TNNChandigarh: The Chandigarh Citizens Foundation (CCF) marked its first anniversary on Saturday, reaffirming its commitment to responsible citizenship, civic engagement and inclusive development.Punjab governor and UT administrator Gulab Chand Kataria was the chief guest at the event, which brought together eminent citizens, professionals, academicians, artists, policymakers, entrepreneurs and members of civil society.Kataria congratulated the Foundation and praised its rapid progress since 2025 in areas such as citizen participation, mental health, elderly care, emergency response training with PGIMER, mentorship programmes and promotion of local talent.Highlighting Chandigarh’s planned design by Le Corbusier, green spaces and educational institutions, Kataria said real development must be inclusive and reach the last person through opportunities, dignity, safety and empowerment.The administrator called for a drug-free society, sustainable living and active citizen participation beyond govt efforts.Referring to education, he said Chandigarh has emerged as a leader in school education, with govt schools recording outstanding results. On healthcare, he reiterated his vision of developing Chandigarh as a regional medical hub, noting that patients from across the country and abroad visit the city for quality treatment.He also highlighted the city’s progress in tourism, sanitation, pollution control and expansion of green cover.Speaking on the occasion, Gen Ved Prakash Malik, former Chief of Army Staff and president of CCF, said, “Our first year has been about establishing credibility. The years ahead have to be about lasting impact.”He said the Foundation plans to expand Projects SAATHI and SEWA and launch basic life support and first-aid training for citizens across the Tricity to better equip communities to handle medical emergencies.Malik said CCF would soon launch a mentorship programme under which experienced professionals would provide free guidance and practical mentorship to young people.Looking ahead to Chandigarh’s 75th year, he said the Foundation aims to create platforms for young musicians, poets, writers, actors and dancers while strengthening civic and cultural engagement.“My expectation is that CCF should be remembered not for the events it organised, but for the culture of responsible citizenship it helped build, a Chandigarh known not only as the City Beautiful, but as the City of Responsible Citizens,” he added.A major highlight of the evening was the presentation of the CCF Scroll of Honour to 28 individuals for their contributions to the Foundation during its formative year.The celebrations concluded a week-long series of public programmes on literature, science and international affairs, featuring lyricist Irshad Kamil, singer-poet Satinder Sartaaj, Wolf Prize-winning physicist Prof Jainendra K Jain and author-journalist M J Akbar.Those present included former PU vice-chancellor Prof Arun Kumar Grover, theatre personality Neelam Man Singh, Justice Hemant Gupta and former PGI director Dr K K Talwar, among others.Box: CCF’s Key Initiatives In First YearProject SAATHI: Mental health and wellness programme for govt school studentsProject SEWA: Pilot initiative in Sector 27-D addressing emotional, social and medical support needsOperation Cybersecure: Seminar for veterans on protection against cyber threatsMental Health Matters: Awareness campaign promoting emotional well-being among youthChildren’s Day Heritage Walk: Guided student tour of Capitol ComplexContemporary Punjab Challenges & Solutions: Discussions on practical solutions to state issuesBox: Major Lectures & EventsMichael Kremer lecture on AI, experimentation and evidence-based policy makingAlain Bertaud and Bimal Patel session on Chandigarh’s urban development and planningBook discussion on Civil-Military Fusion as a Metric of National Power and Comprehensive SecurityKargil Vijay Diwas event featuring Gen V P Malik and decorated veteransProf Jainendra K Jain lecture on quantum physics and scientific innovationM J Akbar lecture: The Coming War of the Six Seas: Geopolitics, Maritime Strategy and India’s Role.HighlightsGovernor Kataria lauds CCF’s work in citizen engagement and social initiativesGen V P Malik outlines expansion of SAATHI, SEWA and mentorship programmesCCF honours 28 contributors with Scroll of HonourFoundation plans first-aid and basic life support training across TricityWeek-long anniversary events featured leading voices from literature, science and public affairs
