CHANDIGARH MAYOR HARPREET KAUR BABLA AWARDED PRESTIGIOUS AWARD AT BRICS URBAN INNOVATION FORUM 2025 AT MOSCOW, RUSSIA
CHANDIGARH 18 SEPTEMBER (WISHAVWARTA):— In a significant honor for the city, Chandigarh’s Mayor, Harpreet Kaur Babla was awarded the *BRICS Urban Innovation Award 2025* at the prestigious BRICS Urban Forum. The award was presented in *the “Empowerment of Women” category*, acknowledging the city’s impactful initiatives and unwavering commitment to gender equality. The selection process was highly rigorous, with a distinguished panel of experts from the United Nations playing a key role in the shortlisting and final selection of the award recipients.
The forum, a major international event, brought together influential leaders and innovators from across the BRICS nations. Chandigarh was nominated alongside prominent global cities, with Mayor Harpreet Kaur Babla’s presence highlighting the city’s rising profile on the world stage.
*Highlights from the Ceremony*:
• Award & Recognition: Mayor Harpreet Kaur Babla accepted the BRICS Urban Innovation Award on behalf of Chandigarh, recognizing the city’s innovative approach to urban development and social progress.
• Esteemed Panel: The credibility of the award is underscored by the involvement of experts from the United Nations, who were part of the process of shortlisting and making the final award selection.
• Global Nominees: The city of Dubai and Naypyidaw were also finalists in the “Empowerment of Women” category, demonstrating the high level of competition and the global significance of Chandigarh’s achievement.
In her acceptance speech, Mayor Harpreet Kaur Babla expressed profound gratitude and reflected on the meaning of the award for the city and for women across India.
*Mayor Harpreet Kaur Babla’s Thanksgiving Speech*:
“I am extremely humbled and honored to receive this award today,” said Mayor Babla. “It’s a great honor to represent my beautiful city, Chandigarh, on this BRICS platform.”
She dedicated the award to the visionary leadership of *Prime Minister Narendra Modi*, whose initiatives have empowered women to step out of their homes and into leadership roles, making a tangible difference to society.
“This is a tribute to every Indian woman,” she continued, “and not just to an individual or a project. It is a tribute to women who come out to lead and serve and make a difference to a developing country like India.”
Mayor Babla concluded her speech by extending her sincere thanks to the BRICS Forum, the Chamber of Industry, and the esteemed experts, including those from the United Nations, for this prestigious recognition and for providing the opportunity to represent Chandigarh and India on a global stage.
