Chandigarh, September 23:- With the message of “Swachhata Mein Sahbhag – Swachh Bharat, Viksit Bharat” gaining momentum across the city, the Municipal Corporation Chandigarh in association with Sri Aurobindo School of Integral Education continued to strengthen Jan Bhagidari through the Swachhata Hi Seva 2026 campaign, bringing together students, elected representatives, municipal officials and citizens for a cleaner and more sustainable Chandigarh.

As part of the Swachh Yuva Doot initiative, the Municipal Corporation organised an educational visit for students of Classes VII and VIII of Sri Aurobindo School of Integral Education, Sector 27. The students interacted with Commissioner Sh. Amit Kumar, IAS, and Joint Commissioner Dr. Himanshu Gupta, and learnt about the functioning of the Municipal Corporation, local governance, sanitation, waste management and various civic services.

Interacting with the students, the officers encouraged them to become ambassadors of cleanliness and responsible civic behaviour by practising waste segregation, proper disposal of waste and maintaining cleanliness in public spaces. The students were also sensitised about zero-waste practices and avoiding plastic, particularly single-use plastic, during civic and social activities.

Later in the day, the Municipal Corporation Chandigarh, in association with Chandigarh Art Alive – Co-creating the City, organised “Chandigarh Ki Awaaz – Swachhata Qawwali” at Sri Aurobindo Bhavan, Sector 27. The special programme, organised for Ward Councillors and MC officials, used music and cultural expression to convey the message of cleanliness and civic responsibility.

Mayor Sh. Saurabh Joshi, who graced the occasion as Chief Guest, said that “Swachhata Hi Seva is becoming a people’s movement, with many open hands coming forward to contribute towards cleanliness.” He said that the participation of students, citizens, elected representatives and municipal teams is essential to make cleanliness a sustained public movement rather than a one-time campaign.

Emphasising the importance of waste segregation, the Mayor said that segregation at source can be achieved only when citizens make waste segregation a habit in their daily routine life. He called upon every household to consciously segregate waste at source and make responsible disposal a part of everyday civic behaviour.

Commissioner Sh. Amit Kumar, IAS, Guest of Honour, highlighted the importance of collective participation and behavioural change in achieving sustainable sanitation outcomes.

Senior Deputy Mayor Sh. Jasmanpreet Singh, Former Mayor and area councillor Smt. Harpreet Kaur Babla, Joint Commissioners Dr. Himanshu Gupta and Sh. Balbir Raj Singh, other Councillors and senior officers of the Municipal Corporation were also present.

The “Chandigarh Ki Awaaz – Swachhata Qawwali” presented the message of cleanliness in an engaging cultural format, seeking to connect with citizens through music while reinforcing the values of civic responsibility, waste segregation and responsible public behaviour.

The Municipal Corporation reiterated that cleanliness is a shared responsibility and requires active participation at every level—from households and schools to markets, communities and public institutions. Through initiatives such as Swachh Yuva Doot and innovative cultural programmes, MC Chandigarh is working to strengthen Jan Bhagidari and bring lasting behavioural change in sanitation and cleanliness practices.

The campaign continues to promote waste segregation at source, zero-waste practices, reduction of plastic use and responsible civic behaviour, with the collective goal of building a cleaner, greener and more sustainable Chandigarh.