CHANDIGARH MAYOR HARPREET KAUR BABLA AWARDED PRESTIGIOUS AWARD AT BRICS URBAN INNOVATION FORUM 2025 AT MOSCOW, RUSSIA

CHANDIGARH, INDIA — In a significant honor for the city, Chandigarh's Mayor, Harpreet Kaur Babla was awarded the BRICS Urban Innovation Award 2025 at the prestigious BRICS Urban Forum. The award was presented in the "Empowerment of Women" category, acknowledging the city's impactful initiatives and unwavering commitment to gender equality. The selection process was highly rigorous, with a distinguished panel of experts from the United Nations playing a key role in the shortlisting and final selection of the award recipients.

The forum, a major international event, brought together influential leaders and innovators from across the BRICS nations. Chandigarh was nominated alongside prominent global cities, with Mayor Harpreet Kaur Babla's presence highlighting the city's rising profile on the world stage.

Highlights from the Ceremony:
* Award & Recognition: Mayor Harpreet Kaur Babla accepted the BRICS Urban Innovation Award on behalf of Chandigarh, recognizing the city's innovative approach to urban development and social progress.
* Esteemed Panel: The credibility of the award is underscored by the involvement of experts from the United Nations, who were part of the process of shortlisting and making the final award selection.
* Global Nominees: The city of Dubai and Naypyidaw were also finalists in the "Empowerment of Women" category, demonstrating the high level of competition and the global significance of Chandigarh's achievement.
In her acceptance speech, Mayor Harpreet Kaur Babla expressed profound gratitude and reflected on the meaning of the award for the city and for women across India.

Mayor Harpreet Kaur Babla's Thanksgiving Speech:
"I am extremely humbled and honored to receive this award today," said Mayor Babla. "It's a great honor to represent my beautiful city, Chandigarh, on this BRICS platform."
She dedicated the award to the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whose initiatives have empowered women to step out of their homes and into leadership roles, making a tangible difference to society.
"This is a tribute to every Indian woman," she continued, "and not just to an individual or a project. It is a tribute to women who come out to lead and serve and make a difference to a developing country like India."
Mayor Babla concluded her speech by extending her sincere thanks to the BRICS Forum, the Chamber of Industry, and the esteemed experts, including those from the United Nations, for this prestigious recognition and for providing the opportunity to represent Chandigarh and India on a global stage.
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‘Hamaare Park, Hamaari Jimmedaari’: MC Commissioner leads cleanliness drive with community in Sector 36

Chandigarh, September 18:-Taking a significant step toward promoting environmental responsibility and community involvement, the Municipal Corporation Chandigarh today launched a special cleanliness drive under the theme ‘Hamaare Park, Hamaari Jimmedaari’ at Fragrance Garden, Sector 36. The initiative forms a key part of the ongoing 'Swachhotsav' Pakhwada, a fortnight-long cleanliness festival aligned with the Swachh Bharat Mission.

The drive was spearheaded by Sh. Amit Kumar, IAS, the Commissioner, MCC, who was joined by Sh. Jasbir Singh Bunty, Senior Deputy Mayor & Area Councillor; Sh. Sanjay Arora, Chief Engineer; Dr. Inderdeep Kaur, Medical Officer Health; Sh. K P Singh, SE, Horticulture along with office bearers of the Area Residents' Welfare Association. School children associated with Don Bosco Society also took enthusiastic part in the event, adding youthful energy to the cause.

The event saw participants engaging in a plogging activity — jogging while collecting litter — across the Hibiscus and Fragrance Gardens. The team also undertook the task of cleaning the dustbins installed within the parks, reinforcing the message of shared responsibility in maintaining public spaces.

In a symbolic gesture, all participants took a pledge to uphold the values of Swachhata and continue their efforts toward a cleaner and greener Chandigarh.

Addressing the gathering, the Commissioner highlighted the crucial role of public participation in making such drives a sustained success. “Cleanliness is not the job of one authority alone — it is a collective duty. Through campaigns like these, we aim to instill a sense of ownership among citizens toward their surroundings,” he said.

He said that the MCC's ‘Hamaare Park, Hamaari Jimmedaari’ campaign continues to gain momentum, setting a strong example of civic responsibility and environmental consciousness.