Planned Programmes and activities of Chandigarh Citizens Foundation (CCF)

The Chandigarh Citizens Foundation (CCF) is rolling out a range of initiatives to promote sustainable development through active citizen participation, across Chandigarh, Mohali, and Panchkula.
Twelve subject-specific Focus Groups, comprising over 200 professionals, are developing and executing programmes in their respective domains. Key upcoming initiatives include:

1. Health & Well-being:
   • Caring for elder citizens: A project to identify health needs of elder citizens and mobilise resources to fulfil them through volunteers, NGOS, RWAs, medical institutions, social welfare organisations, social enterprises etc.
   • Health Awareness campaigns on mental health and emotional health-Workshops for Students, parents, imparting effective tools for mental health & emotional health.
   • Health Awareness campaigns lifestyle Basic Life support, first aid for students
   • Health Awareness campaigns on Lifestyle diseases and choices; for citizens
   • Yoga and meditation for well-being; online and in-person classes in Tricity
   • Wellness street festival at Sec 17 Plaza
   • Combating loneliness in the age of social media and technology; suicide prevention initiatives, particularly among youngsters
   • YouTube Podcasts on subjects of high relevance
     The first event on Mental Health Awareness coincided with World Mental Health Day on October 10, 2025.
2. Social Welfare & Women Empowerment:
   • A pilot project for elder home care support programmes is being planned for Sector 33, to survey and fulfil the health needs of elders in sector 33, Chandigarh
   • Accessibility audits of public spaces in Chandigarh for persons with disabilities, Senior Citizens & Women
   • Hunger relief partnership (Langar Sewa) for needy patients, attendants has been commenced at GMCH Sector 32,
   • Marketing assistance for women-led NGOs, Self-help Groups, for organic farm products
   • NGOs Partnership – Bridging requirements of genuine and impactful NGOs in social service, through network with philanthropists, CSR contributions, NRIs, diaspora etc.
   • Filling the gaps in Anganwadis for pre-school children’s health of Tricity
   • YouTube Podcasts on subjects of high relevance
   • Ongoing Initiative: Langar for Hunger
     • Since 04 October 2025
     • Langar for Hunger is a humanitarian food service initiative launched under the aegis of the Focus Group on Women Empowerment & Social Welfare of the Chandigarh Citizens Foundation (CCF).
     • Every Wednesday and Saturday, freshly prepared, nutritious meals are served to 400–500 underprivileged individuals,including patients’ caregivers, daily wage earners, and children from nearby colonies, at GMCH, Sector 32, Chandigarh.
     • This compassionate endeavour is led by Focus Group members Ms. Reema Dewan, Mr. Rajashekaran, and Col. Deepak De, with valuable support from the UT Administration.
     • The initiative embodies the spirit of community care and inclusivity , ensuring that no one in need goes hungry. It stands as a shining example of how collective compassion can create meaningful social impact.
     • Join us in serving with compassion.
     • Together, we can make kindness a way of life.
3. Education & Youth Development
   • A five-day inclusive literary festival, Mela-e-Kitaab, at Parade Ground Sec 17, featuring book stalls, discussions, and a book donation drive.
   • Interventions for Mental & Emotional Well-being of students-workshops
   • Initiatives on Financial and Legal Literacy for students
   • Film Screening for impactful learning in Schools
   • Workshop for teachers on newer learning methodologies
   • Workshop on Life skills for school and college students
   • Workshops on soft skills for School and College students
   • Academic credits for social work – Implementation in Schools and colleges of Chandigarh- UT administration
   • NEP Mandates – Identify areas of prime importance, where gap exists in implementation and suggest strategies to UT admin, if possible support implementation
   • Book donation drive for Schools
   • YouTube Podcasts on subjects of high relevance
4. Music, Literature, Visual & Performing Arts
   • On the occasion of World Mental Health Day on Oct 10, CCF will present mind-calming music by Vidushi Dr. Kamala Shankar on the Shankar Slide Guitar, at Chandigarh Museum and Art Gallery Auditorium, Sector 10, at 6 PM.
   • Regular cultural performances are planned at CRRID’s Open Air Theatre and other city venues.
