war-footing within shortest possible time which would have otherwise taken six years to complete. "This also provided us an excellent opportunity to showcase our world-class infrastructure and greenery of the city."

The chief minister stated that her government during last 12 years has been able to bring a positive change in governance by enhancing transparency and accountability.

It has now implemented service-level agreements (SLAs) to ensure delivery of services by various departments within prescribed time-frame. "Around 40 services have already been included and it is expected that the number of services will be over 100 very soon," she said.

This will provide relief to the common man who used to roam in offices to get their certificates issued from the authorities, Dikshit said.

Further, it has also been decided that the officers found to be lukewarm and negligent in their works resulting in late delivery of services will be suitably fined to make SLAs more effective with more sharpened teeth, she said.

Dikshit referred to 'Jeevan' centres which are working as a single-window system for payment of various bills and issue of forms and certificates and Samajik Suvidha Kendras which have also been providing single-window service.

She announced that 'Jan Aahar Yojana' which has been providing full nutritious meal at just Rs 15 will be expanded to cater to more and more economically weaker persons.

Dikshit also referred to 'Aap Ki Rasoi' centres which have been providing one-time free full meal to the destitute and homeless persons. "Both the steps are in tune with making Delhi a hunger-free state. It will be our endeavour to ensure that no one remain hungry in this city," she said.

The Chief Minister said with coming up of 1500 MW Bawana power project, commissioning of Jhajjar power plant and Bamnauli power plant, power situation will improve while production of water will go up from 840 MGD to 945 MGD by year-end which will be just close to the demand of 950 MGD.

Referring to achievements in the fields of technical and higher education Dikshit said the newly-commissioned Bharat Ratna Dr B R Ambedkar University will soon become an affiliating university. A modern campus of Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology is coming up at Okhla.

The government is also keen to facilitate offering honourable employment to pass-out students from technical institutions. For this purpose, a job fair 'Sopan' was organised by the Department of Training and Technical Education which helped in providing employment to more than 1500 trained youth.

Earlier, Dikshit was given salute by contingents of Delhi Police, Home Guards and Civil Defence, Delhi Fire Service, NCC, Delhi Disaster Management personnel, school children and bands of Delhi schools, Delhi Police and Delhi Fire Service.

She inspected the parade.

A colourful cultural programme was also presented by the school children.