https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

This Is How IAS Officer Anindita Mitra Is Transforming Chandigarh

IAS officer Anindita Mitra has been continuously striving to make Chandigarh a zero-wastage city. Standing by the principles of Reducing, Reusing, and Recycling, the officer initiated several projects in the city to look after the same. Through her initiative, she is also providing support to communities by involving them in self-help groups.
Indian Masterminds Stories

In a commendable effort to foster sustainability and empower local communities, IAS officer Anindita Mitra, is making Chandigarh a much greener, cleaner and environment-friendly city. Currently serving as the Municipal Commissioner of Chandigarh Municipal Corporation, she has spearheaded several groundbreaking projects centred around the principles of reusing and recycling.

Indian Masterminds exclusively spoke with the officer to know more about her interesting initiatives.

BARTAN BHANDAR

In the last one year, the officer has launched multiple projects. Under the ‘Bartan Bhandar’ project, the officer collaborated with the National Urban Livelihood Mission to establish a self-help group. This self-help group was provided with utensils that could be further given on rent to the events and functions taking place in the city. This was done to avoid the usage of plastic in the region.

“We did this with the motto of minimalizing the usage of plastic plates, glasses, and other utensils during small events or functions taking place in the city. The utensils are given on rent at such events and once the event finishes, we get them back. This has helped us in significantly reducing the use of plastic and its wastage,” she told Indian Masterminds.

SWACHH SAWARI

The officer launched a special vehicle by the name of ‘Swachh Sawari’ which is deployed to collect old household items such old clothes from household to household. The clothes are then transferred to a designated self-help group in their unit named ‘Naya Sa’. The group analyses the clothes, launders them, takes care of any kind of stitching or repairing required in them, and further sells the almost-new looking clothes.

“The price range of the refurbished clothes is anywhere between rupee 1-50. Anybody can walk in the store and purchase the item at such a nominal rate. This has been beneficial in recycling the clothes which are no more worn by people and saves it from landing up in dumping grounds,” shared Ms. Mitra.

PROJECT ARPAN

Furthermore, the officer initiated a project ‘Arpan’ to collect floral waste from all the holy places as well as florists and transferred to another self-help group. This SHG is properly trained by trainers from institutes in Delhi and Mumbai in manufacturing diya, battis, and agarbattis from this waste.

“The project is named Arpan as we ultimately Arpan the agarbattis and diyas to the lord himself,” she shared.

PROJECT PRARAMBH

Under Project Prarambh, a large shop is opened up by the Municipal Corporation in which all the recycled and refurbished items manufactured by the different SHGs are showcased and put up for sale. Cloth bags, dusting clothes, mops, etc. made out of irreparable clothes are amongst the few things which is sold in the store.

“We even use these for our use in the government offices. Moreover, we keep compostable bags there too, that look like and do the work of a plastic bag but are not really plastic. Prarambh is like a one-stop shop for people to come and buy all varieties of recycled goods from,” shared Ms. Mitra.

RRR STORE

The officer initiated the launch of a permanent store that goes by the name RRR (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) under the ‘Meri Life, Mera Swachh Shehar’ campaign. Old goods and articles are collected from the public and delivered to various RRR centres in the city. City residents can donate household articles at these centres with the help of Swach Sawari vehicles.

The corporation then opens a one-day ‘rupee store’ in any vulnerable  location of the city where the items are made available to all the people of the area who could give 1 rupee per item against one Adhaar card and pick any five items of their choice from the store.

“The discarded items are then restored and sold at nominal rates to the needy with an aim to ensure household items in good condition do not go waste. Only quality and useable items are accepted for donation, including clothes, shoes, books/stationery, plastic items, crockery, toys, e-waste, etc,” the officer shared with Indian Masterminds.

IAS Officer Anindita Mitra’s visionary leadership has brought about a positive and sustainable transformation in Chandigarh. Through these innovative initiatives, she has not only minimized environmental impact but also generated employment opportunities for numerous individuals involved in the self-help groups. As other cities seek inspiration for sustainable development, Ms. Mitra’s efforts stand as a shining example of effective and community-driven change.