   • Curated special events, exhibitions focused on Chandigarh, using spaces, by top curators in Visual arts.
   • Week long cultural festivals; Music, dance, visual arts Nov–March.
   • Film festivals – CCF in collaboration.
   • Explore unknown folk art forms of Punjab/Region – Punjab Sangeet Natak Academy.
   • ‘Mangiyar Seduction’ – Curated presentation of folk music by Royston Abel.
   • Event around Kabir Day – celebrating Kabir – similar to Sanjoy Roy Kabir festival in Varanasi.
   • Top contemporary Classical artists performances.
   • Events involving Bollywood actors – Ayushmann Khurrana, Gul Panag, Anupam Kher, etc.
   • Kirtans (Namdharis), Sufiana Kalam, qawwals of Malerkotla.
   • Chandigarh Biennial – Similar to Kochi, Goa Biennial.
   • Giving regular opportunities and platform for young and upcoming artists of the region to hone and develop their talent.
   • Taking music & art to people; regular performances, events in public spaces of Chandigarh – Lake, Rock Garden, Sec 17 Plaza, Rose Garden and other prominent gardens.
   • In association with Residents Welfare Associations, provide Sector level platforms for residents to have regular cultural events by local artists.
5. Urban Planning, Design & Architecture:
   • Roundtable and workshops
   • Heritage walks to various parts of the city in an institutionalised manner
   • Exhibitions on the various aspects of the city starting with an exhibition on the planning and architecture of Chandigarh to be held at the underpass or other venues in collaboration with Chandigarh Lalit Kala Akademi.
   • Lecture Series in schools and colleges on heritage of Chandigarh
   • An ‘ideas competition’ for students of the tricity on live issues of the city.
   • Documenting the oral history of the city
   • Research and documenting artifacts and elements that make up the city
   • A movie on the making and planning of Chandigarh in collaboration with the CCF Focus Group on Art and Culture.
   • Training of Heritage/city guides in collaboration with the CCF Focus Group on Tourism.
6. Sustainable Urban Development:
   • The first city dialogue on Urban Planning was held on October 1, 2025, in collaboration with ICOMOS India.
   • Integrated Transport Planning, including issues of improving walkability parameters, parking issues, last mile connectivity, and accessibility issues.
   • Neighbourhood sustainability planning.
   • Urban environment sustainability.
   • Dialogues on waste management, mobility, and green infrastructure.
   • YouTube Podcasts on subjects of high relevance.
7. Tourism:
   • Promotion of Medical Tourism
   • Inter-agency collaboration to position the Tri-City as a preferred tourism destination
   • Tourism promotion related to architectural, urban planning heritage of Chandigarh
   • Research Tourism
   • Promotion of MICE (Conferences, conventions, events, exhibitions) tourism
8. National Security
   • Round tables and seminars on Cyber Security, Internal Security Challenges, and Veterans’ Affairs, following the successful Cyber Security event on October 4, 2025.
   • Seema-Khoj – An outreach program to enhance awareness of border areas and build linkages with schools in border areas.
   • Outreach and knowledge sharing with society, especially target groups like youth, professionals, and veterans, with the aim of promoting more informed participation in issues of National Security.
   • Mission Atmanirbhar – Enhancing defence production in the region in collaboration with CII.
   • Round-table discussion on Security Challenges – Post Operation Sindoor.
   • Discussion on Internal Security challenges in the Northern region, particularly Punjab.
   • Seminar on Maritime Security to be coordinated by Rear Adm Sandeep Beecha.
   • YouTube Podcasts on subjects of high relevance.
9. Conscious Leadership & Business:
   • Mentorship programmes for startups and MSMEs
   • Defence Start-up initiative
   • Collaborations with regional business schools
   • CSR funding of welfare activities
   • Leadership mentoring program in colleges
   • Identifying future business growth prospects in Chandigarh region
   • YouTube Podcasts on subjects of high relevance
10. Sports:
    • Workshops to enhance collaboration among government bodies, NGOs, private sector, and educational institutions
    • Developing a Culture of Sports
      • Transition of the traditional ‘play’ into structured sports activities.
