Prime Minister Narendra Modi has lauded Ambikapur’s innovative ‘Garbage Café’ initiative during the 127th episode of his radio programme Mann Ki Baat on Sunday, highlighting it as a pioneering model for plastic waste management and community service. Operated by the Ambikapur Municipal Corporation in northern Chhattisgarh, the café allows citizens to exchange plastic waste for free meals—one kilogram for a full meal and half a kilogram for a snack. Modi described the programme as a unique fusion of cleanliness and social welfare, encouraging nationwide adoption of such citizen-driven environmental efforts.

The initiative has transformed waste collection into a participatory system, incentivising residents to clean up plastic pollution while addressing food access for the underprivileged. Launched as part of Ambikapur’s broader goal to become plastic-free, the café not only reduces landfill burden but also promotes recycling and public awareness. Local authorities report increased community engagement, with ragpickers, daily wage workers, and families regularly contributing waste in exchange for nutritious meals prepared on-site.

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Modi’s endorsement underscores the success of grassroots urban governance in tackling environmental challenges through creative solutions. Ambikapur, once struggling with waste management, now stands as a national example of sustainable development aligned with the Swachh Bharat Mission. The municipal corporation continues to expand the programme, integrating it with door-to-door collection and material recovery facilities.

As India intensifies its fight against single-use plastics, the Garbage Café demonstrates how local innovation can drive behavioural change and foster inclusive growth. Civic bodies across states are now studying the model for replication, reinforcing the message that small, consistent actions by citizens can lead to large-scale environmental and social impact.

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