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
India’s Missile Strikes on 11 Pakistani Airbases Forced Islamabad Into Panic: Ex-UK Envoy Reveals Secret Saudi Defense Pact
India’s Missile Strikes on 11 Pakistani Airbases Forced Islamabad Into Panic: Ex-UK Envoy Reveals Secret Saudi Defense Pact
Devendra Kumar Tiwari Alka Tiwari  IAS Jharkhand
First IAS Couple in India to Hold Both Chief Secretary & State Election Commissioner Posts Consecutively - Know This Powerful Pair
Policing, Trust, and Investment: Insights from IPF - Indian Masterminds
Indian Police Foundation Marks 10 Years, Discussion on How Policing Builds Investor Confidence
Madhya Pradesh football training
Mini Brazil to Germany: Vicharpur’s Young Footballers Get CM Mohan Yadav’s Blessings on Vijayadashami Week
bureaucracy news
Centre Announces Key Bureaucratic Appointments & Deputation Extensions: Neeraj Surendran, Arun G, Anand Mohan Among Key Names
PM Modi CM Nitish Kumar
Bihar Receives Rs. 10,219 Crore from Centre: A Festive Gift On Vijayadashami to Fuel Development & Welfare, Backed by GST Reforms
Chhattisgarh government
Chhattisgarh CM Charts Development Roadmap: Push for Capital Expenditure, Biometric Attendance, & Transparent Governance
Vishnu Deo Sai CM
Chhattisgarh Gets Rs. 3,462 Crore Boost from Modi Government: Here's How CM Sai Pledges To Spend It!
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IFS Ravikant Meena UPSC IFS
Ravikant Meena on IFS Preparation, Optionals, and Life in Forest Service
Siddhartha Saxena UPSC CAPF
How Siddhartha Saxena Cracked UPSC CAPF AIR 326 Against All Odds
Dr. S.K
Technology Meets Ecology: IFS Dr S K Srivastava’s Game-Changing Innovations in Forest Management | Eco Warrior Awards 2025 Interview
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
UPSC Chairman Ajay Kumar Live Interaction
From Cut-off Dates to Coaching & Reforms: UPSC Chairman Ajay Kumar Assures Aspirants of Fairness, Transparency & a Future-Ready UPSC | UPSC@100
A Century of Service: The UPSC’s Landmark Year Begins. Chairman Ajay Kumar on UPSC’s Centennial: “Merit,...
Giriraj Parihar MPPSC 2024
From Constable to Deputy Collector: Giriraj Parihar’s 9-Year MPPSC Journey | Farmer’s Son, Brother to Five Sisters
From a jail guard to MPPSC 2024 Rank 8, Giriraj Parihar’s nine-year journey of self-study, hard work,...
Ankit MPPSC 2024 Rank 3
From Village Dreams to Deputy Collector’s Chair: Meet Ankit, MPPSC Rank 3 Hindi Medium Topper
Ankit, a Hindi-medium aspirant from Balaghat, secured Rank 3 in MPPSC 2024 and became Deputy Collector...
Social Media
World Rhino Day India
On World Rhino Day, IFS Officer Parveen Kaswan Shares Rare Insights - India Now Hosts 80% of the World’s One-Horned Rhinos
September 22 Marks Global Call for Rhino Conservation; India Holds 80% of World’s Greater One-Horned...
Parag Madhukar Dhakate
Relentless Rains Wreak Havoc in Dehradun: IFS officer PM Dhakate Warns Citizens Amid Flash Floods
Cloudbursts in Dehradun triggered flash floods. IFS officer Dr. PM Dhakate warned citizens to stay indoors...
Forest Guard Tiger Encounter
Tigers Clash in the Wild as Forest Guards Capture Rare Footage , Retired IFS Mohan Pargaien Posts Viral Video
Retired IFS officer Mohan Pargaien shares viral video of three tigers brawling in Ramnagar, as forest...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
India’s Missile Strikes on 11 Pakistani Airbases Forced Islamabad Into Panic: Ex-UK Envoy Reveals Secret Saudi Defense Pact
India’s Missile Strikes on 11 Pakistani Airbases Forced Islamabad Into Panic: Ex-UK Envoy Reveals Secret Saudi Defense Pact
Devendra Kumar Tiwari Alka Tiwari  IAS Jharkhand
First IAS Couple in India to Hold Both Chief Secretary & State Election Commissioner Posts Consecutively - Know This Powerful Pair
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IFS Ravikant Meena UPSC IFS
Siddhartha Saxena UPSC CAPF
Dr. S.K
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT