The 12th and final Slum Yuva Daud concluded this Sunday, with participation of around 6,000 youngsters from different slums of Delhi. Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Vijay Goel flagged off the marathon, starting from Jhandewalan Devi Mandir and ended at Ajmal Khan Park, Karol Bagh.

 "Slum Yuva Daud was an initiative to motivate the youth to work for a better tomorrow and engage them in constructive activities to deter them about drug abuse, criminal activities and terrorism", said Goel.

Emphasising the need of such events in the slums of Delhi, Goel added that mini-youth clubs would be set up across different slums. These clubs will work for the development and cleanliness of their respective slums. The Ministry will also organize sports competitions to bring out the sporting talents from the slum regions of Delhi.

Olympic medalist Sushil Kumar joined the Slum Daud for the second time and called the initiative a golden opportunity for future sportspersons to shine and such efforts will go a long way to create sports culture in the country enabling the Ministry to tap hidden talents. "Youth is the backbone of our nation and such activities help in their all-round development and encourage them to work for nation building", said Chaudhary Birender Singh, Union Steel Minister, while praising the initiative of Slum Yuva Daud.

The Slum Yuva Daud is a part of the ongoing Adopt Slum Campaign initiated by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan. A total of 12 Slum Yuva Runs have been organised across Delhi with a prodigious participation of 60,000 youths. The youngsters from various slums of Delhi appreciated the Ministry's efforts in providing them a platform like this.