Youth are the backbone of a Developed Delhi; dialogue, cooperation, and collective resolve will make the vision of a Developed Delhi a reality: CM Rekha Gupta

New Delhi, January 11, 2026– On the eve of National Youth Day (January 12), Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Sunday held a special interactive programme, ‘Lunch with Rekha Gupta’, with the youth of Delhi. During this informal interaction, the Chief Minister attentively listened to the ideas, suggestions, and aspirations of young participants and highlighted their crucial role in building a Developed Delhi. During the discussion, she also presented a report card of her government’s work over the past 11 months and outlined a comprehensive roadmap for a Developed Delhi.

Addressing the youth, the Chief Minister said that January 12, the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda, symbolizes the energy and ideas of young people. In the same spirit, she urged the youth to remain in continuous dialogue and actively contribute through complaints, suggestions, and solutions to make Delhi and the country better.

The Chief Minister emphasized that active youth participation is essential for Delhi’s development. With this objective, an open dialogue was held on policies of the past 11 years, the work done by the current government in the last 11 months, and the development vision for the next 11 years. She encouraged the youth to share their views on the government’s performance over the past 11 months, raise questions, and highlight areas where adequate work was not carried out in earlier years. She also invited them to articulate how they envision Delhi’s development over the next 11 years.

Around 30 young citizens from Delhi participated in the ‘Lunch with Rekha Gupta’ programme. During the discussion, youth participant . Prafful Garg raised questions regarding Delhi’s biggest challenge-the garbage mountains at Ghazipur, Bhalswa, and Okhla. Responding in detail, the Chief Minister explained that earlier the bio-mining capacity was limited, allowing only 10-11 thousand metric tonnes of waste to be processed daily. After her government assumed office, bio-mining capacity has been tripled to 30-35 thousand metric tonnes per day through drone surveys, time-bound deadlines, and expansion of machinery. Approximately 45 acres of land freed from garbage mountains have been planted with bamboo, which serves as a major source of oxygen and strengthens soil stability. She clarified that there is no gap between the government’s goals and implementation, and that the government has set a target to completely eliminate two major garbage mountains by the end of 2026.

Several social media content creators and social activists also participated in the dialogue, including Sandeep Chahal, Aniket Singh, Manojnya Tiwari, Sarthak Bhagat, Akshat Mishra, and Rishabh Kumar. They urged the Chief Minister to organize more such programmes to ensure that youth voices reach the corridors of power and that Gen Z is actively involved in policy formulation and implementation. The Chief Minister stated that Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision is to transform India into a Developed Nation by 2047, and that both the central and Delhi governments are working round the clock to realize this goal.

During the interaction,  Harteerath Singh Ahluwalia raised questions related to street dogs and animal welfare. The Chief Minister responded by stating that every living being has the right to live on this earth and that the Delhi government does not believe in any form of cruelty towards animals. All actions are being taken strictly in accordance with Supreme Court guidelines. She informed that the government has revitalized 17 veterinary hospitals, enhanced staff and facilities, and partnered with NGOs for sterilization and vaccination to ensure harmony between animals and society. On questions related to civic sense, the Chief Minister emphasized that responsible behavior is developed from childhood. With this objective, the Delhi government has introduced new modules such as ‘Science of Living’ and ‘Rashtraneeti’ in the curriculum to instill a sense of responsibility towards the nation, society, and public property among children.

During the programme, Riya Upreti asked the Chief Minister about her daily routine. The Chief Minister shared that after assuming office, the distinction between day and night nearly disappears. Her day begins at around 5:30-6:00 am, starting with study, review of pending files, and yoga/exercise. She then attends phone calls and reaches her office by around 8:30–9:00 am. She meets citizens daily and remains engaged in policy meetings, file work, and administrative responsibilities at the Delhi Secretariat.

She further explained that she remains in office till late evening and returns home around 10:30-11:00 pm after attending social engagements. Speaking about family and personal life, the Chief Minister said that personal time is limited in public life, but her family has fully accepted this reality. Her 30-35 years of experience in public service have prepared her well for this role. During the interaction,  Manavendra Chauhan also raised questions related to mental health and schools, which the Chief Minister addressed in detail.

At the conclusion of the programme, the Chief Minister appealed to the youth, stating that solutions to every problem in Delhi lie in public participation. She emphasized that whether it is waste management or protection of public property, meaningful and lasting change is possible only when the government and citizens work together.