      • Promotion of Physical Literacy in society.
      • Encouragement for maximum participation at schools and community levels.
      • Development of a Running Culture.
      • School level leagues in all major sports.
      • Integration of compulsory sports hours and inclusion as a subject in schools.
      • Sports as Life Skills.
    • Community Participation
      • Involvement of families, parents, and Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs).
      • Engagement of NGOs, educational institutions, and the Sports Department.
      • Establishment of sports centres in slums and rural areas to promote traditional games (e.g., kho-kho, kabaddi).
      • Appointment of community coaches to instil basic sports skills.
    • Infrastructure & Resources
      • Need for an indoor stadium in the Chandigarh region.
      • Mapping of infrastructure with sports talent.
      • Establishment of sector-level sports committees in the Tri City.
        • Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) – More local companies in the region to be networked to sponsor sports.
      • Centres of Excellence (e.g., JSW model) to be developed in the city.
    • Policy & Governance
      • Example of Haryana’s SPAT model as a reference.
      • Incentives such as government jobs for athletes.
      • Introduction of sports profiling in schools.
      • Enhanced SAI (Sports Authority of India) presence required in the region.
      • Credit (marks) policy for schools to encourage sports participation.
      • Addressing the lack of coordination in sports development among schools, colleges, universities, and companies
    • Health & Well-being
      • Physical and mental health profiling of students and adults.
      • Fitness profiling for parents.
      • Promotion of equality with equity through inclusive sports initiatives.
11. Science & Technology:
    • Engaging youth through workshops and interactive sessions on science learning and innovation. Organise outreach programmes for students, parents, teachers to instil/promote scientific temper, scientific approach to problem solving.
    • Identifying (through challenge method also) technological solutions for civic issues of Tricity. Identifying and examining problem statements to be resolved through technology, such as:
      • Pollution in winters
      • Garbage waste disposal ; collection, segregation, dumps, plastic collection, segregation, dumps, plastic, alternative solutions, scientific management; educational initiatives
      • Traffic; Evaluation of problem, Identify possible solutions (technical/policy)
      • Stray dogs – numbers, shelters, sterilizations, other methods
      • Vocational course – Identification of vocational courses that have high industry absorption – Discussion with industries, designing syllabus, preparing white paper that can be taken up by any university or organization
      • Many more..
    • Promoting grassroots innovation. CCF and PI-RAHI can have a collaborative project to identify and promote grassroots innovations in Tricity region
    • Hold one day workshop on Himalayan Bio-diversity, climate change and water management during the 2nd day of CHASCON (being held in November 6-8, 2025) at PU Involve IITs Roorkie, Mandi, Ropar and Jammu of this affected region.
    • Talent Search – Outreach programme with schools, colleges, public in general to identify talents and nurture them.
    • Review Atal Tinkering Labs in Govt schools of Chandigarh and scale up such low cost experimental labs in schools through CSR etc.
    • Setting up of an Exploratorium for science and technology in the Chandigarh region open to public to visit and explore science and technology via experiments.
    • Identify areas for use of Internet of Things to enhance civic quality of life in Tricity
    • Hold public events in public places to demonstrate science and technology (sector 17 market for example)
    • Hold camps where students can come and make some small equipment or instruments can take it away with them
    • Arrange visits of Students, parents, teachers to institutions like IISER, IMTECH, CSIO etc
    • YouTube Podcasts on subjects of high relevance
12. Economic Growth and Sustainable Development
    • To involve domain experts, of national and international standards and organise seminars, workshops, brainstorming sessions, discussion forums, involving all stakeholders, particularly the youth, on the subjects of:
      • Revival of economy, particularly that of Punjab with focus on key subjects like Law and order, agriculture, industry, service sectors, education, health, skills and employment generation, sports etc
      • Engagement with youth placing special emphasis on the issue of drugs and the need to revive sports.
      • Immigration and diaspora : Addressing the trends in immigration, also of involvement of diaspora
      • Issues of sustainability and climate change.
      • Leadership vacuum in all spheres.
      • YouTube Podcasts on subjects of high relevance
    • It was decided to constitute smaller committees to take responsibilities for organising focussed events and programmes