New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his Man Ki Baat program on October 26 lauded the ‘Garbage Cafe’ operated by the Ambikapur Municipal Corporation of Surguja district in Chhattisgarh.
Mentioning about the café being operated in the Ambikapur town, the PM during his 127th edition of monthly radio bulletin where he discusses issues of national significance with Bharatiya citizens said that “A unique initiative has been launched in Ambikapur to clean plastic waste from the city.”
“In Ambikapur, Chhattisgarh, Garbage Cafes are being run. These are cafes where you get a full meal in exchange for plastic waste. If someone brings over 1 kilogram of plastic, they are provided with either lunch or dinner, and in place of 0.5 kilogram of plastic, they get breakfast. These cafes are run by the Ambikapur Municipal Corporation,” said PM Modi.
Praising the initiative, PM Modi in a post on X asserted that initiatives like these are inspiring example of the fact that no change is difficult.
“Be it the unique initiative to clean plastic waste in Ambikapur, Chhattisgarh, or the campaign to give new life to wells and lakes in Bengaluru, these are inspiring examples of the fact that if one is determined, no change is difficult,” said PM Modi.
छत्तीसगढ़ के अम्बिकापुर में प्लास्टिक कचरे को साफ करने की अनोखी पहल हो या फिर बेंगलुरु में कुओं और झीलों को नया जीवन देने का अभियान, ये इस बात के प्रेरक उदाहरण हैं कि यदि ठान लें तो कोई भी बदलाव मुश्किल नहीं है।#MannKiBaat pic.twitter.com/D13m9vRI5i
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 26, 2025
Launched in October 2019 as state’s first such center, the Garbage Cafe located at Ambikapur new bust stand allows the locals to exchange plastic wastes with meal. The residents after submitting plastic waste at a nearby centre are provided with the tokens depending upon the quantity of the waste. The tokens allow them to fetch food ranging from breakfast to full time meal at the Cafe.
Meanwhile Officials of the town on Sunday expressed their delight over Prime Minister mentioning of the Cafe, stating that it is a matter of pride that the city’s first Garbage Cafe, which exchanges plastic waste for meals, has received recognition in PM ‘Mann Ki Baat’ program.
Speaking to ANI, Ambikapur Mayor Manjusha Bhagat thanked Prime Minister for bringing the city’s Garbage Cafe to national and international recognition.
“It (Garbage Cafe) operates in a very beautiful way. It started on 9 October 2019, and it was Chhattisgarh’s first garbage cafe… It requires further expansion. Today, PM Modi praised it in ‘Mann Ki Baat.’ I also thank PM Modi for bringing it to national and international recognition…”
Nodal Officer of Swachh Bharat Mission Urban, Ambikapur, Ritesh Saini, said the Garbage Cafe, started in 2019, allows residents to exchange plastic waste for meals, promoting effective recycling.
“In 2019, we started a garbage cafe in Ambikapur, with the main aim of effectively collecting plastic waste for easy recycling… The Garbage Cafe is located near the new Ambikapur bus stand… Nearby, we also have our SLRM centre where people submit plastic waste. After submitting, they are given tokens. If people give 1 kg of plastic, they receive a token for a full meal; if they give 0.5 kg, they receive a breakfast token. When people submit these tokens at the cafe, they receive food. Since 2015, Ambikapur Municipal Corporation has been working on waste management,” Saini said.
Cafe Manager Vinod Patel said that the recognition is expected to attract more visitors and increase plastic collection.
“It’s a matter of pride for our Chhattisgarh and Ambikapur that the Prime Minister has praised our city. Because of what PM Modi has said, people will now come here to eat, bringing more plastic and plastic waste with them,” Patel said.
[With inputs from agencies]
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